The Saint of Scandal: The True(ish) Story of La Maupin @ Tampa Fringe X

Half scandal. Half legend. Entirely earned. Paris, 1695. The opera glittered with powdered wigs, velvet gowns, and carefully rehearsed etiquette. Then Julie d’Aubigny — better known as La Maupin — arrived with a sword at her hip and absolutely no intention of behaving herself. The Saint of Scandal: The True(ish) Story of La Maupin is a bold, funny, and immersive one-woman performance inspired by the outrageous real life of one of history’s most rebellious women. Duels, disguises, seduction, opera, exile, royal pardons, broken hearts, and at least one convent fire — La Maupin’s life blurred the line between historical fact and unbelievable legend so completely that even her contemporaries struggled to separate truth from rumor. Told through theatrical storytelling, sharp wit, and audience intimacy, this solo performance invites audiences into the world of 17th-century France through the eyes of a woman who refused to live quietly. Part historical adventure, part confessional, and part gleeful act of defiance, the show explores what happens when a woman decides that the rules simply do not apply to her. Was she a scandalous menace? A queer icon centuries ahead of her time? A brilliant self-invented celebrity? A dangerously talented swordswoman? Depending on who was writing about her, she was all of those things — and worse. Drawing from surviving accounts, historical records, gossip, theatrical legend, and the occasional wildly embellished rumor, The Saint of Scandal embraces the uncertainty surrounding La Maupin’s life while allowing Julie herself to step forward and tell her version of the story. As she relives the triumphs, disasters, lovers, rivalries, and infamous confrontations that made her notorious across France, audiences are pulled into a world where identity was performance, survival required reinvention, and reputation could become its own kind of immortality. At the height of her fame, La Maupin was both celebrated and condemned: a star of the Paris Opera who publicly dueled noblemen, challenged gender expectations, and repeatedly escaped the consequences that would have destroyed almost anyone else. She was arrested, pardoned, exiled, welcomed back, adored by audiences, and feared by critics — often all at once. But beneath the sword fights and scandal lies something unexpectedly human: a woman desperately trying to claim ownership over her own story in a world determined to rewrite it for her. Created and performed by award-winning actor and storyteller Samantha Martí-Parisi, The Saint of Scandal blends theatre, historical research, humor, and immersive storytelling into a fast-moving evening of rebellion, theatricality, and unapologetic chaos. Designed for modern audiences while grounded in historical inspiration, the performance balances wit and emotional honesty with just enough danger to keep things interesting. Whether audiences arrive knowing La Maupin’s story or discovering her for the first time, they will leave wondering how history ever allowed someone this extraordinary to be forgotten. Recommended for mature audiences due to adult themes, sexuality, and stylized violence. Performances run June 12–21 at The Fringe Theatre | Kress Contemporary in Ybor City. Preview Night Appearance: June 10, 2026 Festival Performances: * Friday, June 12 at 7:00 PM * Saturday, June 13 at 10:15 PM * Sunday, June 14 at 7:30 PM * Monday, June 15 at 7:15 PM • Sunday, June 21 at 3:30 PM

Event Links

Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/3653531-0

Website: https://go.evvnt.com/3653531-2

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