From Press Release

“32 Short Sketches About Bees” running from July 6th to July 16th at the Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse. Conceptually inspired by “32 Short Films About Glen Gould”, this show is a play on words that will play with your mind.

This 6 person cast with a deep fondness for bees has taken on the heroic task of fitting 32 sketches into a 55 min show. It promises to be an easter egg hunt of a production. Any kind of bee is fair game: honey bees, the letter B, and even Bea Arthur. This show will be a test of the creative limits of its cast, and will challenge the format of a conventional sketch comedy show. The freedom to explore and experiment in this way is only possible at a festival like the Toronto Fringe, and “32 Short Sketches About Bees” promises to make the most of this opportunity.

“32 Short Sketches about Bees” is written and performed by the ensemble cast of Andrew Bushell, Leigh Cameron, Claire Farmer, Jessica Greco, Shannon Lahaie, Chris Leveille and Cameron Wyllie and co created / directed by Paul Bates. Bates has won numerous Canadian Comedy Awards, and received NOW Magazine’s 2013 Reader’s Choice Award for Best Male Improviser. This creative team is made up of performers from Toronto’s funniest and most celebrated sketch comedy and improv troupes, including Dame Judy Dench, O Dat Dum, and the Bad Dog stage, making them an all-star cast of characters brought together by one commonality, bees.

Details

• 32 Short Sketches About Bees 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.
• Content Warnings: Gunshots, Sexual Content, Fog, Mist or Haze Effects, Audience Participation, Mature Language.
• This venue is wheelchair-accessible.

Performances

• Thursday July 6th, 10:30 pm
• Saturday July 8th, 03:30 pm
• Monday July 10th, 04:30 pm
• Wednesday July 12th, 08:45 pm
• Thursday July 13th, 11:30 pm
• Friday July 14th, 07:30 pm
• Sunday July 16th, 12:00 pm

Photo of Jessica Greco, Andrew Bushell, Leigh Cameron, Shannon Lahaie, Chris Leveille, Cameron Wyllie by Connor Low

From Press Release

“White Wedding” is a new site specific play written and directed by Taylor Marie Graham premiering at the 2017 Toronto Fringe. This bizarre comedy set in a hallway above a wedding reception venue explores those inevitable life questions that come up after all the anticipation of a wedding is over. Who are we really? And what is the point of it all?

Short Play Description

Lisa, and her brilliantly analytical mind, are having trouble understanding why we spend so much time celebrating painful emotions like love. Will attending her childhood best friend’s wedding at her old high school help clear things up? Maybe she should just hide upstairs.

About the Playwright / Director

Taylor Marie Graham is a playwright, director, producer, and educator living in Toronto. In 2016, celebrated playwright Judith Thompson named Taylor as the up and coming playwright to watch in Playwrights Guild of Canada’s The Playwright Applause campaign. Thompson described Taylor’s play Cottage Radio as, “a dynamic, complex, and very funny play with fabulous music set in beautiful and historic Goderich. Taylor Graham has written such rich and delicious characters, people who are familiar and yet presented in an utterly unique way. I am thrilled to see such a powerful play set in small town Ontario – true Canadiana, and yet, universal!” Taylor’s writing has also been described as “charmingly twisted” (John Terauds, Toronto Star), “delivering notes of comedy, irony and real feeling” (John Kaplan, NOW Magazine), “with good humour, warmth, and intelligence” (Andrea Romaldi), and “searingly written. . . a significant accomplishment!” (Bill Mandel). Taylor is the recipient of the George Ryga Award for Excellence in Playwrighting from York University and the Connie Rooke Scholarship from the University of Guelph. She has received multiple Ontario Arts Council theatre creator reserve grants for the development of her writing, and her opera The Virgin Charlie was nominated in 2008 for a Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Opera / Musical. www.taylormariegraham.com

Details of Production

Playwright & Director: Taylor Marie Graham

Assistant Directors: Emily Jenkins & Sebastian Biasucci

Producers: Sabrina Spence & Taylor Marie Graham

Designer: Lindsay Woods

Cast: Kayla Whelan, Dave Martin, Daniel Cristofori, Cass Van Wyck, Lauren Wolanski, Nabil Traboulski, Ermina Pérez, & Jeanette Dagger

Location: Upstairs Hallway of Artscape Youngplace, 180 Shaw Street

Details

• White Wedding plays at Artscape Youngplace Upstairs Hall. (180 Shaw 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.
• Content Warnings: Sexual Content, Smoking, Mature Language.
• The Fringe Festival considers this venue to be wheelchair-accessible.

Performances

• Friday July 7th, 09:00 pm
• Saturday July 8th, 02:00 pm
• Saturday July 8th, 06:00 pm
• Saturday July 8th, 09:00 pm
• Sunday July 9th, 02:00 pm
• Sunday July 9th, 06:00 pm
• Sunday July 9th, 09:00 pm
• Thursday July 13th, 09:00 pm
• Friday July 14th, 09:00 pm
• Saturday July 15th, 02:00 pm
• Saturday July 15th, 06:00 pm
• Saturday July 15th, 09:00 pm

Photo of Daniel Cristofori, Kayla Whelan, and Ermina Pérez by Gerald Gilmore

From Press Release

“Family never felt so foreign.” 

A hilarious and heartfelt one-Franco show about being Franco Nguyen

The future of funny, Franco Nguyen, dives into his not-so-funny past. Fresh off his featured performance at the NBC Breakout Comedy Festival in Chicago, this award-winning comedian shares his stories about going to Vietnam for the first time in 25 years, meeting his previously non-existent 8 year-old step-brother and being re-introduced to the parents he thought he knew. Part stand up and part theatre, Nguyen’s unique and hilarious perspective will be showcased in this one-person show debuting at the 2017 Toronto Fringe Festival. 

“If you don’t know what divorce feels like, it’s a game of monkey in the middle. But instead of throwing a ball, your parents are throwing anger and resentment. And instead of throwing it over you, they’re throwing it at you. And if you catch it, it’s your fault….”  -Franco Nguyen

Vietnamese-Canadian, Franco Nguyen is a rising comedic star. His ascent though the comedy ranks started when he was featured in the Second City Tim Sims Cream of Comedy. He won the producers pick at the 2017 Toronto SketchFest and the Best Newcomer Award at the 2017 Montreal SketchFest with his sketch troupe TALLBOYZ II MEN. Franco is a recent alumnus of The Second City’s Bob Curry Fellowship and is a familiar face at stand-up clubs and comedy venues across Toronto.  He lives with his mom.

FRANCO NGUYEN in association with The Toronto Fringe Festival presents

SOARING IN LIQUID SKIES

Written and Performed by Franco Nguyen, Directed by Darrel Gamotin

Staged managed by Ana-Marija Stojic

Details

• Soaring in Liquid Skies 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.
• This venue is wheelchair-accessible, with some tight cornering. Accessible seating is in the front row.

Performances

• Wednesday July 5th, 08:15 pm
• Friday July 7th, 04:45 pm
• Saturday July 8th, 05:00 pm
• Monday July 10th, 09:15 pm
• Tuesday July 11th, 03:15 pm
• Wednesday July 12th, 10:00 pm
• Friday July 14th, 01:45 pm
• Sunday July 16th, 05:45 pm

Photo of Franco Nguyen by Dan Abramovici

From Press Release

Unspoken Theatre is proud to present Death Meets Harlequin at Toronto Fringe KidsFest with special guest performances by Deflying Feets circus troupe (July 11-16). Death Meets Harlequin by award-winning Toronto playwright Nina Kaye is a family friendly comedy that integrates music, Commedia dell’Arte, symbolism, and archetype to explore themes of family, love, loss and transformation. Harlequin is a wide-eyed boy who loves to chase butterflies and play guitar, while his strict father the Doctor, despairs at his son’s lack of work ethic. A musical encounter with Death awakens the father and son to new perspectives. In English with some Spanish.

Tom Beattie stars as Harlequin, returning to Fringe Festival with Unspoken Theatre after the production of the award-winning play Mood Swings in 2016, alongside indie favourite Thomas Gough as the Doctor (Hamlet/ Hart House; Blood Relations/Alumnae; Donors/Safeword; Much Ado/Single Thread;Lear/Soupcan; Human Furniture/Storefront). Aleksandra Maslennikova (Anne Frank/Marion Abbott; Red Lacquered Box/Alumnae; The Tarot Show/Unspoken) completes the acting team in the role of Death. Nina Kaye (with playwriting awards from Hart House Players, Sterling Studio and directing credits withAlumnae, Unspoken, Bard in the Park) writes and directs.

Deflying Feets circus troupe performs a special pre-show July 11, 13, 15 and 16. Founded in 2009 as a solo hand-balancing act, the company has grown to include a multi-talented group of artists covering a wide range of circus specialties. Current members, Andralyn Zayn; Duane Steel; Glory Dearling; and Leigh Louiseperform Icarian games, Hand-balancing, Hand-to-Hand, Aerial Hoop, Silks, Spanish Web, Duo Trapeze and Teeterboard. http://deflyingfeets.com

Unspoken Theatre was founded in 2011 by sisters, Natalie & Nina Kaye. The company has produced & developed over a dozen plays in a variety of genres including award-winning new works, children’s theatre, 1920’s cabaret, & raw adult drama. The company focuses on new writing by local female playwrights featuring a classical or mythological element. www.unspokentheatrecompany.weebly.com

Press and reviews:  One of “our city’s best emergent playwrights”, characters “are caricatures, delightfully so”, and the show’s music is “striking” “comical” and “pretty” – Mooney on Theatre

Death Meets Harlequin has “A terrific interaction between father and son” “Mesmerizing singing” “Great acting” – audience comments on Facebook

Details

• Death Meets Harlequin plays at the George Ignatieff Theatre. (15 Devonshire Pl.)
• Tickets for Kidsfest shows are $5 for kids (age 12 and younger); adults pay $12.
• 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.
• The George Ignatieff Theatre is wheelchair-accessible, and has wide aisles for easy mid-show exits.
• Don’t miss the Kidsfest club located on the lawn adjacent to the venue! Free activities for children (3-12) and caregivers run every day of the festival: see website for details.
• Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.

Performances

• Wednesday July 5th, 04:15 pm
• Friday July 7th, 01:45 pm
• Sunday July 9th, 11:45 am
• Tuesday July 11th, 01:15 pm
• Thursday July 13th, 04:30 pm
• Saturday July 15th, 10:00 am
• Sunday July 16th, 11:45 am

Photo of Aleksandra Maslennikova by Aaliya Alibhai

From press release:

Shirley Gnome is making her Toronto Fringe debut with the Canadian premiere of Taking It Up The Notch.

Hailing from Vancouver and currently signed to 604 Records (Canada’s largest independent music label), this international multi-award winning cabaret comedian has wowed critics and audiences alike with her unique brand of witty, explicit, boundary-pushing satirical music. She is regularly featured on SiriusXM stations all over North America and was recently a guest performer on Dan Savage’s #1 rated podcast The Savage Lovecast.

In Taking It Up The Notch, Gnome deals with the pressure of her first record deal by attempting to develop a moral compass to guide her in making an album for troubled times. Dark humour and taboo notions about sexuality and human nature mix with beautiful vocals, gorgeous guitar stylings, and epic backing tracks.

She returns to Canada after a three-month sell-out tour of Australia and New Zealand, where she received critical acclaim for her performances of Taking It Up The Notch. She was also featured as the closing act of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s all-female comedy showcase UpFront.

Fans of Garfunkel and Oats and Tenacious D, get ready to be taken to the next level.

Details

• Shirley Gnome: Taking It Up The Notch plays at the Factory Studio. (125 Bathurst 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.
• Content Warnings: Unsuitable for Minors, Sexual Content, Realistic Violence or Gore, Nudity, Mature Language.
• This venue is accessible.

Performances

• Wednesday July 5th, 10:30 pm
• Saturday July 8th, 02:00 pm
• Monday July 10th, 07:00 pm
• Wednesday July 12th, 09:30 pm
• Thursday July 13th, 04:15 pm
• Friday July 14th, 05:30 pm
• Sunday July 16th, 02:00 pm

Photo credit: Rufio Van Hoover.