The Rivoli’s Viva Cabaret takes the stage and Kicks Off Toronto’s WorldPride In Campy Style

Viva Cabaret, performed by Yury Ruzhyev at The Rivoli on July 25 and 26, was an absolutely delightful cabaret drag show and the perfect way to kick off Pride weekend a day early. Ruzhyev performs numbers from a dozen of pop music’s greatest Divas with great accuracy and rapidity, making for a night of madcap comedy.

The show itself combines two good-time events: a drag show and a cabaret. Both encourage audience participation and both rely on strong, fun, energetic performances to be great. Ruzhyev takes advantage of these art forms to create a highly energetic, highly engaging show.

Continue reading Review: Viva Cabaret – A Tribute to the Greatest Divas (Rivoli) →

For better or for worse, digital technology has literally made a whole world of products and services available at the click of a button. Without leaving home, you can order up your favourite takeout meal, watch a cinematic masterpiece – and yes, even find a partner for a quick, no-strings fling.

Currently playing at The Winchester Street Theatre, MSM [Men Seeking Men] is a mixed-media, one-hour production that meshes electronic music, interpretive dance and dialogue derived from real online chats to explore the realm of anonymous gay sex.

Caution: this production is not for the timid.

Continue reading Review: MSM [Men Seeking Men] (lemonTree creations/Spiderbones Performing Arts) →

From Press Release

Fat Virgin turns SLUT

Following on the success of “Bitch. A cathartic purge based on a true story.” at Toronto Fringe 2013, Beer In A Glass Productions continues to explore the themes of women’s sexual experiences with their signature funny, raunchy take. What started as Erin Norah Thompson’s idea for a silly, sexy, cabaret-style show, “SLUT” blossomed into an original one-woman musical under the dramaturgical guidance and direction of Dahlia Katz. Together, they have given us Diana, a woman who is complete, and strong, and troubled. She’s shy and awkward, but confident and driven. She’s sexually adventurous and proud of it, but keen to get married and have kids. Can these desires exist in one woman without one side winning over the other?

Playwright and star Erin Norah Thompson started her professional acting career ten years ago in two very different roles – the small but memorable role of Dawn Schweitzer (the fat, virgin jock with the huge ass in Mean Girls) and as one of Shakespeare’s great villains, Lady Macbeth (Shakespeare in the Square). In many ways, both of these characters are, like so many other female characters, defined by their sexuality, their sexual experience, and their ability to be attractive to and partner with a man. Women are expected to be sexy, and to be good at sex, but have no experience. If she does have experience, or if she enjoys sex too much, she’s a SLUT, and this slut just wants to be happy.

So if you want to hear some catchy original songs, and funny, touching stories (that may make you want to touch yourself) don’t miss SLUT!

 

Beer In A Glass Productions

in association with The Toronto Fringe Festival presents

SLUT

Written by and starring Erin Norah Thompson

Music and Lyrics by Robert Steven Wilkinson and Erin Norah Thompson

Directed by Dahlia Katz

Choreography by Ayesha Mansur

Produced by Tracey Beltrano

Set and Costume Design by Rachel Ford Stage managed by Heather Lacey

 

Opens July 4th, 2014 runs to July 12th, 2014

ANNEX THEATRE, 736 Bathurst St

Performances:

July 4, 7:00pm

July 5, 7:00pm

July 7, 5:00pm

July 9, 5:45pm

July 10, 1:45pm

July 11, 9:45pm

July 12, 11:30pm

 

Please note that there is absolutely no latecomer seating.

Tickets:

Tickets will be available online and by phone June 12th 2014. Advance tickets $12. At-the-door tickets $10.

100% of tickets will be available online, over the phone, or at the Festival Box Office up to three hours before show time.

Any unsold tickets will be available for purchase at individual venues starting one hour prior to show time.

Purchase online: fringetoronto.com.

By Phone: 416-966-1062

In Person: During the Festival Box Office in the parking lot behind Honest Ed’s (581 Bloor St W)

From Press Release

Fringe Festival Favorites Peter ‘n Chris Return with a Brand-new, Western Themed show

Peter n’ Chris (Peter Carlone and Chris Wilson) are a Canadian Comedy Award winning, and 3 time Canadian Comedy Award Nominated sketch troupe from Vancouver BC (Best Sketch Troupe 2012/2013, and Best Comedic Play 2013).  Having formed in 2009, their narrative driven, cinematic and extremely physical style has already earned them a following and rave reviews across Canada and the U.S, and a spot in the JUST FOR LAUGHS 42 comedy festival in Toronto this fall.

They were a headlining act at the 2013  and 2014 Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival, won the 2012 and 2013 JUST FOR LAUGHS- Best Comedy Award in Montreal and earned the “Audience Choice” award at the 2011  and 2014 Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival.  They also have several ‘Best of Fest” Awards from fringe festivals across the country. They have played in the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival, Seattle SketchFest, and Gilda’s LaughFest in Grand Rapids Michigan. Peter Carlone and Chris Wilson are also contributing writers to the sketch comedy program The Irrelevant Show, on CBC Radio

This Toronto fringe, they return with their newest, most hilarious, most western-themed show yet!  Peter n’ Chris and the Kinda OK Corral is a send up of the western genre in the style only Peter n’ Chris can do. The story revolves around Peter Earp and Texas Chris, as they navigate the rules of the Wild West and their new and strained friendship in order to win back Peter’s Earp’s farm. This play won the 2014 Audience Choice Award at the Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival, has already been performed to numerous sold-out houses, and was selected to be performed in JFL42 in Toronto during the fall of 2014.  Do not miss what is absolutely Peter n’ Chris’ funniest, fastest, and most physical show to date

Peter n’ Chris are also currently adapting their Canadian Comedy Award nominated play Peter n’ Chris at the Mystery of the Hungry Heart Motel into a brand new webseries called Hardly Men. Check www.peterNchris.com for more information on Fringe show times, and how you can donate to their web-series indigogo campain.

Peter n’ Chris and the Kinda OK Corral runs in the Toronto Fringe Festival July 2 – 13th at the Randolph Theatre