US Drag – Toronto Fringe 2012 Press Release

From press release

“A Good Samaritan is a Dead Samaritan” – Gina Gionfriddo, U.S. Drag

A faceless attacker named “Ed” stalks the streets of present day Manhattan. His victims: the good Samaritans unlucky enough to “help” him. Post-university party girls, Angela and Allison, decide the easiest way to earn money fast is finding information about Ed and collecting the reward. They hastily arrange to join a community-advocacy group called S.A.F.E. (Stay Away From Ed). The only problem is the other group members. They’ve all fallen victim to their own self-obsessed outlooks on life and would rather redecorate the corners they’ve backed themselves into. Will Angela and Allison find happiness, or will they be dragged down by not only their friends, but themselves?

U.S. Drag questions how complicit we are in our own demise and the barriers we build with ego in the 21st century. Zaw Theatre Productions is excited to present the Toronto premiere of this dark comedy. In spite of the play’s decidedly “American” themes, its relevance is one that reaches beyond borders into the “every-city” of today. “Themes of ‘electrified wanting’ and loneliness are every-present in city life, now more than ever,” says Josh Vokey (co-producer and actor). This play speaks to the broken piece in us all and that is why Zaw Theatre Productions decided to bring playwright Gina Gionfriddo’s U.S. Drag to Toronto. She was awarded the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize in 2001 for this piece.

U.S. Drag’s fully-loaded cast and crew includes director Tom McHale, co-director of As You Puppet in the 2009 Toronto Fringe Festival (Best of Fringe Selection, and NOW and Eye Magazine Critic’s Pick). His assistant directing credits include Fool for Love and The Zoo Story (Soulpepper Theatre Company) and Blue/Orange (Canadian Stage). Cast in the starring roles are Samara Stern (Sheridan College/University of Toronto alumni) as Allison and Zoe Gamache playing her partner-in-crime, Angela. The stellar cast includes Gemini-nominated and ACTRA nominated Cory Doran, NYC SOAF Award winner Michael Musi, and Kiran Friesen (actor/producer/writer of Peeler which won Top Ten Pick of the Fringe in the Toronto Star in 2009).

We have grown too focused on our individuality and have bred a new level of narcissism. We’re spending our lives clawing upward at a perfect life that doesn’t exist and negating anyone who dares to be honest with us. Hilarious and disturbing – this play is satire at its finest.

Zaw Theatre Productions

at The Toronto Fringe Festival presents

U.S. Drag

written by: Gina Gionfriddo

directed by: Tom McHale

starring: Samara Stern, Zoe Gamache, Chad Thurlow, Michael Musi, Cory Doran, Kiran

Friesen, Josh Vokey, and Madison Walsh

lighting design by: Mikael Kangas

stage managed by: Amanda Piron

 

Opens JULY 5 runs to JULY 14

 

Performances:

July 5, 8:45om

July 7, 5:15pm

July 9, 12:45pm

July 10, 6:45pm

July 11, 3:30pm

July 12, 5:15pm

July 14, 11:00pm

Ticket Prices:

$10 at the door, $11 in advance

Tickets:

For advance tickets, go to https://www.fringetix.ca / (416) 966-1062 / In-Person at The

Fringe Club, 581 Bloor St. W.