Stop Kiss – Toronto Fringe 2013 Press Release

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From press release:

gun shy theatre presents STOP KISS BY DIANA SON
TORONTO FRINGE 2013

In their inaugural production, gun shy theatre presents the Toronto premiere of Diana Son’s (Satellites, The West Wing) award-winning STOP KISS directed by Shaun Benson (Heartland, Populaire, Steel Kiss). Melissa Hood (Dirty Singles, The Listener), a graduate of the CFC Acting Conservatory will take the stage and co-produce with 2013 Dora-award nominee Kate Ziegler (Laws of Motion, Flashpoint). Opening July 3rd, STOP KISS will play at the Tarragon Theatre Mainspace as part of the 25th Anniversary of the Toronto Fringe Festival.

Set in New York City, this powerful love story explores an unexpected attraction between new female friends. First we meet Callie Pax (Hood), a savvy city-girl who relies on her magic eight-ball to make life decisions whilst maintaining an on-again off-again relationship with ladies man George (Stefano DiMatteo; The Listener). Enter Sara (Ziegler), a plucky teacher from St. Louis who has recently left her long-term boyfriend Peter (Mark Paci; Pains of Youth) to pursue a controversial teaching fellowship in the Bronx.

What follows, is an arresting and real portrait of new love interrupted by a shocking and random act of violence. In what the New York Times (1998) called “a sweet, sad and enchantingly sincere play”, the story engages both characters and the audience in an exploration of commitment, identity and profound love.

Toronto audiences will be struck by the brutal relevance of STOP KISS, 15 years after it premiered off-Broadway (with Canadian actress Sandra Oh as Sara). Despite the jarring themes in the play, Diana Son heeds, “I would never personally say ‘This is a play about homophobia. This is a play about gay bashing. This is a play about the civil rights of gays and lesbians in America.’ I would describe the play as a love story.” (American Theatre Magazine, 1999)

Rounding out this cast are Trish Adams (A Chorus Line), Ronnie Rowe (The Firm) and Anthony Ulc (Rookie Blue). First-time director Shaun Benson will collaborate with two-time Dora award-winning lighting designer Sandra Marcroft (Laws of Motion, The Monument.

Tickets are $10, advance tickets are $9 (+$2 service fee, per ticket)
http://www.fringetoronto.com/ Box Office:  (416) 966-1062 x 1
Runtime: 90 minutes; no intermission.

Wednesday, July 3, 2013 10:30pm-Midnight
Saturday, July 6, 2013 – 5:15pm – 6:45pm
Sunday, July 7, 2013 – 10:00pm – 11:30pm
Monday, July 8, 2013 – 8:00pm – 9:30pm

Tuesday, July 9, 2013 – 3:00pm – 4:30pm
Thursday, July 11, 2013 – 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Sunday, July 14, 2013 – 5:15pm – 6:45pm