(Orlando, FL) From now until Memorial Day, the 35th Annual Orlando International Fringe Festival is bringing an extraordinary lineup of performances to Loch Haven Park, and while there’s simply too much Fringe to cover in a single article, we are rolling out a series of posts about this incredible event. In this installment, we’re honored to spotlight an important and impactful production: In Their Footsteps.
We were honored to be invited to attend a press preview for this show. Thank you, Orlando Fringe, for having us out!
In Their Footsteps
In Their Footsteps is built from the real oral histories of five women who served during the Vietnam War (two military personnel and three civilian volunteers). Through their firsthand accounts, the production brings to life experiences that history books have too often overlooked.
What makes this production especially compelling is its simplicity. Using only five movable blocks, the cast transforms the stage into more than 30 different locations throughout the performance: helicopters, bunkers, recreation halls, and beyond. The minimalist staging never feels lacking. Instead, it sharpens the emotional focus of the show. Without elaborate sets competing for attention, the audience is drawn completely into the voices, memories, and humanity of these women.
Five Voices, One Story
What I wasn’t fully prepared for was the emotional weight of sitting with the realization that these are not fictional characters or dramatized accounts. These are real women. Real words. Real experiences that have been largely untold for the last 50 years.
The dialogue in In Their Footsteps is woven together with remarkable care. Five completely separate lives and perspectives intertwine throughout the show, and yet the story that emerges feels coherent, whole and real. You don’t just get snapshots of the war – you get a full, unflinching picture of what it meant to exist inside it.
I don’t throw around the word “important” lightly, but this show earns it. This is a stunning, sobering, beautifully crafted production that treats its subjects with the full dignity and complexity they deserve. The performances are deeply authentic, the staging is wonderfully inventive, and knowing that every line comes directly from real experiences gives the entire production a powerful emotional resonance you won’t soon forget.
Getting Tickets for In Their Footsteps
Tickets for In Their Footsteps and any Orlando Fringe production can be purchased at orlandofringe.org. Because 100% of the base ticket price goes directly to the respective artists (one of the amazing ways Fringe supports both emerging and established creators), you’ll also need to purchase a reusable 2026 Fringe Festival button. Buttons are $10 and grant access to all the performances at this year’s event (along with your individually purchased show tickets). No matter how many productions you attend, you only need one button per person for the entire festival. You can buy your button online or at the main Fringe campus.
Know Before You Go
- A 2026 Fringe Festival button (and show ticket) is required to attend any performance. You can purchase your button online.
- In Their Footsteps takes place at the Pink Venue at Lowndes Shakespeare Center.
- Parking at Orlando Fringe can be tricky. Make sure you arrive early to allow plenty of time to locate a suitable spot and travel to the show location.
