Lust & Marriage – 2015 Toronto Fringe Press Release

“Who said marriage has to be boring? From the creator of GGG: Dominatrix 4 Dummies and Inviting Desire comes a sex-positive comedy that explodes the conundrums of couple-hood”

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Excerpt from press release:

Emily is a hopelessly romantic ethical slut in search of a soul mate. When a Burning Man fling turns out to be the love of her life, she thinks she’s found her happy ending. But her paramour doesn’t pine for monogamy. What’s a Pollyanna to do? Can polyamory save their romance? A runaway hit of the Portland, OR Solo Festival in 2014, Lust & Marriage is an honest and intimate comedy that explores the complexities of relationship, and what happens when two become three.

Eleanor O’Brien is the artistic director of Dance Naked Productions, a Portland, OR based company known for provocative, sex-positive theater. Inspired by renown Fringe monologist TJ Dawe, O’Brien created the smash hit GGG: Dominatrix for Dummies (*****Edmonton Sun) after discovering the fringe while touring a kid’s show. She returned again with the ensemble production Inviting Desire, and is back this year as a CAFF winner with Lust & Marriage. O’Brien wrote and performs the allegorical story, and has collaborated with director Antonio Sonera and dramaturge TJ Dawe.

“I have long been fascinated by the work of sex advice columnist Dan Savage, and his influence on sexuality in popular culture,” says O’Brien. “I was inspired to create Lust & Marriage after Dan put out a call for stories from the ‘successfully monogamish’. (Savage has given the script his blessing and recorded his voice for use in the show). “Having tried both monogamy and polyamory, I use a lot of my own material. Turns out, there’s quite a bit of comedy in opening a marriage. Ultimately, it’s a love story, with a healthy dose of lust”.

As a CAFF winner, Lust & Marriage will tour throughout the summer of 2015 to Montréal, Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Vancouver, BC, as well as nightly performances at Burning Man.

Showtimes:

Wed July 1 @ 10PM
Fri July 3 @ 3PM
Sun July 5 @ 8PM
Mon July 6 @ 1PM
Tue July 7 @ 8:15PM
Thu July 9 @ 2PM
Fri July 10 @ 7PM

Venue:  The Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse (79 St George St)

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 Lloyd Lemmerman.

The Woolgatherer – 2015 Toronto Fringe Press Release

Having “skeletons in the closet” has never been sexier!

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Excerpt from press release:

Boy meets girl.  Add a run-down apartment, a barrage of quirks, and several unsolved mysteries…and things are bound to spiral out of control!

The Woolgatherer is KD’s inaugural production, and is also the first script written by famed American playwright William Mastrosimone.  The artists at KD believe in the power of Mastrosimone’s words.  They have been known to repeat the mantra, “if it ain’t on the page, it ain’t on the stage”, which, roughly translated, means that they are thrilled to be tackling such a strong text.

Directed by Yehuda Fisher, the show features Kayla Whelan and Jonathan Shatzky.  Fisher is the Artistic Producer of Panfish Productions, a company dedicated to the development of new Canadian work.  He has helmed four pieces in the InspiraTO Festival over the last two years.  Whelan co-produced and performed to critical acclaim in Harold Pinter’s Betrayal at the 2012 Hamilton Fringe Festival.  She has filmed commercials for Much Music andThe Comedy Network, and saw a UFO on Close Encounters.  Shatzky has appeared on Flashpoint, Lost Girl, and in the film Francine, starring Oscar-winner Melissa Leo.

Showtimes:

July 1st @ 6:30 p.m.
July 3rd @ 1:15 p.m.
July 5th @ 4:00 p.m.
July 8th @ 9:15 p.m.
July 9th @ 11:00 p.m.
July 11th @ 7:30 p.m.
July 12th @ 12:00 p.m.

Venue: The Annex Theatre, 730 Bathurst St.

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 Dahlia Katz.

Cootie Catcher – Toronto Fringe 2015 Press Release

“One-man show that balances the pros and cons of promiscuity and the paranoia around sexually transmitted diseases”

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Excerpt from press release:

Lucas Brooks will present Cootie Catcher,​ a one-man show that balances the pros and cons of promiscuity and the paranoia around sexually transmitted diseases.

In this hilarious and borderline-terrifying reflection, Lucas looks back on his many close encounters of the sexually transmissible kind. Through his naked (yet carefully wrapped) adventures, he struggles with his ability to remain sex-positive in an HIV-negative society.

 

Showtimes:

Friday, July 3, 2015 – 6:30pm
Saturday, July 4, 2015 – 10:30pm
Monday, July 6, 2015 – 4:45pm
Tuesday, July 7, 2015 – 3:00pm
Wednesday, July 8, 2015 – 7:30pm
Friday, July 10, 2015 – 4:00pm
Saturday, July 11, 2015 – 4:00pm

Venue: The Factory Theatre Studio

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 the company.

That’s Just 5 Kids in a Trench Coat! – Toronto Fringe 2015 Press Release

From Press Release:

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That’s Just 5 Kids In a Trench Coat!

Dame Judy Dench is proud to present their Sophomore outing That’s Just 5 Kids in a Trench Coat. A 50min sketch comedy show that you didn’t see coming. Dame Judy Dench is back with their bent perspective, distinctive voice and intelligent brand of comedy.
Continue reading That’s Just 5 Kids in a Trench Coat! – Toronto Fringe 2015 Press Release

SHEVIL: The Musical – Toronto Fringe 2015 Press Release

With the help of her evil Wenchman, can Shevil destroy the city of Peril and become the woman she was meant to be?

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Excerpt from press release:

For one super villain the time has come! Shevil is here and she WILL rule the world! With opposition at every turn, Shevil has to challenge the sexist Mayor, her traditional mother, AND an impotent Superhero. With the help of her evil Wenchman, can Shevil destroy the city of Peril and become the woman she was meant to be?

It was 2008. Actor/Director Tim Cadenyand Actor/Musical Director Chris King were co-teaching a Junior High School Musical Theatre class in North Vancouver, BC. The class was predominantly female, butthey were having trouble findingashow with enoughstrong female roles… So? They decided to write one.

Tim and Chris knew that it was important to create a musical that had a relevant, good, strong message. Already long time comic book superhero fans, they invented the city of “Peril”, where evil lurks, but a hero always saves the day. The goal was to explore good vs. evil, but also gender equality-proving that women can be anything they set out to be.

The show was a local success and got rave reviews. In the audience was Randolph Academy grad Nadia Mear who had recently moved back out West. She was friends with Tim and Chris knew immediately that she wanted to play the character ‘Shevil’ one day… even if she had to produce it herself!

And the rest (you could say) is showbiz history. We moved back to Toronto, and many years/several renditions later, landed a slot in Toronto Fringe Festival.

Show times:

July 02 at 10:30 PM
July 04 at 05:15 PM
July 06 at 06:45 PM
July 07 at 12:45 PM
July 08 at 01:45 PM
July 11 at 08:45 PM
July 12 at 01:45 PM

Venue: The Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse.

Tickets for all mainstage productions are $10 at the door, cash only. Advance tickets are $12, and can be purchased online , by phone (416-966-1062), or from the festival box office at the Fringe Club. (Rear of Honest Ed’s, 581 Bloor St. West). Money-saving value packs are also available if you are going to at least five shows; see website for details.

LATECOMERS ARE NEVER ADMITTED TO FRINGE SHOWS.
To avoid disappointment, be sure to arrive a few minutes before curtain.
Photo by Tim Cadeny.