At the ripe age of 7, Tyler West found his calling: to be a clown. While other clowns have a mask they can take off, Tyler’s dwarfism does not allow this. The beauty of fringe is that the artist gets to define who they are, and in Tyler’s newest show, Small Minded, he delves into all things clown, and gives us a peek into his life as a person with achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism. Tyler and Lauren are joined by special guest Cleo DeOrio, the show’s co-creator and director, and Tyler’s partner in life. And we may just uncover the secrets of WTF makes TimTam’s so good.

Find Tyler and Cleo online at: www.theoriginaltylerwest.com and cleodeorio.com

Keep up with Tyler and Cleo:

IG: @theoriginaltylerwest and @cleozen

FB: www.facebook.com/smallmindedtheshow

Find What the Fringe?!

IG: @whatthefringe_productions

Online: ⁠www.whatthefringeproductions.com ⁠

YouTube: What the Fringe

Editor: Renowned Media

Music: Orchestra of Sound

Logo: Ruby Makes Things

This week, we enter the afterbirth! No, we haven’t changed to a medical podcast, but we get into all the messy and beautiful details of Anne Zander’s clown show, “Mother: A Postpartum Comedy.” Lauren and Anne talk all things clown, devising, and motherhood as a fringe artist. And these fringe besties take a deep dive into WTF is so fun about playing in your room by yourself as a grown a** woman.

Find Anne online at: https://annezander.com/and linktr.ee/annezander

Keep up with Anne: On IG:@clown.mother  and @_mother.show_

FB: @clown.mother

Find What the Fringe?!

IG: @whatthefringe_productions

Online: ⁠www.whatthefringeproductions.com ⁠

YouTube: What the Fringe

Editor: Renowned Media

Music: Orchestra of Sound

Logo: Ruby Makes Things

Fringe is all about making a big impact with limited resources. Chris Sainton-Clark specializes in the thriller/mystery genre and is able to create that cinematic feel of the genre with limited technical resources. Chris and Lauren also talk about WTF is so appealing about a collaborator who is brutally honest.  

Find Chris online at: www.christophersaintonclark.com

Keep up with Chris:

IG: @chrissaintonclark

FB: @raisingcainproductions

Find What the Fringe?!

IG: @whatthefringe_productions

Online: ⁠www.whatthefringeproductions.com ⁠

YouTube: What the Fringe

Editor: Renowned Media

Music: Orchestra of Sound

Logo: Ruby Makes Things

What happens when a language barrier becomes one of your greatest strengths? Andrea Barello was born and raised in Italy, but now calls Los Angeles his home when he is not traveling the world clowning around. Andrea and Lauren talk about authenticity, the healing power of art, and WTF happened when vulnerability led to the most beautiful audience interaction.

Keep up with Andrea on

IG: @algobaruch

FB: @aldo.baruch

Find What the Fringe?!

IG: @whatthefringe_productions

Online: ⁠www.whatthefringeproductions.com ⁠

YouTube: What the Fringe

Editor: Renowned Media

Music: Orchestra of Sound

Logo: Ruby Makes Things

This week we hang out with Levani, a fearless multidisciplinary artist from San Diego, whose theatre blends satire, spectacle, and social critique. From interactive shows about grief and corporate greed to sharp spoofs on online masculinity, Levani’s work shows how fringe artists are driving some of the most urgent conversations in performance today. And we uncover WTF is so special about that Nikki Kid movie theatre commercial.

Keep up with Levani: IG: @levani.k.o & FB: levanikorgana

Find What the Fringe?!

IG: @whatthefringe_productions

Online: ⁠www.whatthefringeproductions.com ⁠

YouTube: What the Fringe

Editor: Renowned Media

Music: Orchestra of Sound

Logo: Ruby Makes Things

Remember when you used to play with dolls or soldiers, because play was something that helped you learn about the world you lived in? Why do we lose that skill as adults? Maybe we just need someone to tell us it’s OK. This week’s guest, Soleil Kohl, is a Denver based clown who has a background in early childhood education. She shares about her solo shows, and WTF it is so important to reclaim our playful spirits.

Learn more about Soleil at https://www.soleilkohl.com/

Keep up with her on IG @soleil.onstage@dragonfishshow and @dontkilldaisy

Find What the Fringe?!

IG: @whatthefringe_productions

Online: ⁠www.whatthefringeproductions.com ⁠

YouTube: What the Fringe

Editor: Renowned Media

Music: Orchestra of Sound

Logo: Ruby Makes Things

Mark Vigeant is a multi-disciplinary, award-winning comedian whose most recent solo play, The Best Man Show, was one of the best-reviewed shows at Edinburgh Fringe 2025. Mark and Lauren talk shop about creating solo shows with audience participation, the beauty of male vulnerability, his new show Out There, and WTF he didn’t do to get a special on Dropout TV.

Find Mark at: https://markvigeantcomedy.com/

Keep up with Mark: IG: @mark_vigeant  TikTok: @markvigeant

Find What the Fringe?!

IG: @whatthefringe_productions

Online: ⁠www.whatthefringeproductions.comYouTube: What the Fringe

Editor: Renowned Media

Music: Orchestra of Sound

Logo: Ruby Makes Things

While fringe may give off vibes that it’s anything but mainstream, there is an entire network of people helping fringe festivals become the best they can be. Holly Payton-Lombardo, Managing Director of World Fringe, gives us a peek behind the curtain of those working to make festivals great. She knows all the people, connects all the people, and absolutely loves artist people! If you don’t know Holly, WTF are you waiting for?! Find her at your next festival, and I am sure she will connect you with someone incredible.  

Learn more about World Fringe: www.worldfringe.com

Keep up with them on IG, FB, and TikTok @worldfringe

Find What the Fringe?!

IG: @whatthefringe_productions

Online: ⁠www.whatthefringeproductions.com ⁠

YouTube: What the Fringe

Editor: Renowned Media

Music: Orchestra of Sound

Logo: Ruby Makes Things

Every voice deserves a platform, and Alex Howarth is out here making sure that actually happens. Whether he is devising a show with a person with disabilities, bringing a beautiful script to life, or sharing an important piece of theatre on the floor of the UN, he is a champion for all, giving underrepresented voices a space to tell their stories. WTF Alex, why are you so amazing?!

Learn more about Patch of Blue at www.patchofblue.org

Keep up with them on: IG: @patchofbluetheatreFB: PoBTheatre

Find What the Fringe?!

IG: @whatthefringe_productions

Online: ⁠www.whatthefringeproductions.com ⁠

YouTube: What the Fringe

Editor: Renowned Media

Music: Orchestra of Sound

Logo: Ruby Makes Things

Two words describe our guest, Charlaina Thompson: Passion and Joy! Charlaina is the creator and director of DUST, which is the story of one man’s unforgettable journey, examining generational trauma, resilience, and survival and based on the true story of the Lofthouse collierty coal mining disaster. Charlaina and Lauren also discuss the beauty of theater and WTF live theatre is an amazing place to experience real human connection.

Keep up with Yellow Brick Theatre:  

www.yellowbricktheatre.com

IG: @yellowbricktheatrecompany

TikTok: @yellowbricktheatre

 And keep with Charlaina on FB: charlainathompson

Find What the Fringe?!

IG: @whatthefringe_productions

Online: ⁠www.whatthefringeproductions.com ⁠

YouTube: What the Fringe

Editor: Renowned Media

Music: Orchestra of Sound

Logo: Ruby Makes Things