From Press Release

The Fall presented at the Toronto Fringe Festival

An original site-specific dance work by Frog in Hand

Trinity-St. Paul’s, Toronto Ontario, 427 Bloor St. West

July 7^th & July 14^th (1:30pm – 2:30pm) (6:30 – 7:30pm)

July 8^th & July 15^th (4:00pm – 5:00pm) (6:00pm – 7:00pm)

Tickets from $11. Ticket information HERE.

Toronto, ON – At the edge of the abyss, do we fly or do we fall? Do we land or crash? The body hurtles through space, collapses, gives in to gravity. This is the choreographic language of The Fall, an original, site-specific dance by Frog in Hand, presented at the Toronto Fringe Festival.

The Fall explores the battle to stay upright, the influence of gravity, exhaustion, control and loss of control. It is the story of our relationship with the speed of life. This multigenerational dance work is performed by established dance artists including: Frances Samson, JT Papandreos, Daniel McArthur, Sydney McManus, Alvin Collantes, Micha Baltman, and Aria Evans and emerging artists, part of the Frog in Hand Apprentice Company.

Colleen Snell, Director of Frog in Hand says, “Our performance involves both apprenticing dancers who are currently students, as well as professional dancers currently in the industry. It is a wonderful, rare opportunity for both established and emerging generations of dancers to collaborate. Thus, this project supports two generations of artists in a tangible way. Our cast is large because of this – 15 highly skilled artists, 8 are current students and 7 are professional dancers. To have 15 performers is almost unheard of in the dance industry.”

Choreography involves massive, thick crash mats in the gym at Trinity Saint Paul’s, an immense, lofty space with beautiful, natural light. Costume design for the performance is by Noelle Hamlyn, Frog in Hand’s co-artistic director.

Frog in Hand is a collaborative venture – a contemporary dance theatre network of storytellers. While our “discipline” is difficult to define, we play on a spectrum between visual art and dance, often creating installation projects and performance work that includes contemporary dance theatre. We tell stories that question human nature – stories with emotional resonance and challenging thematic material relevant to the time in which we live. Our mission is to craft narratives that question human nature through the creation and performance of powerful new work, and to transfer knowledge / wisdom through outreach and engagement with diverse communities.

https://www.froginhand.com/

Photo of Alvin Collantes and Kelly Shaw by Rosemary Snell

From Press Release

A KEV ’N CAL MYSTERY

Case #31: The Curse of the Jade Dragon

Danger! Foul play! Puberty!

Whatever the risks, Kev ’n Cal can always count on each other. Or can they?

New comedy runs July 4-15 at the Annex Theatre, 736 Bathurst Street.

TORONTO, ON – Part Hardy Boys, part Scooby Doo. Stranger Things have happened. Kev ’n Cal are two mystery solving brothers, boy adventurers on the trail of trouble across dimensions ending up on the wrong side of reality. Danger! Foul play! Puberty! Whatever the risks, Kev ’n Cal can always count on each other. Or can they?

This thrilling new comedy is brought to you by an award winning team of Toronto comic actors. Directed by Second City alumnus Nigel Downer, who wrote and performed in four critically acclaimed mainstage revues including Dreams Really Do Come True (and Other Lies) and The Meme’ing of Life. In 2016, Nigel was assistant director to The Second City’s mainstage revue Come What Mayhem!. The cast includes Ted Ludzik, a veteran of film and television known for his roles in The Expanse, Murdoch Mysteries, Hannibal and Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium. Ted’s stage experience includes 10 years performing with sketch troupe The Riot Act, who had their own special on CBC’s SketchCom.

Kev ’n Cal were created by Allan Turner and Christopher Hedrick. Allan is a longtime member of the Toronto comedy scene. In 2015, he was voted Toronto’s ‘Best Male Improviser’ in the Now Magazine Reader’s Choice Poll. Past Toronto Fringe shows include Sour Grapes, which won Now Magazine’s Best Ensemble award. For 18 years he has embodied Toronto’s cult celebrity Jean-Paul Mullet, having performed in Fringes, festivals, and comedy stages across North America. Television appearances include YTV, Orphan Black, Murdoch Mysteries, and Ed & Red’s Night Party where he was a recurring guest star. Christopher met Allan through improv, and together along with Ted and Darren Joy, they formed the troupe Assface. Their mandate is to deliver a unique mix of emotionally charged, physically demanding, silly, surreal stories.

A Kev ’n Cal Mystery is set to do all this and more, with a fully scripted, laugh out loud comedy mystery that will keep you guessing. With live music performed by Matt Gerber, whose recent children’s album Lady Bugs and Dandy Lions has garnered rave reviews.

Suitable for children! If they’re old enough to watch The Goonies, they’re old enough for Kev ‘n Cal!

the Assface project in association with The Toronto Fringe Festival presents:

A Kev ’n Cal Mystery

Created and Performed by Allan Turner and Christopher Hedrick

With Ted Ludzik, Darren Joy, and live music by Matt Gerber

Directed by Nigel Downer

July 4-15, 2018

Venue 6

Annex Theatre

736 Bathurst Street

Air Conditioned!

Performance Times

Wednesday, July 4 − 10:00 pm

Friday, July 6 − 1:15 pm

Saturday, July 7 − 5:45 pm

Monday, July 9 − 9:00 pm

Wednesday, July 11 − 1:45 pm

Friday, July 13 − 8:00 pm

Sunday, July 15 − 5:45 pm

Please note that there is absolutely no latecomer seating.

**Tickets on sale now**

Purchase online: www.fringetoronto.com

By Phone: 416-966-1062

In Person:

• Throughout the Festival at the Main Box Office at the Fringe Patio at Scadding Court

707 Dundas Street West

• One hour prior to show time at the Annex Theatre

736 Bathurst Street

Photo of Christopher Hedrick and Allan Turner by Fee Gunn

From Press Release

From Press Release

Do you believe in ghosts?

Nell has a secret. Ghosts have been talking to her all of her life. And after years of being ignored, they no longer want to stay quiet.

Restless Spirit is inspired by the lives of the Fox Sisters, who were born in Consecon, Ontario in the early 1800’s and are considered to be the first Mediums. They began speaking to ghosts through a series of knocks or “rappings”. By the late 1800’s, Spiritualism, the belief that the spirits of the dead exist and have both the ability and the inclination to communicate with the living, a phenomenon that had over eight million followers. And it all started with a knock…

Restless Spirit lets you return to a time where communicating with a departed loved one was a miraculous experience and the chance to be a part of a live séance was not to be missed.

Details

• Restless Spirit plays at the Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace. (16 Ryerson Ave.)
• Tickets are $13, including a $2 service charge. The festival also offers a range of money-saving passes and discounts for serious Fringers.
• Tickets can be purchased online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Festival Box Office at Scadding Court (707 Dundas St. W.), and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
• Content Warnings: Fog or haze effects; Audience participation.
• This venue is wheelchair-accessible. Accessible seating is in the very front row.
• Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.

Performances

• Friday July 6th, 4:00 pm
• Sunday July 8th, 11:00 pm
• Monday July 9th, 9:00 pm
• Tuesday July 10th, 8:00 pm
• Thursday July 12th, 5:15 pm
• Friday July 13th, 12:00 pm
• Sunday July 15th, 6:45 pm

Photo of Catherine Meyer and Nicole Marie McCafferty by Richard Burdett

From Press Release

The Toronto Fringe Festival presents the premier of Living Will by Helen-Claire Tingling, directed by Jillian Rees-Brown.

Living Will introduces siblings from a middle-class family who are called to a family meeting by their father, Wilfred to discuss his last wishes. Wilfred is in good health, and since he has never been in the hospital, he anticipates that he will likely die in his sleep. On the other hand, he is 79 years old and would like to get his affairs in order.

Crisis occurs when Wilfred suddenly becomes ill, and his children do not agree upon a course of action for his care. Wilfred’s son Jake tries to uphold his father’s wishes for no interventions, while other family members fight to keep him alive at any cost.

Living Will marks the return to the stage of film and TV actor Bill MacDonald (Traders, Rookie Blue, A History of Violence, Hush Little Baby). Mr. MacDonald heads a seasoned cast who have collectively amassed numerous stage, TV and film credits. Many of the cast have also starred in previous Fringe productions.

Details

• Living Will plays at the Factory Theatre Mainspace. (125 Bathurst St.)
• Tickets are $13, including a $2 service charge. The festival also offers a range of money-saving passes and discounts for serious Fringers.
• Tickets can be purchased online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Festival Box Office at Scadding Court (707 Dundas St. W.), and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
• Content Warnings: Mature language; Smoking.
• This venue is wheelchair-accessible through a secondary route.
• Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.

Performances

• Friday July 6th, 1:00 pm
• Saturday July 7th, 1:45 pm
• Monday July 9th, 1:00 pm
• Wednesday July 11th, 3:30 pm
• Thursday July 12th, 8:45 pm
• Saturday July 14th, 11:00 pm
• Sunday July 15th, 7:00 pm

Photo of Andrea Davis by Helen Tansey