Twelfe Night, Or what you will – Toronto 2015 Fringe Press Release

“ALE HOUSE BRINGS ITS ORIGINAL PRACTICES TWELFE NIGHT TO TORONTO FRINGE!”

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Excerpt from press release:

 Following its recent hit production of Othello, Toronto’s Ale House Theatre Co. resurrects a 90 minute cut of its crowd-pleasing Twelfe Night, Or what you will. In the land of Illyria, wild abandon rules and everything that is, isn’t. Separated at sea from her twin brother, Viola dresses as a man to serve Orsino, with whom she falls in love. Orsino wishes to have the lady Olivia who falls for Viola when she is tasked with wooing her on his behalf. All the while misrule triumphs as Sir Toby Belch and company torment the house steward, Malvolio, in the name of revenge and excellent sport.

 

“Twelfe Night is the sort of play that shatters ridiculous but endured assumptions of Shakespeare and his characters,” says director Joshua Stodart. Over the course of four Shakespeare productions, Ale House has used Original Practices as a launch pad for some of the most surprisingly fresh productions in Toronto Theatre. “Behind 400 years of plaque we find a world where people were as vibrant, complex, and familiar as people today and where ale was safer to drink than water.” AleHouse believes Original Practices to be one of many invigorating ways to bring life back to Shakespeare’s characters.

“It turns out that, despite what recent Stratford seasons have taught us, original practices actually can showcase Shakespeare at its best… [OP productions] often shy away from word pairings like “interesting interpretation” but insightful director Joshua Stodart places no such restrictions on his production, regardless of its traditional aesthetic. Each character here feels newly considered and thoughtfully developed…”

Kelly Bedard, Othello, My Entertainment World, 2015 Twelfe Night, Or what you will. was first performed in 2013. This 90 minute cut aims to defy expectations and renew excitement for Shakespeare in Toronto. Don’t miss it!

Showtimes:

July 1, 10:30pm
July 3, 1:15pm
July 5, 3:30pm
July 6, 8:15pm
July 7, 4:30pm
July 9, 7:00pm
July 12, 4:30pm

 

Venue: 
St. Vladimir Theatre, 620 Spadina Ave.

Tickets for all Fringe productions are $10, $12 in advance. Tickets can be purchased online, by phone (416-966-1062, business hours only), in-person from the festival box office located in the parking lot behind Honest Ed’s, (481 Bloor West), or — if any remain — from the venue box office (cash-only), starting one hour before showtime.

The festival offers a range of money-saving passes for committed Fringers; see website for details.

Be advised that Fringe shows always start exactly on time, and latecomers are never admitted.

Photo provided by company.

Regicide – Toronto 2015 Press Release

“[S]ketch comedy revue delves head first into the insecurities and frustrations of humanity!”

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Excerpt from press release:

 TORONTO – Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Hide your Kings and Queens. Regicide is coming to Toronto Fringe, as six Toronto comedians join forces to write and perform this unique, quick-witted show.Under the direction of current Second City Mainstage Director, Kerry Griffin, this sketch comedy revue delves head first into the insecurities and frustrations of humanity. Expect song, scenes, dance and even a few spins on the catwalk. Regicide pokes fun at the status quo and puts a satirical twist on current affairs.

Fresh off San Diego’s Finest City Improv Festival and Toronto Sketchfest, these performers are ready to rule The Toronto Fringe Festival.

“Regicide is a charismatic team. They were one of the hits of the San Diego Improv Festival, receiving several ‘Best of Fest’ votes.” – Kevin Dolan, Programming Committee, Finest City Improv Festival, San Diego.

No royalty will be harmed in the making of this production.

Showtimes:

July 01 at 08:15 PM

July 04 at 07:30 PM

July 06 at 05:00 PM

July 07 at 03:00 PM

July 09 at 12:15 PM

July 10 at 09:15 PM

July 11 at 03:30 PM

Venue: 
Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse

Tickets for all Fringe productions are $10, $12 in advance. Tickets can be purchased online, by phone (416-966-1062, business hours only), in-person from the festival box office located in the parking lot behind Honest Ed’s, (481 Bloor West), or — if any remain — from the venue box office (cash-only), starting one hour before showtime.

The festival offers a range of money-saving passes for committed Fringers; see website for details.

Be advised that Fringe shows always start exactly on time, and latecomers are never admitted.

Photo provided by company.

Uncle Tommy’s Campfire Ghost Stories (For Grown-Ups) – Toronto 2015 Fringe Press Release

“[A]n after-dark, NSFW twist on the tradition of getting around the fire and getting scared!”

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Excerpt from press release:

Join your Uncle Tommy under the stars and by the light of the “fire” (‘cuz you sure don’t wanna be near him in the dark). All the nostalgic thrills of sitting round the campfire with friends, telling scary stories & eating burnt things on sticks. Except told by some sketchy dude in a backyard in Kensington Market.

Uncle Tommy’s Campfire Ghost Stories (for Grown-Ups) is an after-dark, NSFW twist on the tradition of getting around the fire and getting scared. An outdoor, site-specific one-man Fringe show, taking place in the backyard of FIKA Café in Kensington Market. Audience members are invited to pull up a blanket or log and join Uncle Tommy on a dark and twisted journey with his collection of inappropriate tales. Audience members are also invited to NOT feed/touch/ share needles with Uncle Tommy. The venue, FIKA Cafe, will be selling campfire inspired goodies and refreshing beverages to enjoy during the show for a full campfire experience.

Writer/Performer Tommy Taylor’s previous award-winning one-man show had him touring across Canada telling a different kind of scary story- The 2013 national tour of You Should Have Stayed Home: A G20 Romp! detailed Taylor’s arrest and detention at the infamous Toronto G20 Summit. “I thought this year I’d tell a different kind of scary story. More spooky ghosts, less horrific accounts of human rights abuses.” said Taylor.

Showtimes:

July 01 at 10:00 PM
July 02 at 10:00 PM
July 03 at 11:00 PM
July 04 at 11:00 PM
July 05 at 10:00 PM
July 07 at 10:00 PM
July 08 at 10:00 PM
July 09 at 10:00 PM
July 10 at 11:00 PM
July 11 at 11:00 PM
July 12 at 10:00 PM

Venue: 
Site-specific (in the backyard of 
FIKA 
Café
 in 
Kensington
Market)

Tickets for all Fringe productions are $10, $12 in advance. Tickets can be purchased online, by phone (416-966-1062, business hours only), in-person from the festival box office located in the parking lot behind Honest Ed’s, (481 Bloor West), or — if any remain — from the venue box office (cash-only), starting one hour before showtime.

The festival offers a range of money-saving passes for committed Fringers; see website for details.

Be advised that Fringe shows always start exactly on time, and latecomers are never admitted.

Photo provided by company.

Review: Good News, Toronto: The Show (Comedy Bar)

Hosts Michelle Parkes and Korri Birch find the news that fits

Good News, Toronto is a monthly comedic newscast at the Comedy Bar

Imagine you’re on a tour of the old CFTO studios in the east end of Toronto, visiting the set of the CTV News at 6 when out of nowhere, a production assistant runs up and hands you a script. Slamming you in a chair and pointing you at a camera, the PA yells “Three…two…” and points. A red light flares and everyone stares.

Such is the seemingly unrehearsed charm of Good News, Toronto, a monthly show at Comedy Bar that tries to bring comedic context to recent events. From Republican nominees to the Pan Am Games, the Gardiner Expressway to phallic Legos, John Tory to things that look like vaginas (hello, City Hall). Continue reading Review: Good News, Toronto: The Show (Comedy Bar) →

Review: MUSEment (Toronto Dance Project)

10561786_794848493946702_6346544181524298310_nToronto Dance Project’s MUSEment has something for everyone

The Toronto Dance Project is a company that trains emerging dance professionals ready to launch their careers. MUSEment, which played at the Winchester Street Theatre on June 24 to 26, highlighted some of the amazing work they’ve done throughout the year.

Before the show began, director Lindsay Ritter announced that there would be something for everyone: contemporary, ballet, hip-hop, you name it. She wasn’t lying. MUSEment featured 34 wonderful and diverse numbers.

Continue reading Review: MUSEment (Toronto Dance Project) →