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.

“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.

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

The court presentation begins at 7 p.m., Thurs., Sept. 12 at the Sprague Community Theater. The coronation program includes court member platform speeches, impromptu questions, a presentation by the Princesses and Princes in training, and crowning of the 2024 Cranberry Queen or King.

This year’s court members are Cayleigh Holman and Camden Kappa.

Admission is $15 at the door. Visit Bandon.com/cranberry-festival for more festival events.

The court presentation begins at 7 p.m., Thurs., Sept. 7 at the Sprague Community Theater. The coronation program includes court member platform speeches, impromptu questions, a presentation by the Princesses and Princes in training, and crowning of the 2023 Cranberry Queen or King.

Admission is $15 at the door. Visit Bandon.com/cranberry-festival for more festival events.

Proceedes from the fundraising event will support the studio scholarship fund as well as costuming. The 2023 edition calendar is limited to 100 copies.

Calendars are $25 each, available from MarLo students. Orders can also be placed by contacting the studio. Send an email request to marlo@marlodance.com or call 541-252-1394. Payments can be made by cash or check.

For each calendar sold, $10 is applied directly toward the cost of a student’s spring performance costumes. For calendars purchased directly from studio, the proceeds will go to a family who would benefit from assistance.

Photos by Annetta Adams, contributed by MarLo Dance Studio.

Per its bylaws, Bandon Playhouse will hold its annual membership meeting, which includes election of board members for the coming year at 6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 13, in the lobby of the Sprague Theater, 1202 11th St. SW, in Bandon City Park. Current members and new members are eligible for board positions.

During the entire pandemic, the Playhouse met monthly via Zoom and even produced a video for its YouTube channel, “Bandon Burns,” based on the devastating fire of 1936.

This year, Playhouse is again meeting in person on the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Sprague Community Theater. Anyone interested is welcome to attend.

Also this year, the group welcomed local and visiting thespians to “Come Play with Bandon Playhouse” in an interactive open house as well as a theater workshop. The Playhouse is now in production for its upcoming show: Variety By-the-Sea featuring “Folly of the Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter” to be performed Nov. 18, 19 and 20 at the Sprague Community Theater.

“We’ve had so much support from the community but we need more volunteers who are willing to step up and serve on our Board of Directors,” said Playhouse president Amy Moss Strong. “We’ve managed to stay together and there’s nowhere to go but up from here. We hope to present a 2023 theater season that will appeal to all Bandon audiences.”

“We feel Playhouse is still vital to our community and provides opportunities for people of all ages to explore their creative sides,” Moss Strong added. “Whether on the stage or behind it, there’s a place for everyone to shine at the theater.”

The new board will help the Playhouse finalize its 2023 season selections, plus broaden its successful education program. Anyone interested in being nominated for a board position can call Moss Strong at 541-290-9989 to be put on the ballot, or show up at the meeting. Nominations also can be taken from the floor at the annual membership meeting.

Board appointments run from January through December. Current board members in addition to Moss Strong include past-president Neal Davis, board members Corrie Gant, Annie Ohlsen and Jen Marcotte.

For more information on Bandon Playhouse, visit BandonPlayhouse.org or on Facebook at Facebook.com/bandonplay.

Article contributed by Bandon Playhouse. Featured image: Nameer El-Kadi as Ebenezer Scrooge in the 2019 Playhouse production “A Bandon Christmas Carol,” photographed by Geneva Miller.

The court presentation begins at 7 p.m., Thurs., Sept. 8 at the Sprague Community Theater. The coronation program includes court member platform speeches, impromptu questions, a presentation by the Princesses and Princes in training, and crowning of the 2022 Cranberry Queen.

Admission is $15 at the door. Visit Bandon.com/cranberry-festival for more festival events.

Three classes will be offered, with sessions beginning at 9:30 a.m. Drop by for one, or stay for the day. Classes are designed for beginners, age 14 to adult (or with prior permission), but experienced performers are welcome to come brush up their technique.

Doors open at 9 a.m. for registration. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the class you wish to attend. Bootcamp classes start at 9:30 a.m. with “Theater for Dummies” led by Corrie Gant. “Improv. and Acting” class begins at 10:30 a.m., led by Mike Dempsey. Bring your own brown bag lunch for break time from 12 to 12:30 p.m. The day wraps with “Movement and Mime,” led by Nameer El-Kadi, from 12:30 to 2 p.m.

Admission is $10 for new or returning Bandon Playhouse members (includes Playhouse membership) or $5 for active members. Participants are encouraged to reserve their spot as soon as possible; those under age 18 will need parent or guardian signature to sign in. To RSVP or for more information, send an email to TheBandonPlayhouse@gmail.com or call Amy Moss Strong at 541-290-9989 and leave a message.

Since 1976, the Bandon Playhouse has provided the best in community theater, from classic musicals to premiere works by new playwrights. Bandon Playhouse volunteers are proud to keep the performing arts alive and accessible on the Southern Oregon Coast. Learn more at BandonPlayhouse.org, or visit us at Facebook.com/bandonplay.

Choose from a variety of activities, including scene reading, singing, dancing and back stage tours. All materials and direction will be provided. 

At the outset of the pandemic, the Bandon Playhouse tabled live productions– now the group is now eager to reconnect and prep for the next season of shows. Of course, it’s not just performers who make productions possible. The Playhouse benefits from volunteers with many talents, from set building and costume tailoring to stage management and show promotion, not to mention directing and producing.

This free community event is presented with the support of the Sprague Community Theater and the Bandon Professional Center. Membership with Bandon Playhouse is only $5 per year for individuals, or $15 family membership for four or more in the same household. Learn more about your local community theater organization at BandonPlayhouse.org.