Tickets are available for individual performances, or purchase a fringe festival pass for all shows. Tickets are available online and available at the box office during the festival. Seating is assigned for all shows, so advance ticket purchase is encouraged. Visit BandonEvents.org/Bandon-Fringe-Festival for show details and ticketing information.

The festival had a robust start in 2025 with professional and emerging artists showcasing work in a variety of genres, and the 2026 festival follows suit.

An eclectic show list is a hallmark of Fringe festivals around the world. So, audiences can share a range of emotions, from heartfelt introspection, to laugh-out-loud humor, to edge-of-your-seat suspense.

The 2026 Bandon Fringe line-up features several original one-act plays, including “Hick to Hamlet,” written and performed by Ty Boice; “Self Possessed,” written and performed by Tyler Eickhoff; and “Murder at Two Mile: A True Bandon Mystery,” written by Neal Davis and performed by Gaels Readers Theater. Author and storyteller Naomi Ulsted will share “Glamour Shots” from her collection of creative nonfiction.

Henrik Bothe will entertain audiences with his physical comedy act “The Henrik Maneuver.” Live music sessions include singer-songwriter Janessa Gabrielle, the Tidal Troubadors, and Danitza Galvan and guests. Bandon Open Stage will present a variety show of music, poetry and art. And, members of Bandon Playhouse will get the festival started with two sets: a preview of upcoming productions playfully titled “Goodbye to 6-7 in Iambic Pentameter” and “What Did Shakespeare Say?,” a selection of Shakespeare scenes directed by Sandra Heinzmann.

Between performances, audiences can grab a bite or a beverage. In-house refreshments will be available Thursday and Friday with a complimentary ice cream social for ticket holders on Sunday. Local food and beverage trucks serving on Saturday and Sunday are Angelina’s Mexican, B&B Burgers and Thirst Trap.

Behind the Scenes, Bringing Local History to the Stage

Bandon, Oregon, residents were shocked in 1923 by the sudden death of a healthy, young wife and mother named Ebba Covell. As details of the event unfolded, the murder at Ebba’s Two Mile Lane residence captivated newspaper editors and readers throughout the country.

The Gaels Readers Theater will present a newly revised rendition of “Murder at Two Mile: A True Bandon Mystery” in the closing act of the 2026 Bandon Fringe Festival. The one-act play is written and directed by playwright and Gaels member Neal Davis.

The Gaels Readers Theater group was formed in 2017 by local writers and performers looking to explore original stage pieces in affordably priced productions that would appeal to a broad audience base, explained Davis. The group’s first production, written by Davis, was “Bandon Burns!,” adapted from a collection of survivor accounts of the catastrophic 1936 Bandon fire. The Gaels planned three performances in the Sprague Room of the Bandon Public Library, then added an encore performance when all shows were sold out and many would-be attendees were turned away.

The popularity of the show convinced the Gaels and Davis that local history is a fascinating topic for local and visiting audiences, so Davis went looking for more inspiration at the Bandon History Museum, where he found enthusiastic support from museum staff and volunteers.

“Murder at Two Mile” debuted in 2018. The primary source material for the script was historic news coverage from multiple publications.

“Using the different slants from various sources helped with the characterization of the people involved in this particular crime,” said Davis.

Anticipating the 2026 Fringe Festival, Gaels member Corrie Gant invited the readers theater group to consider applying to perform in the festival. After some discussion, Davis agreed to direct a revised rendition of “Murder at Two Mile.”

The script revisions reflect source material discovered since the play’s debut. With the new information, Davis says that the pivotal characters of the detective and the perpetrator are presented with more nuanced dimension than the first draft. And, he was able to highlight details beyond the facts of the crime to also share a story of individual and family resilience.

The cast for the 2026 Bandon Fringe Festival includes actors with a range of professional and community theater experience, including original Gaels members Corrie Gant, Amy Moss Strong, and Mike Dempsey, joined by Nameer El-Kadi and Grant Goodwin.

“We love what the Fringe Festival is trying to do,” said Davis. “To provide options to stage a show at little expense in a great venue, the Sprague Theater, and provide audiences with a buffet of performances to choose from.”

Support for Performing Arts

The Bandon Fringe Festival is co-presented by the Sprague Community Theater and Bandon Playhouse. Along with event coordination by Sprague Community Theater manager Stephanie Jones, Bandon Playhouse members are providing much-needed support for the festival through promotional work, backstage and front of house staffing.

Support for the 2026 Bandon Playhouse season comes from Bain Insurance Agency, Bandon Dunes Charitable Foundation, Robert Miller Attorney at Law, and Sharon and Wade Troxell, with a grant from the Coos County Cultural Coalition and state revenue sharing funds from the City of Bandon. Learn how to get involved and support the Bandon Playhouse community theater organization at BandonPlayhouse.org.

The Sprague Community Theater is owned and managed by the City of Bandon with support from the Bandon Arts Council. All public spaces in the theater are ADA accessible and assistive listening devices are available at the box office. Find information about charitable support for the Sprague Community Theater at BandonEvents.org/Support.

Article and images courtesy of Bandon Playhouse and festival performers. “Murder at Two Mile” cast from left, Mike Dempsey, Corrie Gant, Nameer El-Kadi, Amy Moss Strong, Grant Goodwin.

Written, directed, and narrated by versatile filmmaker, playwright, and songwriter Scott Fivelson, the 1-hour, 35-minute fictional mockumentary takes a humorous and heartwarming look at the life of a once revered, but now largely forgotten, cinematic “legend.”

“There’s so much in this film,” Fivelson said. “Comedy. Nostalgia. Lots of nostalgia. I think Stallone would say it has heart. If he saw it. It’s a Hollywood biopic, a tribute, a thank-you to what this town has been. This could be a glorious place again and it shouldn’t be anything else. By the end of the movie, Lawrence Pressman essentially says, ‘Let’s bring it back.’”

‘Spinal Tap’ Meets ‘Citizen Kane’

Described by its creator as “part ‘Spinal Tap,’ part ‘Sunset Blvd,’ and part ‘That’s Entertainment!,’” Near Myth retells the history of American cinema through chronicling the life of Oskar Knight — a fictional director who supposedly emigrated from Germany, like many of the early great directors, and embraced every era of Tinseltown.
To bring this meticulous time capsule to life, Fivelson spent years, between other projects, gathering locations, archival photos, and costumes spanning from 1900 to the present. Because it was an independent film, he notes, “It wasn’t a schedule. It was a lifestyle.”

The late, great chameleon actor Lenny Von Dohlen (“Twin Peaks,” “Tender Mercies,” “Electric Dreams”) stars as Oskar Knight. Von Dohlen was chosen both for his uncanny physical resemblance to the character concept and his rare gift for period portrayal. Especially notable in the latter regard was Von Dohlen’s performance in the American Playhouse episode, “Under the Biltmore Clock.”

“Working with Lenny Von Dohlen was a dream,” Fivelson shared. “None of us can wrap our minds around the fact that Lenny isn’t with us anymore, but he is living on through this film. He jumped right into it — he’d even send me emails written in a German accent.”

The film also features an eclectic “cavalcade of stars” from throughout the decades of Hollywood history who share their memories of the director. The ensemble cast includes Academy Award winner Margaret O’Brien, International Emmy winner David Suchet, Joaquim de Almeida, Julianna Guill, Rudolf Martin, Lawrence Pressman, Kristina Anapau, Maya Stange, Jon Provost (Timmy from the classic TV show “Lassie”), and Noel Neill (the original Lois Lane in “Superman”).

Observes Fivelson, “The huge cast made it feel like it was in the tradition of the great studio days. Plus, Oskar Knight was quite the popular gent in his day. He really got around.”

From Chicago to the Coast

So has Fivelson. Hailing from Chicago, “land of Michael Mann’s Thief, the Sox, and the Cubbies,” he ultimately came to California. His screenwriting credits include the music-biz dramedy “American Reel,” starring David Carradine as singer-songwriter James Lee Springer, British actor Michael Maloney (“Henry V,” “The Crown”), and Mariel Hemingway (“Personal Best,” “The Contender”).

“3 Holes and a Smoking Gun” earned Fivelson best screenwriter honors at the 2014 Downtown Film Festival Los Angeles. He is also a widely published satirist, novelist, and playwright with the novel “Tuxes,” new sci-fi novel “Author of the Week and the Strong,” and one-act mysteries “Dial L for Latch-Key,” “Leading the Witness,” and the scientific thriller “Phoenix,” which have debuted from London to the Hollywood Fringe Festival.

Currently, Fivelson is developing a slate of new film projects, including baseball movie “The Change-Up Kid” and the noir-ish action/thriller “Epitaph.” He is slated to collaborate with director David Barrett (“Fire with Fire,” “Blue Bloods,” “Mad Men”), producer Jason Loughridge, and casting director/producer Delaney Blanton.

Fivelson gives a special thanks to cinematographer, editor, and producer on “Near Myth: The Oskar Knight Story,” Dave Corwin Polcino, whose hyphenate dedication to the film made his efforts a standout. Additionally, says Fivelson, “I thank everybody on the movie. It was a moment in time.”

He would also like to thank Edward Norton, though Norton had nothing to do with the film. “Maybe he’ll reach out and ask why I’m thanking him,” smiles Fivelson. “Huge talent. I’d like to meet him.”

Those fascinated by Hollywood history and the days when movies were Movies can now watch “Near Myth: The Oskar Knight Story” streaming on Amazon Prime in the U.S., the U.K., the Republic of Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, courtesy of Bounty Films. Meanwhile, Near Myth continues to appear in theaters around the country, and Fivelson observes that a movie about the movies is just naturally made to be seen on cinema screens.

“Since the end of the pandemic, it keeps getting booked in theaters in the U.S. and Germany, so why not Oregon?” Fivelson says. “I’m excited about the Oregon showing. If I come to Bandon for the screening, I’ll probably chopper in like Tom Cruise – but not that much like Tom Cruise. I won’t be hanging from the chopper.”

Then, on a more serious note, Fivelson added, “A few more words of appreciation. I want to thank Stephanie Jones and the Sprague Community Theater for bringing Oskar Knight to Bandon. Oskar would have liked it here.”

Event Details

Catch “Near Myth: The Oskar Knight Story” at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 19, at the Sprague Community Theater, 1202 11th St SW, Bandon. Admission is just $5, and concessions will be available for purchase.

“People are saying Near Myth is quite unique, a one-of-a-kind film. And I do think it’s true,” said Fivelson. “It was sort of a chance to do a time capsule about what I wanted to say about Hollywood’s history and the people who’ve come and gone.

“Every spring, I hold out hope that the Academy will finally, graciously, give Oskar Knight not an honorary Oscar, but a Late Oscar. It could happen,” Fivelson quipped.

As for whether Oskar Knight ever finally wins the elusive Oscar in “Near Myth: The Oskar Knight Story,” Fivelson keeps the mystery alive, musing, “It is as much of a cliffhanger to the audience, as it was to Oskar. Well, maybe more for Oskar.”

Article by Amy Moss Strong. Images courtesy of Scott Fivelson. Check out the movie trailer on YouTube.

Ritual Azteca Huitzilopochtli features live music and authentic Aztec stories depicted in music and dance. Dancers will move to the rhythm of large standing huehuetl drums and ayoyote rattles. The symbolism of each dance is shared afterwards, and the audience is invited to use their imagination. After presenting several dance stories, the audience is invited to participate. Every participant is provided with an ayacaztli rattle and will learn some basic movements to fully participate in the ritual Azteca!

This concert in the park is presented by the Bandon Public Library. Admission is free and all ages are welcome. The program lasts approximately one hour. For more information, contact library staff at 541-347-3221.

“Peter Pan” is the tale of a boy who never grows up and his adventures with Wendy Darling and her siblings, Captain Hook and his pirates, Tinkerbell and her fairies, and the Lost Boys, in fantastical Neverland.

The show promises to captivate audiences of all ages. The production illustrates MarLo Dance Studio’s continued commitment to presenting a blend of inspirational storytelling and choreography, (ballet, tap, contemporary, jazz and hip hop), inviting audiences to experience the magic of live dance performance in unforgettable ways.

The show will run two weekends, May 8, 9, 10, and May 15,16, 17. All performances are at the Sprague Community Theater, 1202 11th St. SW, in Bandon City Park. Show times are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Reserve seating is $20 – $25 in advance or $27 at the door. Advance ticket sales begin April 8. To purchase online, visit MarLoDance.com, or call 706-550-1416 to purchase by phone.

The professionally staged production delivers everything audiences could want in Peter’s Neverland adventures, from lavish costumes and sets to eclectic music, not to mention memorable dancing by youth and adult students.

“It’s a show you won’t want to miss, the kind of family event that brings a community together,” said MarLo founder Maria Merriam.

The production’s 112 dancers hale from both Coos and Curry counties to be part of Bandon’s unique program that focuses on a classical ballet foundation with jazz, tap, contemporary and hip-hop genres made available to youth and adults. As a performing arts school, MarLo specializes in providing a studio dance education while giving students opportunities to express dance in theatrical story-telling projects, including recent sellout productions of, “The Wizard of Oz,” and “The Nutcracker.”

Produced by Maria Merriam with direction by Faith Slater, MarLo Dance Studio is celebrating the 26th anniversary season of serving the greater Bandon area. For general questions about the program, call 541-252-1394.

Cover art by Annetta Adams featuring Vivian Nighswonger as Tinkerbell, Chase Robison as Peter and Ashlyn Fisher as Wendy.

The free drive-through Flu Shot Clinic will be held in its usual location, in the graveled parking area adjacent to the main baseball field at Bandon City Park. Signs will be posted on 11th Street SW to clearly guide people.

This year, the hospital will offer both the high-dose vaccine for those 65 and over as well as the regular dose vaccine. In addition, COVID vaccine boosters will be available. It is safe to have both shots on the same day, according to medical professionals.

Supplies are limited, so those wishing to receive the vaccines are encouraged to come early and remain in their cars and medical staff will assist. For more information, visit SouthernCoos.org.

Which worked out just great with a son like me who knew it all. Well, not all of it. But a lot of it. Okay, not a lot, but some . . . ahh, who am I kidding? I didn’t know anything. None of us knew a thing. 

“No Matter What You Tell Me” is about a years-long journey of a son who liked to dig. Arguably in places he shouldn’t have been. I mean, we all know what our parents told us, right? “Mind your business.” 

I sometimes wonder if that would’ve been the better road. To have kept things buried. Maybe it wasn’t necessary for me to learn about that family member who chased a burglar down the street while completely naked and holding a lamp. 

Oh, well. No turning back now. 

Writer and actor Benjamin Boucvalt brings his play, “No Matter What You Tell Me,” to Bandon with performances at the Sprague Community Theater at 7 p.m. on Saturday, August 16; and 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 17, presented by Bandon Playhouse and the Sprague Community Theater.

This dramatic comedy is hilarious, heartbreaking, and ever so hopeful. Told in the first person, this is a story of one secret that leads into another. A story that proves how family is fraught, never really what it appears, and, despite it all, so very necessary.

Admission is $20 per person, online or at the box office. Advance tickets are available at Tix.com. This play includes mature themes and is recommended for teen and adult audiences.

Most of Benjamin’s career has been spent on stage doing classical work. Both as a writer and actor, his passion for this is born out of his love for storytelling. Benjamin’s “No Matter What You Tell Me” was performed this summer in Las Vegas. After his stop here in Oregon, he’ll be headed to California, New York, Ohio, and Minnesota.

Benjamin is also a company member at Great River Shakespeare Festival. Notable performances include Orlando in “As You Like It,” Cassius in “Julius Caesar,” Oberon in “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Leontes in “Winter’s Tale,” and Romeo in “Romeo and Juliet.” Other theater performances include the Asolo Repertory Theatre, Curtain Theatre, St. Petersburg Shakespeare Company, and the Orlando Shakespeare Theater.

Benjamin published his second book, “The Name Hennessy,” in 2024. He voices one of the main characters in the audiobook. The recording is a fully dramatized audiobook, with individual actors reading each character, all recorded together on stage. Benjamin is an active martial artist and does fight choreography for stage and film across the country. Find Benjamin on Instagram @boucvalt.

Tickets are available for individual performances, or purchase a fringe festival pass for all shows. Advance tickets are available online. Tickets will also be available at the box office during the festival. Visit our Bandon Fringe Festival page for show details and ticketing information.

Fringe festivals invite performing artists to showcase work in a range of genres. Bandon Playhouse president Rob Jones says diversity, in the programming and among the performers, is part of what makes Fringe Festivals unique.

“There’s room for everybody to participate,” said Jones, noting that emerging artists can try out new work in a supportive environment alongside more experienced performers.

In Bandon, the 2025 line-up offers 14 presentations by visiting and regional professional and amateur performers. Audience members can experience several original one act plays, such as “The Footbridge,” a dramatic piece written by award-winning playwright Jeanmarie Simpson for the Bandon festival; and the comedy “A Pirate Named Shirley,” written and directed by Bandon student Tyler Eickoff.

Enjoy local and touring musicians and dancers, such as singer-songwriter Lindsey Bellefeuille, and world music ensemble Malinka. Performance art presentations include a mixed-media staged reading from the new book by Susan Dimock; and a show with Bubble Man Louis Pearl, who has toured the globe making bubble magic on stage.

One Performer’s Story

Actor and writer Corrie Gant is one of those experienced performers who applied to the festival because she wanted an opportunity to present her one woman, one act play “Tales from the Kitchen Table.” Gant originally wrote and performed the play a handful of times in the late 1990s. Then, in 2024, she dusted off the script and tackled some significant revisions with the help of her friend, theater instructor Dr. Annie McGregor.

Gant recalls that, when she set out to write the play, she discovered she first needed time to reflect on what kind of story she wanted to tell. Then, in her meditation practice, the image of an older woman emerged.

“That part stuck,” said Gant, explaining that the old woman character, who promised to help Gant discover her true name, provided the genesis for her portrayal of nine archetypal female characters throughout history. The revised version of “Tales” got new opening and closing scenes. And, some of the original characters were replaced by characters leaning into dialogue from Moliere and William Shakespeare. Borrowing from classic monologues helped Gant step into female experiences that felt familiar but were not her own.

“The monologues added experiences from women in the world,” said Gant. “All the characters in the play really resonate with me now.”

Which is why she jumped at the opportunity to perform in the Bandon Fringe Festival. She performed the revised piece in four presentations in 2024, (produced by Dolphin Players and Bandon Playhouse), but felt like four performances wasn’t enough.

Small Town, Wonderful Theater

“From my perspective, I see the festival as an opportunity for local and visiting artists to perform and share their talents with the community within our wonderful theater,” said Christine Kingsbury, Community and Cultural Services Director for the City of Bandon.

Kingsbury noted that the festival also offers live theater entertainment to audience members with the option to attend one, or multiple events, allowing for varying ticket prices and scheduling. She added, “I am hopeful that the community will come and support the festival, and that it can be the first of an annual event.”

Rob Jones also hopes the festival will inspire ongoing enthusiasm for local performing arts and the Sprague Community Theater venue. Bandon Playhouse members are providing much-needed support for the festival through promotional work, back stage and front of house staffing.

The Bandon Fringe Festival is co-presented by the Sprague Community Theater and Bandon Playhouse. Support for the 2025 Bandon Playhouse season comes from Bain Insurance Agency, Robert Miller Attorney at Law, Rogue Credit Union and Umpqua Bank, with a grant from the Coos County Cultural Coalition and revenue sharing from the City of Bandon. Learn more about the Bandon Playhouse community theater organization at BandonPlayhouse.org.

Images from top: Amazing Bubble Man courtesy of Louis Pearl, Malinka in concert courtesy of Malinka Music Collective, seascape photo courtesy of Susan Dimock, Corrie Gant photo by Robert Miller courtesy of Bandon Playhouse

Performances are June 27 and 28, 2025, at the Sprague Community Theater in Bandon, Oregon. This event is presented by the Sprague Community Theater and Bandon Playhouse.

What is a Fringe Festival?

Fringe festivals invite performing artists to showcase new and emerging work in a range of genres from theater to dance, comedy and storytelling, and more. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the largest international fringe festival, started in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1947. And similar festivals, large and small, are staged around the world.

Why a Bandon Fringe Festival?

In 2024, the Sprague Community Theater and Bandon Playhouse invited artists to a One Act Play Festival which culminated in a Gala evening featuring several short theatrical and movement performances and the one act play, “Tales from the Kitchen Table,” written and performed by Corrie Gant.

Participation and feedback from the 2024 event told us that artist and performers from around the south coast region wanted access to a performance festival with opportunities for a variety of presentations, including, but not limited to one act plays.

How can I get involved?

Individual performers and performing groups are invited to apply to participate. The application, along with your sample materials, helps us decide if the proposed work can be staged within the context of this festival.

There is no cost to apply. Original material is encouraged; and participants may be eligible to share in a portion of ticket sales for their performance. The application deadline is April 4, 2025.

Visit our Bandon Fringe Festival Page for complete application information.

I’m not a performer. How can I support the festival?

We hope that you will join us in attending festival events in June. If you would like to sponsor or support the event financially, please email Bandon Playhouse, thebandonplayhouse@gmail.com. If you would like to volunteer, please contact theater manager Stephanie Jones, events@bandon-or.gov.

Stay Tuned!

For announcements about the Bandon Fringe Festival, along with other events at the Sprague Community Theater and Bandon Community Center, please Subscribe to Our Email List.

Bandon’s past and present collide in “Coquille River Anthology,” a new comedy-drama, premiering November 1, written by Neal Davis and presented by the Bandon Playhouse.

A sickly woman, cared for by her grandson, is visited by four ghosts from Bandon’s past. As they share their unique stories, they try to help her resolve her own life conflicts before it’s too late. Using actual historical narratives, “Coquille River Anthology” reveals lesser-known moments from Bandon’s exciting history that helped create a community that lasts beyond life.

This is the third play written by Neal Davis (“Murder at Two Mile,” “Bandon Burns!”) with the assistance of the Bandon Historical Society Museum. “Coquille River Anthology” is directed by Mike Dempsey and features actors Bobbi Neason, Corrie Gant, Nameer el-Kadi, Meara Stadelman, Amy Moss Strong, and Grant Goodwin.

Performances will be held at the Wheelhouse Restaurant, Gallery Room, at 125 Chicago Ave SE in downtown Bandon. Seating is limited and preordering tickets is recommended. Performances are November 1, 2, 3 and 8, 9, 10. Friday and Saturday curtains are at 7 p.m. and Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m.

The Wheelhouse Restaurant is open for lunch and dinner on all performance dates. Call 541-347-9331 for dining reservations.

For ticket information and sales to “Coquille River Anthology,” visit BandonPlayhouse.org.

Article contributed by Amy Moss Strong with photos by Geneva Miller for Bandon Playhouse.

Photographer Michael Miller begins with things like coral, a tomato, or even an ordinary screen door, and goes in close. The macro photograph is then manipulated to find a new and dynamic image that realizes his vision; he strives to find the beauty in unremarkable objects. The process is mysterious but surprising in its clarity. He seems to see what’s latent there, before he makes the photograph, and experiments with a wonderful freedom. His images are filled with light. Some compositions beg to be called surrealism, such as “Green Sphere.” I am so pleased to have Michael at Bandon Library Art Gallery for the first time.

The work in the cases harmonizes with Michael’s photograph. A selection of Ken Ayers’ sculptures return to the gallery. These bronzes all started with plant parts, but are not copies of them. Instead, Ken put disparate elements together—a leaf from this plant, a stem from another, seaweed, a pod, some twine, a bulb—to create otherworldly flowers and plants; plants that have more than a touch of the surreal about them. They are unnatural yet graceful, strange yet intriguing, and both familiar and unfamiliar simultaneously. They are beautiful.

The gallery is open during regular library hours, 1204 11th St. SW, in Bandon City Park. For more information about the gallery, visit the Bandon Library Friends and Foundation website, Bandonlff.org.

Article courtesy of Tracy Hodson, photo by Michael Miller.