Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Toronto Fringe Festival 2012 Top Picks (so far)...

Alright here we go! The Toronto Fringe Festival kicks off tomorrow! 
The festival provides a vessel for 155 shows to be staged and produced across the city. The festival of theatre magic will be held at 12 venues, 14 site-specific locations, and at the now infamous Fringe Tent. We have always adored the festival and truly believe it to be a powerful source of community building and artistic development.

To celebrate the festival's launch tomorrow we have compiled a list of our top picks so far:

POMME IS FRENCH FOR APPLE
A Comedy in 60 minutes
Paul Watson Productions
Written by: Liza Paul and Bahia Watson


Show Description:
A series of vignettes about women and their most embarrassing and empowering moments. This piece has loads 
of buzz surrounding it and has a lot of critics talkin'.

At Theatre Passe Muraille: Mainspace, 16 Ryerson
Dates and Times: Jul 6 at 11 pm | Jul 8 at 4 pm | Jul 9 at 8:45 pm | Jul 10 at 4:30 pm | Jul 12 at noon | Jul 13 at 6:15 pm | Jul 14 at 1:45 pm




ANNABELLE'S TAILS FROM JAIL
A Comedy/ Play in 60 minutes
A Modern Attitudes Production
By: Morgan Ewen


Show Description:
A woman tries to make the best of her 8-year jail term in this solo comedy. Going by the poster photo this woman Morgan Ewen is EAP city!
At Tarragon Theatre in the ExtraSpace, 30 Bridgman
Dated and Times: Jul 6 at 9:15pm | Jul 7 at 3:30 pm | Jul 8 at 4:45 pm |Jul 11 at 5:45 pm | Jul 12 at 3:30 pm | Jul 13 at 1:45 pm | Jul 15 at 7:30pm



ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE OF GRIEF
A Comedy, Sketch in 60 minutes
A Town Toast Theatre Company Production
Written by the cast

Show Description: 
The talented cast of ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE OF GRIEF performs a sketch-comedy show inspired by Shakespeare. Eclectic yet fluid, dark but strangely uplifting, twisted yet touching, the piece it is a celebration of contradiction.

At the Randolph Theatre, 736 Bathurst, Toronto
Dated and Times: Jul 6 at 7 pm | Jul 8 at 3:30 pm | Jul 9 at 10:30 pm | Jul 11 at 1:45 pm | Jul 12 at 9:15 pm | Jul 14 at 2:15 pm | Jul 15 at 5:15 pm





FISHBOWL
A Comedy in 60 minutes 
Produced and Written by Mark Shyzer

Show Description:
Four characters' lives collide in Shyzer's comedic solo show. Mark Shyzer and Evalyn Parry(!) have been working together on the show from its inception and throughout every incarnation of the show - the workshop performance during the Young Creator's Unit, Fishbowl's premiere as part of the Buddies In Bad Times 2009 season, the 2010 North American Fringe Festival tour, and the current 2012 Canadian Fringe tour.


At the Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse, 79A St George, Toronto
Dated and Times: Jul 4 at 6:30 pm | Jul 6 at 8:45 pm | Jul 8 at 1:30 pm |Jul 11 at 11 pm | Jul 12 at 7:45 pm | Jul 13 at 1:45 pm | Jul 14 at 3:30 pm



TICK
A Comedy in 75 minutes
A Lallygag Theatre Production
Written by Matthew MacKenzie

Show Description:
A 10-year old and her friends lead a revolution against the ruling adult class in this comedy which stars the delightful Jessica Moss. Laughter and warmth expected in this piece.

At the George Ignatieff Theatre, 15 Devonshire, Toronto
Dates and Times: Jul 5 at 8:15 pm | Jul 8 at 7:30 pm | Jul 9 at 2 pm | Jul 11 at 2:15 pm | Jul 12 at 4 pm | Jul 13 at 8:30 pm | Jul 14 at 5:45 pm



HOW I LOST ONE POUND, THE MUSICAL
A Musical Comedy in 90 minutes
From ToyBox Productions
Written by Lesley Carlberg

Show Description:
This collection of songs and monologues looks at freeing ourselves from the body as measured by the scale.

At Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace, 16 Ryerson, Toronto
Dates and Times: Jul 5 at 8:15 pm | Jul 6 at 5:15 pm | Jul 8 at noon | Jul 9 at 10:30 pm | Jul 10 at 6:15 pm | Jul 13 at 2:15 pm | Jul 14 at 10:30 pm




THE JUDY MONOLOGUES
A Play in 50 minutes 
From Baby Gumm Productions 
Written by Darren Stewart-Jones

Show Description:
This performance piece is based on recordings Judy Garland made in the 60s for her never-written autobiography. Starring last year's Fringe sensation Michael Hughes!

At the Annex Theatre, 730 Bathurst, Toronto
Dates and Times: Jul 6 at 7 pm | Jul 7 at noon | Jul 9 at 6:45 pm | Jul 11 at 11 pm | Jul 12 at 1:45 pm | Jul 14 at 2:15 pm | Jul 15 at 1:45 pm


THE GRAVITY HOUR 
A Dance piece in 60 minutes
Produced by Kiri Figueiredo Dance
Written by Kiri Figueiredo, Michael Caldwell and Shannon Litzenberger


Show Description:
Three dancers explore the hidden corners of human nature through four physically intense works. 


At the Robert Gill Theatre, 214 College, Toronto
Dates and Times: Jul 6 at 7:30 pm | Jul 7 at 1 pm | Jul 8 at 10:15 pm | Jul 11 at 6:15 pm | Jul 12 at 8:30 pm | Jul 13 at 4 pm | Jul 14 at 3:30 pm



TWO WEIRD LADIES BOMB THE FRINGE
A Comedy, Sketch in 60 minutes
A Two Weird Ladies Production
Written by Laura Salvas and Mandy Sellers

Show Description:
A labyrinth of eccentric sketch comedy spun from reality, insanity, awkwardness and rage. Two Weird Ladies is a sketch comedy duo comprised of Mandy Sellers, who is set to join the cast of The Second City National Touring Company this summer and was nominated for a 2011 Canadian Comedy Award for Best Female Improviser, and Laura Salvas, a 2009 Toronto Standup Comedy Brawl Finalist. The Ladies joined forces in November, 2010

At the Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse, 79A St George, Toronto
Dates and Times: Jul 6 at 1:15 pm | Jul 7 at 9:15 pm | Jul 9 at 10:45 pm |Jul 10 at 4:45 pm | Jul 12 at 9:30 pm | Jul 13 at 5:15 pm | Jul 14 at 1:45 pm


WITH SOMEBODY WHO LOVES ME: A GAY DANSICAL 
A Dance/ Musical in 60 minutes 
From Manzo Entertainment Inc. 
Written by Frank Manzo

Show Description:
 A slick, fun (and a little dirty) dance show similar to a musical but without cheesy singing; no tutus or abstract motifs, either. This dansical tells the story of MANNY, a gay man in search of love, and DINA & LYNNE, a lesbian couple that must deal with the harsh reality of job loss and the strain it has on a relationship. 

At the Factory Theatre, room: Mainspace, 125 Bathurst, Toronto
Dates and Times: Jul 6 at 1:15 pm | Jul 7 at 7:30 pm | Jul 9 at 8:30 pm |Jul 10 at 1:15 pm | Jul 11 at 9:15 pm | Jul 13 at 5:45 pm | Jul 14 at 11:30 pm


                                                   
RAW
A Dramatic/Comic Play in 60 minutes
A Ten Foot Pole Theatre Production
Written by Rob Salerno


Show Description:
A relevant and provocative piece. A young artist confronts the man who he believes knowingly gave him HIV in this darkly comic drama.


At the Robert Gill Theatre, 214 College, Toronto
Dates and Times: Jul 6 at 11 pm | Jul 7 at 2:45 pm | Jul 9 at 8:45 pm | Jul 10 at 5 pm | Jul 11 at 11:30 pm | Jul 13 at 5:45 pm | Jul 14 at noon

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Pomme is French for Apple was the most refreshing thing I've seen this year at the Fringe. It was awesome, lots of LOL opportunities.