Gainesville Cast Will Perform Napkins at Fringe Festival
A local production troupe travels to Illinois this week to showcase a play exploring the impacts of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Cultural
Live Poll
Do you prioritize attending and supporting local theatre and arts productions in your community?
Beginning Wednesday, September 23, 2026, a six-person cast from Gainesville will travel to Illinois to present three showings of the play Napkins at the Elgin Fringe Festival. The play, written by K.E. Mullins, centers on the personal experience of living with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Why it matters
The play provides a personal look at Alzheimer’s Disease, reflecting the playwright’s own experiences with her mother. After a successful premiere in Gainesville, the production is expanding its reach to a regional audience at the festival.
The production raised $2,100 of its $2,800 fundraising goal to cover travel costs. The play previously premiered to an audience of 80 people and was recognized as one of five semifinalists at the Hippodrome Theatre New Works Festival.
The players
K.E. Mullins
She is a playwright and the creator of the play Napkins which documents her personal experience with Alzheimer's Disease.
Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center
This Gainesville institution serves as a community hub for local history and hosted the initial premiere of the play.
Hippodrome Theatre
Based in Gainesville, this historic theater organization hosts the annual New Works Festival to support emerging scripts.
The details
The production team secured a slot in the Elgin Fringe Festival lineup after other acts withdrew from the event. Written in 2024, the play serves as a narrative exploration of memory loss, with Mullins planning to host additional performances in Gainesville following the Illinois tour.
Timeline
Mullins began writing the play in 2024.
The production premiered at the Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center in August 2026.
The cast travels to Illinois on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The production follows a common development path for new works by first gaining recognition at the Hippodrome Theatre New Works Festival before moving to regional stages. This expansion highlights the efforts of small-scale productions to gain wider visibility within the fringe festival circuit.
Gainesville residents can look forward to future local showings of the play once the cast returns from Illinois. Those who supported the production via GoFundMe helped enable the cast to perform at the festival.
The takeaway
Supporting local theater allows personal stories to reach broader audiences beyond the initial premiere. Keep an eye on local venue schedules for upcoming opportunities to see the play once the production concludes its regional tour.
Further reading
For more on local arts, visit Cultural.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mainstreet Daily News Gainesville.
Live Poll
Do you prioritize attending and supporting local theatre and arts productions in your community?
