From Press Release

The Toronto Fringe Festival presents

This Ain’t The Yellow Brick Road

Jake Steele has led one hell of a life. Well, actually, he’s led several, though not entirely by choice. HIV positive from a blood transfusion in his teens, Jake refused to take his diagnosis – and the terrible stigma associated with it in those days – lying down. Told he would never work again, near death three times (so far!), Jake’s spirit is irrepressible, and his life an adventure that will take you down a path few will ever walk. THIS AINT THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD, plays  July 2-13 at the Theatre Passe Muraille ExtraSpace as part of the 2014 Toronto Fringe Festival. Tickets are available via www.fringetoronto.com or 416-966-1062 ext. 1, or at the door.

“I remember the first time I met Jake, and I thought: this guy can’t be for real. He sees life in a way that very few can ever imagine. You can’t help but be drawn in.” ~ Geoff Wyndeorff, Denmark

THIS AINT THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD is an evening of fascinating stories that span Jake’s incredible life and his unique way of looking at the world.  He’s been a dancer/singer, a hospitality industry executive, a network marketing expert and training specialist, and an LGBT/AIDS activist who helped fund and support the AIDS Committee of Toronto, Toronto People With AIDS Foundation, and Casey House (Canada’s first stand-alone treatment facility for people with HIV/AIDS). THIS AINT THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD developed after Jake’s most recent brush with death in 2010—a brain tumour that left him without his memories, paralyzed for over a year, and not expected to recover. But Jake fought back, regained his health against near-impossible odds, and wrote a book about his life using a series of memoir recordings he made before the tumour laid him low.

“I have watched him take audiences on dream trips, goal-setting marathons and life-changing journeys… I love being in his audience. Enjoy the journey, and buckle up… because the ride will be life-enriching!”  ~ Sean Murphy, Dallas TX

“His simple yet wacky approach to life’s challenges will literally blow you away. He makes it seem so easy. He approaches every challenge head-on and always believes that there isn’t a challenge that can’t be overcome.”   ~ Danial Reading, London England

Jake knows his story could be seen as horrific by many standards, but his way through it all is to poke fun at it—poke back at it—and never let himself lose his sense of humour.  THIS AINT THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD is a darkly quirky comedic review of his challenges, crazy antics, and the fact that after all this, as he puts it, “All I want to do is provide hope, and a smile…Fourth time’s a charm, right? I’m still here.” Jake Steele and THIS AINT THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD truly is a storytelling experience not to be missed!

SHOW INFO for THIS AINT THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD:

Venue: Theatre Passe Muraille Extra Space, 16 Ryerson Ave, Toronto.

Dates & Times:

Wed, July 2 @ 8:15pm

Fri, July 4 @ 6:30pm

Sun, July 6 @ 1:15pm

Mon, July 7 @ 4:30pm

Wed, July 9 @ 7:00pm

Fri, July 11 @ 1:45pm

Sat, July 12 @ 11:00pm

Tickets:

$10 at the door (cash only) or $12 in advance (Visa or MasterCard, service charge included)

Beginning June 12 via www.fringetoronto.com, by telephone at 416-966-1062 (ext.1), or at the door.

Show running time is 45 minutes.    **Please note that there is absolutely no latecomer seating**

From Press Release

Dealing with the romantic relationship of two teenagers, the new comedy Myth Of The Ostrich is loaded with sex, drugs, deception, and even a missing condom… and that’s just  the mothers…

After Pam finds an inappropriate letter from her teenage son to his mystery girlfriend, she arrives unannounced at Holly’s house to discuss their children’s relationship. What starts as a pleasant visit, quickly takes a complicated, bizarre, and hilarious turn. This fast-paced comedy is an exploration of two mothers with polar-opposite parenting styles, values and beliefs, and their dealings with the inaccurate realities surrounding their teenager’s relationship.

Myth Of The Ostrich is the second play from Matt Murray, co-writer of the 2011 Toronto Fringe Festival hit Remember, Maggy?, which played to sold out houses and was chosen as Best Of Fringe. Remember, Maggy? has since gone on to have three subsequent productions – Sarnia, Orillia, South Dakota – with a fourth happening at the Toronto Centre For The Arts this January, 2015.

Directed by Steven Gallagher (Craplicker, Memorial, Stealing Sam), Myth Of The Ostrich features a stellar cast: Dora Award Winner Astrid Van Wieren (This Wilde Night, Hatched, Mamma Mia!) Alanis Peart (Remember, Maggy?, West End’s The Postman Always Rings Twice) and Renee Hackett (Tempting Providence, Leaving Home).

Offside Productions in association with The Toronto Fringe Festival presents:
Myth Of The Ostrich
Written by Matt Murray
Directed by Steven Gallagher
Starring Astrid Van Wieren, Alanis Peart, Renee Hackett
Lighting Design and Stage Management by Kierston Drier

Performances: July 2nd – July 13th at St. Vladimir’s Institute – 620 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON M5S 2H4
Wednesday, July 2, 2014 – 10:30pm – 12:00am
Friday, July 4, 2014 – 1:15pm – 2:45pm
Sunday, July 6, 2014 – 3:30pm – 5:00pm
Monday, July 7, 2014 – 8:15pm – 9:45pm
Tuesday, July 8, 2014 – 4:30pm – 6:00pm
Thursday, July 10, 2014 – 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Sunday, July 13, 2014 – 4:30pm – 6:00pm

Ticket Info – $12 in advance/$10 at the door
Online: June 12th at www.fringetoronto.com
By Phone: June 12th call (416) 966-1062 x1 Visa and MasterCard
In Person: Tickets not purchased in advance are available at the venue, one hour before performance.
Box Office July 2nd – 13th, 12pm – 9pm – will be located in the parking lot behind Honest Ed’s (581 Bloor St. W.)
Please note that there is absolutely no latecomer seating.

From press release

Time Stands Still

for Artichoke Heart’s Cirqular

Set in a world governed by the tick tock of the clock, a young girl explores beyond the city boundaries and comes upon a group of rebels uncovering a dark secret hiding within the clocktower.  Cirqular, a new puppetry piece by Artichoke Heart, investigates our relationship with man-made mechanical time and how it affects our views on life, aging and death.  This story is told without the use of language; sound and movement guide the narrative. Continue reading Cirqular – Toronto Fringe 2014 Press Release →

From press release

June 10, 2014, TORONTO— A black woman and a Jewish man walk into a bar. Sounds like the opening to a racy joke but it’s the true story of Nai’mah Hassan and Steve Epstein of The Black and the Jew. This 21st century love story brings razor sharp insights on race, sex, politics and relationships to Toronto for its Canadian debut July 3 at Toronto Fringe Festival in the Annex Theatre (730 Bathurst St) with their show She’s Black, He’s Jewish, They’re Married, Oy Vey! Continue reading She’s Black, He’s Jewish, They’re Married, Oy Vey! – Toronto Fringe 2014 Press Release →