DRIP

What an interesting experience.  I probably would never have thought of going to this show, but there was an Orlando Weekly deal for half off, which I couldn't pass up.

When you first get there you are put into a room with a bar where you can order colored beer among many other things, and a table at the end of the room with different colored paints and brushes.  You are encouraged to get messy the second you get there.  My friends and I decided that was a great idea and headed straight to the paint table.  We splattered each other with paint everywhere and had an absolutely great time doing it!  That was actually our favorite part of the entire evening.

As we were hanging out near the bar, loud music started to play, the plastic walls leading to the other room were taken down, and people started dancing around on the bar top and around the room and pouring colored beer down people's mouths.  The show then gravitated to the other room where more dancing took place, plenty of colored water was thrown around, sand, and paint.  The story line was basically a woman and a man fighting over the same woman who they both had a love interest in.  It was very entertaining and interesting.  The show ended with a water balloon fight that required audience participation.  It was great.

The paint comes off of your body and out of your hair easily.  Wear clothes you might not want anymore and bring a towel for your car in case any of you is still wet when you leave.

If you like dance and rock and roll and aren't afraid to get messy, this is the show for you!  Set in a grungy, industrial bar; DRIP is a passionate performance of music, movement, and color.  I went here for my birthday not knowing what to expect and was floored.  When you walk in, there is a paint station against the back wall where you can paint yourself, your friends, or an official DRIP shirt.  The show starts when the clear, plastic panels are raised; and then, the real fun begins!  I can't wait to go back!

A few words to the wise...
- If you want to park for free, get there early.  Otherwise, it's $5 (which isn't that bad).
- Bring only the necessities.  What ever you bring will get paint on it.  The paint appears to be water-based.  I had no trouble getting it off my bag or glasses, but still.
- Dress down.  Again, no matter how hard you try, you will get paint on yourself.
- Wear flip flops or shoes that can be easily washed.  Also, there are no seats in the performance space, so make sure you are comfortable.

*When they say you're going to get wet.... you're definitely going to get wet.*

This place is right behind Denny's.  It'd probably be best to pay for parking unless you want the thrill of possibly having your car towed.

You can come in an hour prior to show time.  I brought my own ear plugs because I don't like terribly loud noises but if you forget to bring them, it's $1 a pair.

So you go inside, mingle around, get a t-shirt if you so desire.  Staff is available to cut it and do all sorts of neat stuff to it.  Then there's the bar with the 4 colored beers, wine and when I went, they had pizza.  An oxygen bar is also available.  The paint station, have fun go crazy, it's washable paint! So after you do all that, mingle around, drink, and wait.  Although show time was at 9 pm, it didn't start till quite a bit afterwards.  

Apparently, the cast had consisted of male and females but my show was all females.  For some individuals, they may not enjoy that aspect.  For some... it may be even more appealing.  The male dancer had left, so they just changed it to an all female cast for now.  

The beginning started abruptly, but entertaining.  I really enjoyed the music a lot but I was definitely glad I brought the ear plugs.  So the show starts out in the bar area and goes in the theater area.  The show got progressively better for me as it went along.  Nice choreography, good story-line.

Okay, so I knew I was going to get wet.... but I didn't realize how wet and sandy I would have gotten.  There were some scenes where both my friend and I were looking around bewildered.  "WTH is that water coming from?!"  If you want the full experience, stand in the middle area.

I HIGHLY suggest bring a change of clothes.  My friend and I ended up stanky from all the colored beer, water, sand and paint.

All in all, I did have fun.  Fantastic music, good show, nice effects.  Definitely a one-of-kind experience.  

- Check out their website because they have different nights, like Gay Days for men, Gay Days for women, local art.