The four images on the cover of the 2012 Cincinnati Fringe Festival program (included in CityBeat’s May 16 issue) featured various people smushing their faces against a window. Cross-eyed, surprised, disgruntled, quizzical, amused — it’s a diverse set of reactions, all appropriate responses to shows that Know Theatre will present May 29-June 9. ...

Leah Strasser and Tyler Smetts have lived in Cincinnati. In fact, they’re first cousins. She’s an actor; he’s a writer. They’ve been talking about creating a year-round theater company that draws on homegrown talent, and the 2012 Cincinnati Fringe seemed like the perfect moment to take the next step by undertaking a production. ...