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Packed on Friday, sold out on Sunday

The first Pelham Fringe Festival put five new plays, live music and improv on The Picture House stage on October 2 and 4. Friday was packed. Sunday sold out.

A full house at The Picture House, seen from the side, with three performers on stage at the far left.

The house was packed on Friday night. Sunday afternoon sold out.

The first-ever Pelham Fringe Festival played The Picture House on October 2 and 4, 2026: five original short plays, with live music and improv between them.

The cast crowded into a group selfie, smiling up at the camera.
The company, in a group selfie just before the show.
Four people under the lit marquee of the Pelham Picture House, which reads The Pelham Fringe Festival 2026, with the red neon Pelham Picture House sign above and a festival poster in the window at left.
Tony A. Watts, Kate McDaniel, Kathleen “Boon” Mary Carthy and Rich O’Brien outside The Picture House.

Village of Pelham Mayor Chance Mullen gave a welcome speech.

Kate McDaniel shaking hands with Mayor Chance Mullen at center stage, while a man in a blazer applauds at right.
Kate McDaniel shakes hands with Mayor Chance Mullen on stage. Emcee Jim Ewing stands to the right.
Mayor Chance Mullen standing on stage in a green polo shirt and jeans.
Mayor Chance Mullen on stage.

Every play on the bill was new writing inspired by a Pelham Fringe event. Jeffrey B. Fuerst (A Pair of Mopes) and Rich Feldman (Radio Silence) wrote for an "After the Influence" event based on the work of John Patrick Shanley. Joni Fritz (How Can I Help You?), Bette Carlson Siler (So Sorry to Kill You, Poor Little Man), and Andrew O'Brien (The Company We Keep) wrote theirs after an evening themed on Theresa Rebeck. For Andrew and Rich, it was a playwriting debut!

Four actors on a purple-lit stage, three seated on stools and one standing behind a draped table with glasses and a wooden box.
Radio Silence. Written by Rich Feldman. Directed by Rich O’Brien. Left to right: Kate McDaniel, Tony A. Watts, Kathleen “Boon” Mary Carthy, Rich O’Brien.
Two men seated at a small table and a woman standing at a microphone, under a projected neon sign reading Rheingold Extra Dry.
A Pair of Mopes. Written by Jeffrey B. Fuerst. Directed by Cathy Reinking. Left to right: Jonathan Hicks, Sean Dagony-Clark, Lizzy Kircher.
Three actors at a table with a blue cloth in the middle of the stage, with two more cast members in grey coveralls seated at either side.
How Can I Help You? Written by Joni Fritz. Directed by Carolyn Marie Wright. Left to right: Jill Friedman, Emily Aronoff, Karen Pursel, Laura Lee Botsacos, Carolyn Marie Wright.
Five actors around a red-checked restaurant table, one waiter in an apron at left, in front of a projected street cafe.
The Company We Keep. Written by Andrew O’Brien. Directed by Maria Provenzano. Left to right: Andrew O’Brien, Maggie Solimine, Renée Hewitt, Kate McDaniel, Bette Carlson Siler.
An older woman seated in an armchair under a blue knitted shawl, between a woman in a red cardigan and a man in a green jacket.
So Sorry to Kill You, Poor Little Man. Written by Bette Carlson Siler. Directed by Melissa Flower Gladney. Left to right: Janine LaManna, Judith Reagan, Michael J. Fanuele.

The audience agreed that the performers were outstanding, and thanked them with a standing ovation.

What a great organization and TURN OUT! My friend said the girl in your play reminded her of Marisa Tomei in My Cousin Vinny! It was a fun night.

Maryann
Kate McDaniel smiling on stage in a black jumpsuit, beside a table with three glass jars and a wooden box.
Kate McDaniel, Founder and Artistic Director of Pelham Fringe, on stage.

Plays were only part of the evening. The doors opened to a reception with live music, and improv ran between the plays. Jean Garner led the trio at the opening reception, and Ellen Weiss led at the end, while James Ahn Brandfonbrener played piano, Gabriel Schmid-Doyle played upright bass. Jim Ewing, Carolyn Marie Wright and Jill Friedman were featured between plays as the "ACME Moving and Improv Company," performing hilarious improvised scenes while changing the sets.

A singer in a sequined jumpsuit at a microphone, with an upright bass player and a keyboard player, and Kate McDaniel's bio projected on the screen above.
Live music: Jean Garner sings, with Gabriel Schmid-Doyle on upright bass and James Ahn Brandfonbrener on keyboard. Ellen Weiss (not pictured) performed as a vocalist after the show.
The three ACME improvisers in grey coveralls and black caps moving bistro chairs and a table on stage.
ACME Moving and Improv Company, the improv team who also did the set changes, moving chairs on stage.
The reception table: a Sweets by Ki sign, bottles of red wine, bowls of bruschetta and baskets of sliced bread on a black Pelham Fringe tablecloth, in front of the concession stand.
Brittney Jensen leaning over the same reception table, spooning food from a bowl beside tubs of bruschetta and bottles of wine, as a guest in a red dress waits in the foreground.
Brittney Jensen, in charge of hospitality, worked tirelessly during the events with our food, drink, and dessert sponsors to ensure the receptions worked out deliciously.

Plenty of people did double duty. Andrew O'Brien wrote The Company We Keep and played its "Waiter." Carolyn Wright directed How Can I Help You?, performed as its "AI Voice," and was part of the ACME Moving and Improv team. Sean Dagony-Clark designed our website, digital materials, and sponsor sign, and performed as Louie in "A Pair of Mopes." Lizzy Kircher designed our programs and performed as Yolanda in "A Pair of Mopes." Jim Ewing, our Production Manager, was our Emcee and one of the ACME Movers and Improvisers. And Kate McDaniel, our Founder and Artistic Director, also performed in two of our plays.

Sophie Cohen standing in a black top with one hand raised, speaking, beside Tony A. Watts, who sits in a black leather theater seat in an orange jacket, sunglasses and a backwards cap. Another audience member is seen from behind in the foreground.
Sophie Cohen, our intrepid Stage Manager, with Tony A. Watts standing guard.
Sean Dagony-Clark and Jill Friedman smiling at a wall-mounted screen in the theater lobby, Sean holding a phone.
Sean Dagony-Clark, our CTO (pictured with Jill Friedman), designed our website, digital signage for the TV and big screen, and our sponsor step-and-repeat sign.

Bravo to each and every one of you that made the magic of live, engaging theatre occur for a sold-out audience at The Pelham Picture House yesterday!!! I consider myself one of the fortunate few to witness a collective of gloriously talented folks right here in lower Westchester making a huge impact on the future of the performing arts!!!

Phyllis

Pelham Fringe's first table read, on October 29, 2025, drew thirty-two people to August: Osage County. Eleven months later, the company filled The Picture House twice.

The packed auditorium from the back of the room, rows of audience members facing the lit stage and the Pelham Fringe banner.
Sunday's packed house.
A long line of performers standing hand in hand across the stage for the curtain call.
The company takes its curtain call.

And that's a wrap on the first Pelham Fringe Festival. Expect more from us very soon!

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