Yearly Archives: 2017

Ten Creative Ways to Dispose of Your Cremains – Toronto Fringe 2017 Press Release

Excerpt from press release:

Boy meets girl. Boy has broken vaporizer. Girl has bed bugs. Ten Creative Ways to Dispose of your Cremains is not just the longest title ever, it’s a millennial love letter to the misfits of the Peter Pan Generation. Written on the fringe for the Fringe, Ten Creative Ways… is a  story about trying to turn a corner, but somehow, always ending up in Trinity Bellwoods with an urn of ashes and six popsicles. From the writer of Oregano at the Storefront Theatre and the director of Plucked at Summerworks, Ten Creative Ways… stars Jakob Ehman and Rose Napoli.

Shortlisted for the Fringe New Play Award, Safewords New Play Contest, Ten Creative Ways…  was developed with support from Theatre Passe Muraille and the Ontario Arts Council. Rose Napoli is a Toronto-based actor and playwright and is currently part of the Playwrights Unit at Tarragon Theatre. Her play, Lo (or Dear Mr Wells) will play this fall as part of Nightwood Theatre’s 2017/18 Season in association with Crow’s Theatre.  

Helming the production is director Carly Chamberlain. A graduate of The National Theatre School of Canada’s Directing Program, Chamberlain’s recent productions include SummerWorks hit Plucked (Best Production Runner-up, and Now Magazine Outstanding Direction), and the critically acclaimed Much Ado About Nothing at Hart House Theatre (Subscriber’s Choice, Best Direction). Chamberlain was recently nominated for the OAC’s triennial John Hirsch Directors Award.

Details

  • Ten Creative Ways to Dispose of Your Cremains plays at the Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace. (16 Ryerson Ave.)
  • Tickets are $12. The festival also offers a range of money-saving passes for serious Fringers.
  • Tickets can be purchased online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Fringe Club at Scadding Court, and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
  • Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.
  • Content Warnings: Smoking, Mature Language.
  • This venue is wheelchair-accessible, with some tight cornering. Accessible seating is in the front row.

Performances

  • Thursday July 6th, 09:30 pm
  • Saturday July 8th, 03:15 pm
  • Sunday July 9th, 08:00 pm
  • Monday July 10th, 05:45 pm
  • Tuesday July 11th, 10:15 pm
  • Thursday July 13th, 01:00 pm
  • Friday July 14th, 08:45 pm
  • Sunday July 16th, 02:15 pm

Image by Kyle Purcell. L-R: Rose Napoli and Jakob Ehman.

 

 

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Who, Me – Toronto Fringe 2017 Press Release

Excerpt from press release:

Doctor Who is about to face his greatest challenge: his number one fan.

Rob Lloyd (BBC America’s Doctor Who: Earth Conquest) is putting the Doctor on trial.

Not just for Doctor Who fans, WHO, ME is a show about obsession and it’s many faces. What have you been obsessed with – a celebrity, a football team, a TV show? For Rob, it’s Doctor Who all the way.

After sell-out seasons across Australia, New Zealand, at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2013 & the Chicago Fringe in 2014, Rob will ask the BIG questions. Investigating whether Doctor Who (the television show) is guilty of inciting in him a debilitating obsession, or whether it has shaped him into a well-rounded, mentally-sound member of society.

Through the course of the show we will see how one TV program can influence a persons actions, behavior and psyche.

WHO, ME is a hilarious romp across the Doctor’s 54 years, 13 faces and countless adventures.

Details

  • Who, Me. plays at the Tarragon Solo Room. (30 Bridgman Ave.)
  • Tickets are $12. The festival also offers a range of money-saving passes for serious Fringers.
  • Tickets can be purchased online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Fringe Club at Scadding Court, and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
  • Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.
  • Content Warning: Mature Language.
  • This venue is wheelchair-accessible through a secondary route. Check in at the venue box office at least 15 minutes before showtime, and a staff member will escort you to the venue. Accessible seating is in the front row.

Performances

  • Thursday July 6th, 06:00 pm
  • Saturday July 8th, 08:30 pm
  • Monday July 10th, 05:45 pm
  • Wednesday July 12th, 08:15 pm
  • Thursday July 13th, 09:45 pm
  • Friday July 14th, 10:30 pm
  • Saturday July 15th, 04:30 pm
  • Sunday July 16th, 12:30 pm

Photo care of James Penlidis. Design by Lliam Amor.

Happy Family – Toronto Fringe 2017 Press Release

Excerpt from press release:

A social worker, a business exec, and a guy who lives in the basement, all walk into a park. Their mom is missing, and they all want to get her safely back to the seniors’ home … or do they?

As Lindsay, Vann and Roland begin the search for their mom, they learn that the identity bracelet she had been wearing to keep her safe since her last independent adventure has been cut from her arm. The mystery of Mom’s disappearance is complicated by the tensions among her offspring and the difficulties in each of their personal lives. We find ourselves wondering if one or more of them may have been the wielder of the scissors (or worse.)

The playwright, Shelley M Hobbs, had her 2016 Fringe hit, A Good Death, short-listed for Best New Play of the Fringe 2016.  Ms. Hobbs is also co-creator of the 2009 Best of Fringe and Patron’s Pick Hipcheck: the Musical.  Ms Hobbs has recently retired from her position as a lawyer for a government agency that protects the rights of incapable adults to devote more of her time to writing.  She lives with her wife in Leslieville.

“Happy Family” is directed by Bryn Kennedy, HBA Theatre and Drama Studies, U of T and Diploma in Acting, Sheridan. Ms Kennedy directed Beneath the Bed by Gabe Golin and Overtones by Alice Gerstenberg, both at the Beck Festival. Lighting designer and stage manager John CJ Murphy was the Production Manager for 2017 Dora nominated Tough Jews (Storefront Theatre) and Stage Manager for Ismailova Theatre of Dance and the 2016 Fringekids hit Downtown Jay.

“Happy Family” stars Adele Power as Lindsay, the eldest of three siblings, a compassionate and hyper responsible social worker jaded by too many sad stories; Kristi Woods as Vann, the middle child business executive with an ex-husband, twin boys and a gambling problem; and Leonard Scott-Collins as Roland who never left home, loves birds, but is baffled by both his sisters. Ms Power is an award winning choreographer as well as a commercial actress seen on TV. She played the lead in her last Fringe Show about the infamous casting couch. Ms Woods sang as a featured soloist with Soundcrowd at Carnegie Hall for Total Vocal III, Catch A Break: the Musical and playing M’Lynn in Steel Magnolias with Plain Stage.  Mr Scott-Collins has worked on The  Laramie Project and with Marion Abbot productions Confidential Musicals series.

Details

  • Happy Family plays at The Theatre Centre’s Franco Boni Theatre. (1115 Queen St. W.)
  • Tickets are $12. The festival also offers a range of money-saving passes for serious Fringers.
  • Tickets can be purchased online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Fringe Club at Scadding Court, and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
  • Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.
  • Content Warning: Mature Language.
  • This venue is accessible.

Performances

  • Wednesday July 5th, 10:30 pm
  • Friday July 7th, 09:45 pm
  • Sunday July 9th, 12:00 pm
  • Tuesday July 11th, 08:30 pm
  • Wednesday July 12th, 05:45 pm
  • Friday July 14th, 02:15 pm
  • Sunday July 16th, 02:45 pm

Photo: the Playwright, Shelley M Hobbs.

 

Life’s a Betch – Toronto Fringe 2017 Press Release

Excerpt from Press Release:

Miguel Gauthier, Katharine O’Brien, Nora Saliken and Eitan Shalmon are funny people approaching humour from some dark and unexpected places. Would you think about holding a funeral for someone who hasn’t died?  “She has it coming,” according to Saliken, who plays the victim’s daughter and possible murderer.

The dynamic is fired up as the four, members of Sketch Betch, rehearse for their show Life’s a Betch, opening July 6 at Toronto’s Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse as part of the 2017 Toronto Fringe Festival. 

The title refers to the quirks of day to day stuff. “Be it work, relationships or that weird rash we can’t seem to cure, we cope by betching!” Shalmon says dryly. “Let’s face it, everyone can use a juicy little betch sesh!” adds Gauthier. Voila:Life’s a Betch, a show written and acted by the Sketch Betch Troupe. The members have honed their acting and comedy chops in everything from sketch comedy, theatre, TV and film, to stand-up. Awards are piling up too, including an Audience Choice Award for O’Brien’s short film  Stop Calling Me Honey Bunny.

Life’s a Betch is a collaboration with each member writing, critiquing and performing, and working alongside Second City Mainstage alum Leigh Cameron as director, who manages to be encouraging even when saying “back up and try again.”

Details

  • Life’s a Betch plays at the Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse. (79 St. George St.)
  • Tickets are $12. The festival also offers a range of money-saving passes for serious Fringers.
  • Tickets can be purchased online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Fringe Club at Scadding Court, and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
  • Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.
  • This venue is wheelchair-accessible.

Performances

  • Thursday July 6th, 08:45 pm
  • Saturday July 8th, 12:00 pm
  • Monday July 10th, 10:15 pm
  • Wednesday July 12th, 12:00 pm
  • Friday July 14th, 04:00 pm
  • Saturday July 15th, 05:45 pm
  • Sunday July 16th, 07:30 pm

Nora Saliken, Miguel Gauthier, Eitan Shalmon, Katharine
O’Brien. Photo Credit: Kevin Maheux

13 Ways the World Ends – Toronto Fringe 2017 Press Release

From press release

Hailing from Midland & Penetanguishene, ON, the creative minds behind Maple Valley Comedy and Silent Heist bring you a brand new comedy revue. After performing to sold out audiences at the 2017 Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival, they are thrilled to be back in Toronto and excited to be a part of the Toronto Fringe Festival for the very first time together, with this comedy revue about the end of the world.

More accurately, the “ends” of the world. Because in this show, the world meets its end in no less than thirteen different ways! Meet the soccer moms who fend off waves of zombie hordes between playdates. Follow a young couple in their date to the Tree Museum, which also comes with free entry to the Bee Museum. Watch as No Sick Days Mary turns a case of the sniffles into a new global pandemic. And join the Johnsons, as they watch the sun go out the way that God intended… as a family, gosh darn it.

Performances

  • Wednesday July 5th, 06:30 pm
  • Friday July 7th, 08:15 pm
  • Saturday July 8th, 10:15 pm
  • Sunday July 9th, 04:30 pm
  • Tuesday July 11th, 01:30 pm
  • Wednesday July 12th, 06:30 pm
  • Thursday July 13th, 08:00 pm
  • Saturday July 15th, 02:45 pm

Details

  • 13 Ways The World Ends plays at the Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace. (16 Ryerson Ave.)
  • Tickets are $12. The festival also offers a range of money-saving passes for serious Fringers.
  • Tickets can be purchased online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Fringe Club at Scadding Court, and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
  • Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.
  • Content Warning: Mature Language.
  • This venue is wheelchair-accessible, with some tight cornering. Accessible seating is in the front row.

Photo of Colleen Waltenbury, Brendan Main, Karen McFarlane,  Todd McFarlane, Bryan Piitz, Deanna Palazzo, James Dalzell by Nate Lacroix