The hottest ticket in town and the best show we have seen in recent months is closing this evening. We hope to see Hedwig back soon though cause this piece has some serious legs! And congratulations to Seth Drabinsky on a magically powerful and star making performance. INCREDIBLE.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Hedwig closing tonight
The hottest ticket in town and the best show we have seen in recent months is closing this evening. We hope to see Hedwig back soon though cause this piece has some serious legs! And congratulations to Seth Drabinsky on a magically powerful and star making performance. INCREDIBLE.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Good news! City of Toronto Increases Arts & Culture Investment by $17.5 million!
Press Release care of TAPA:
On Wednesday January 16, Toronto City Council passed Toronto's 2013 budget. City Council has committed to increase Toronto’s annual arts investment by a total of $17.5 million bringing the municipal investment in arts and culture grants to $25 per capita over the next four years. Effective in 2013, the budget includes an immediate increased investment of $6 million for arts and culture.
“We are grateful that city council has made a meaningful contribution and commitment to the arts in Toronto. This additional funding will increase the economic and social vitality of our great city, benefitting all Torontonians." said Michael Rubinoff, TAPA Board President.
After a decade of intensive work including focus groups, market research, consultations and countless deputations, this is a huge success story for the cultural community. In November 2012, TAPA led the Friends of the Arts at the 3rd Annual Arts Day at the City. Artists, audiences, business leaders, donors, and administrators from across the city attended a series of meetings with a majority of councillors. Discussions focussed on asking the City to increase spending on arts and culture from $18 per capita to $25. In 2003 and in 2011 City Council had twice unanimously supported this recommendation. In 2012, this target had yet to be realized, and Toronto’s investment in arts and culture lagged behind all major Canadian municipalities.
“TAPA has been a real leader in pushing for the acceptance of this bill, and it has paid off in a triumphant way. It's truly an exciting day for the arts organisations and artists of this city – but more importantly for the entire population of this city who, we do hope, will be the beneficiaries of this historic impetus”, said Matthew Jocelyn, Artistic & General Director of The Canadian Stage Company.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors and Membership of TAPA we wish to express our wholehearted thanks to the City Councillors and city staff who supported our ongoing advocacy efforts and work. Further, this is a great demonstration of our collective efforts with the Toronto Arts Foundation, Friends of the Arts and the Beautiful City billboard campaign gleaning positive results”, said Jacoba Knaapen, Executive Director of TAPA.
The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) is an arts service organization that represents 185 professional theatre, dance and opera companies and is committed to nurturing an environment in which the performing arts may flourish and play a leadership role in the vitality of the City of Toronto. Programs and services provided by TAPA include: T.O. TIX - Toronto's Official One Stop Ticket Shop at Yonge-Dundas Square and online at www.totix.ca; the Dora Mavor Moore Awards; Toronto’s official Theatre Guide featuring Toronto’s only theatre map; hipTIX, offering $5 tickets to students between the ages of 15 and 29; citySPECIAL; the Commercial Theatre Development Fund; TRIP - the Travel Retreat Initiatives Program ,and the TAPA TRADE SERIES that provides ongoing professional development and workshops for TAPA members. For more information visit www.tapa.ca and www.totix.ca.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Preview: Cirque Éloize iD arrives in Toronto
Opening tomorrow at the Sony Centre is the vibrant, joyous and urban infused iD from Cirque Éloize. Check below for the press release and to purchase tickets! EAP is checking out the piece tomorrow evening at the Sony Centre!
Press Release:
The Sony Centre For The Performing Arts is pleased to welcome the return of Cirque Éloize and their critically acclaimed production, iD. The Toronto Star raved “You're not going to find a more energetic, mind-blowing, roof-raising piece of entertainment than iD”, and now, after two years, the show finally returns to Toronto, Thursday, November 1 – Saturday, November 3, 2012 at the Sony Centre For The Performing Arts for four performances only.
Created by Jeannot Painchaud, founder and Artistic Director of Cirque Éloize, iD weaves together hip hop, breakdance, trial bike, and ten circus disciplines including tumblers, acrobats, jugglers, and contortionists. The end result is a production rich in youth and athleticism powered by a rousing soundtrack and state-of-the-art video projections. iD’s plotline pulls the audience in to a world where urban circus art meets West Side Story in this seamless combination of contemporary circus and theatricality.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Harbourfront Centre News: Hatch presents Mortified
The Harbourfront's 2012 HATCH season continues with MORTIFIED. HATCH is the Harbourfront Centre's performing arts residency program, and this year they have collaborated with dancer/choreographer Jenn Goodwin and visual artist Camilla Singh. The pair have created MORTIFIED, an experimental experience of movement and mayhem. The two utilize mediums unfamiliar to them, like cheerleading, drums and tap dance, to connect with the audience and to facilitate a renegade concert. Throughout,Goodwin and Singh use their new skills to explore themes of tension and transition with an eye towards emotional states of being.
*Camilla Singh builds things faithfully to her ideas and not always to a recurrent medium or form, and she shares Catherine Opie’s view that “…it’s transgressive just to try to live your life the way you actually want to live it.” Singh left her role as curator of Toronto’s MOCCA to experiment with materials in her studio and probe the questions that had formed around the experience of working in an office for decade. She is currently researching and producing a series of uniforms for curators called Uniforms for Non-Uniform Workwhich will comprise a solo exhibition at the Art Gallery of York University in 2013, curated by Emelie Chhangur.
*HATCH 2012 runs from April 14 – May 5, 2012. Patrons can purchase a HATCH pass (includes tickets to all four productions) for $40, individual tickets for $15, or students/seniors/arts professionals $12. Visit the Harbourfront Centre website or call the box office at 416. 973.4000 for more information. Following each HATCH presentation, there is a Q&A and opportunity to engage and interact with the artists, as well as a post-show reception.
*ABOUT HATCH Now in its ninth year, HATCH is a key initiative in Harbourfront Centre’s mission to develop local artists and their unique practices. HATCH mentorship provides resources and professional assistance to contemporary artists looking to explore a new element of their practice. By giving the space and time for this to happen, Harbourfront Centre hopes to develop and grow the best new work coming out of Toronto. This season’s guest curator is Toronto-based performance artist Jess Dobkin.
*Information from the Harbourfront Centre Press Release
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Preview: Dani Girl

The season at Passe Muraille has been quite inspiring and opening tonight is a piece that is no exception and we are very excited to it check out...
Show Description:
Dani Girl is the inspiring and humorous story of a young girls battle with a life-threatening disease. Far from sitting back and accepting her condition, Dani transforms her struggle into a fantastical adventure. Together with her teddy bear, imaginary guardian angel, and movie-obsessed hospital roommate, she battles a personified Cancer across the realms of fantasy and reality as she attempts to get her beloved hair back. Told from a childs perspective, this provocative musical explores the universal themes of life in the face of death, hope in the face of despair, and the indomitable power of imagination.
For tickets or for more information please click the header!
TIFT and Show One Productions present
Dani Girl
Febuary 16th- March 4th 2012
Theatre Passe Muraille
Backspace
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Hair - Toronto Premiere
Opening next week is the hit musical HAIR!
This holiday season is offering some major power brokers in terms of musical theatre in the city! Make sure to check them out!
For more info or for tickets please click the header.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
REASONS TO BE PRETTY

We are into the final 4(!) days to catch this fantastic piece of theatre!!!
For tickets please click the header!
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Preview: Mary Poppins

Opening to strong reviews from both the critics and theatre go-ers is the adorable Mary Poppins. Tickets are pricey and there is no rush system applying to this tour, however, we have heard that it is well worth the price!
Show Description:
Mary Poppins marks the first collaboration between Disney, producer of the acclaimed The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast, and Cameron Mackintosh, legendary producer of the record-breaking The Phantom of the Opera, Cats and Les Misérables. The result is a new musical so extraordinarily enchanting you’ll have just one word for it: “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!”
Since the curtain first rose on Mary Poppins, critics and audiences alike have been raving. This effervescent hit has astonished over six and a half million people worldwide with its pure Broadway magic. With four productions currently running on three continents, Mary Poppins is one of the biggest stage musical successes in recent years. This consummate production features the irresistible story and unforgettable songs from one of the most popular Disney films of all time, plus brand, new breathtaking dance numbers and astonishing stage-craft to make it everything you could ever want in a hit Broadway show.
Now on stage to Jan 8 at the Princess of Wales Theatre: 300 King Street West Toronto!
For tickets or for more info please click the header!
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Preview: The Children's Republic

Opening this week at Tarragon is another piece from the scorching hot young Canadian Playwright Hanna Moscovitch. We are looking forward to seeing what Ms. Moscovitch delivers here.
Show Description:
Dr. Janusz Korczak, revolutionary champion of children and signatory to the League of Nations' Declaration of the Rights of the Child, meets his match in a defiant boy named Israel. When war threatens the children in Korczak's Warsaw orphanage, it is Israel who comes to the rescue. In the face of looming catastrophe, Israel gives his teacher the greatest gift of all: courage.
Hannah Moscovitch is currently playwright-in-residence at Tarragon. She is considered one of the strongest young voices in the country and was nominated for the prestigious international Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. Her works include East of Berlin, Essay and The Russian Play.
For tickets or for more information please click the header!
The Children's Republic
By Hannah Moscovitch
Directed by Alisa Palmer
Starring Peter Hutt, Mark Correia, Elliot Larson, Kelli Fox, Amy Rutherford, Katie Frances Cohen, Emma Burke-Kleinman
A CO-PRODUCTION WITH
HAROLD GREEN JEWISH THEATRE COMPANY
November 8–December 18
30 Bridgman Avenue
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Ghosts - Production Trailer
Nancy Palk is so fierce. Check out the production trailer below and please click the header for more details and to purchase tickets!
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Preview: Bigger Than Jesus

Rick Miller in Bigger Than Jesus. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.
Opening this evening on the Factory Theatre's mainspace is the second show in the trilogy of Rick Miller pieces being put on by Factory this fall. This second piece runs until October 9th.
For tickets please click the header! and for a great article on Rick Miller published by the Torontoist please click here.
Show Description:
Rick Miller and Daniel Brooks spent 3 years writing Bigger Than Jesus. The play premiered in 2003, and it has since become an international success story, having been performed in 5 countries and in 4 languages. In 2005, Bigger Than Jesus was nominated for 7 DORA Mavor Moore Awards, and won 3, including Outstanding Production of a Play, Outstanding Performance by a Male in a Principal Role (Rick Miller), and Outstanding Lighting Design (Beth Kates). There are currently 3 productions of Bigger Than Jesus on tour worldwide (in English, French, and German), making it one of Canada’s most far-reaching theatrical hits. Interest has been shown in countries as diverse as Israel and Iran! Given the universality and potency of the subject matter, we expect touring to continue well into the next decade.
Bigger Than Jesus is a “sinfully funny” and poignant multi-media ‘mass’ that questions the mysteries of life and historical and modern viewpoints on Christianity. Weaving together the Catholic liturgy, the gospels, and some good old-fashioned bible-thumpin’, Bigger Than Jesus is a truly unique theatrical experience. Director Daniel Brooks and performer Rick Miller carefully juggle reverence and irreverence, creating a show that has played equally well to commercial and avant-garde markets. At times educational, at times enlightening, Bigger Than Jesus is always entertaining. (Courtesy of biggerthanj.com)
Created by Rick Miller and Daniel Brooks
Performed by Rick Miller
Directed by Daniel Brooks
Designed by Beth Kates and Ben Chaisson
Thursday, August 11, 2011
SummerWorks Preview: Waterfront/The Blessing
Waterfront/The Blessing is the intimate, but confrontational, story of two brothers as they deal with the death of their father, and an uneven inheritance. The emotional story is written by Leah Jane Esau, and produced by Les Nouvelles Theatre. Directed by Amanda Lockitch, Waterfront/The Blessing stars William MacDonald and Robert Fulton. The smart and simple set and costume design are by Nancy Perrin. This is an emotional roller coaster, and very relatable for anyone with family struggles, or even just family. Tuesday, August 9, 2011
SummerWorks Preview: Pretty Little Instincts
One of three National Series productions, in this year's SummerWorks Festival, is Pretty Little Instincts. Touted as a renegade outdoor dance, and theatre piece, Pretty Little Instincts opens with nine women at high tea. But their high society party quickly unravel to explore the rawest aspect of human emotion, and primal instinct. The show is playing at the Fort York, which is an unfamiliar venue to us here at EAP. But we are really looking forward to the rogue aspect of an outdoor dance piece. Pop up venues, or theatre in temporary spaces, has become increasingly prominent in contemporary theatre, and has made a few inroads here in Toronto. We are planning to check the show out tonight at 8:30, hope the weather holds!Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Mickey and Judy at the Fringe Festival

This show is gathering lots of buzz at the Fringe Festival so far this year. Lots of people are talking about it and according to one of our favourites, Sharron Matthews, you HAVE to check it out!
Show description:
Mickey & Judy is a hilarious pseudo-memoir, chronicling Hughes’ childhood obsession with musicals and his journey from psychiatric ward to Off-Broadway. Chock-full of comical anecdotes from his youth, dramatic readings from his actual doctor’s charts, and a musical score that borrows from Broadway classics and the Judy Garland songbook. "Mickey & Judy" is about falling in love and following your dreams.
Starring: Michael Hughes
with Musical Direction by Chris Tsujiuchi.
Performances:
Opening Night: Friday, July 8th @ 5:45pm
Saturday, July 9th @ 7:00pm
Sunday, July 10th @ 10:30pm
Tuesday, July 12th @ 10:30pm
Wednesday, July 13th @ 4:00pm
Thursday, July 14th @ 1:45pm
Closing Night: Sunday, July 17th @ 3:30pm
Tickets: $10-$11
Get your tickets today! Click the header!
www.mickeyandjudy.ca
Ambiguous at the Fringe

Our friend Geoff Stevens is in a production at the Fringe Festival this year. It is called Ambiguous and it is playing at the Annex Theatre. It seems totally bizarre and completely interesting to be honest. For information on tickets please click the header!
Show details c/o the official facebook page:
A writer named Gabriel, and a queer ear-wig named Wigworm collaborate on a perfect character. Can Kyle ever live up to their expectations? Every action is put under a microscope, and Kyle feels the strain. Wigworm tries to spice up the story with a homoerotic fantasy, and Gabriel's survival mode kicks in. Panic and Hysteria manifest to fight off Wigworm. In the process more characters form. Nick is a former best friend, Claire is the right one for Kyle, but somethings wrong. Rachel is perfect for any man, but it falls apart, Tyler may not be who he seems to be...
The battle royale in Gabriel's brain will only leave one...
www.afterglowtheatre.com
Annex Theatre,
730 Bathurst Street (South of Bloor).
Friday, July 8, 2011 7:00pm
Saturday, July 9, 2011 12:00pm
Monday, July 11, 2011 6:45pm
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 11:00pm
Thursday, July 14, 2011 9:15pm
Saturday, July 16, 2011 2:15pm
Sunday, July 17, 2011 1:45pm
AMBIGUOUS
Written & Directed by Aaron Rothermund
Stage Managed by Garth Droog
The Cast:
Adam Barrett as GABRIEL
Geoff Stevens as WIGWORM
Greg Willmot as KYLE
Timothy Eckmier as NICK
Emily Jefferies as PANIC
Tashieka McTaggart as CLAIRE
Lea Russell as HYSTERIA
Jessica McGann as RACHEL
Friday, July 8, 2011
Fringe Toronto 2011

The Cast of SWOON
I wanted to compile a little collection of great Fringe articles that I have been reading and put them together here for easy access. NOW Magazine again seems to be the king of promoting Fringe shows and it is so lovely to see. Always comprehensive and insightful, NOW is always the best when it comes to what is going on in the Toronto theatre community.
Click here the article on the endearing sounding new show about love, Swoon.
Click here to find out what Canadian Classics are worth checking out this year.
Click here for an article on what dance shows to look into.
Click here to read a featured NOW article on the up and coming theatre artist Ins Choi. His new show at Fringe allegedly has some "hard hitting immigrant truths". Sounds pretty good to me.
Click here to check out a great article on five artists to watch over this year's festival.
Stay tuned for more Fringe previews!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Dora Mavor Moore Award Winners
Buddies in Bad Times - stole the show, winning Outstanding Production, Best Direction as well as a slew of design awards. Below is the entire list of winners from The Star article.
2011 DORA MAVOR MOORE AWARDS RECIPIENTS
GENERAL THEATRE PRODUCTION DIVISION
Outstanding New Play
Anusree Roy Brothel #9
Outstanding Production
Blasted Buddies In Bad Times Theatre
Outstanding Direction of a Play / Musical
Brendan Healy Blasted
Outstanding Performance by a Male in a Principal Role
Joseph Ziegler Death of a Salesman
Outstanding Performance by a Female in a Principal Role
Yanna McIntosh Ruined
Outstanding Performance in a Featured Role / Ensemble
Jane Spidell Doc
Outstanding Set Design
Julie Fox Blasted
Outstanding Costume Design
Tim Chappel & Lizzy Gardiner Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Outstanding Lighting Design
Kimberly Purtell Blasted
Outstanding Sound Design/Composition
Richard Feren Blasted
Outstanding Musical Direction
Harry Bicket Orfeo ed Euridice
Outstanding Choreography
Peter Darling Billy Elliot
Outstanding Touring Production
The Andersen Project Canadian Stage presents Ex Machina
INDEPENDENT THEATRE PRODUCTION DIVISION
Outstanding New Play or New Musical
Sky Gilbert The Situationists
Outstanding Production
Through the Leaves The Company Theatre
Outstanding Direction
Nina Lee Aquino paper SERIES
Outstanding Performance by a Male in a Principal Role
Gavin Crawford The Situationists
Outstanding Performance by a Female in a Principal Role
Sandy Duarte Blood
Outstanding Performance in a Featured Role / Ensemble
Christopher Stanton The New Electric Ballroom
Outstanding Set Design
John Thompson Through the Leaves
Outstanding Costume Design
Melanie McNeill Madhouse Variations
Outstanding Lighting Design
Trevor Schwellnus Nohayquiensepa (No one knows)
Outstanding Sound Design/Composition
Richard Lee paper SERIES
DANCE DIVISION
Outstanding Original Choreography
Roberto Campanella & Robert Glumbek in between
Outstanding Production
Out of Context — for Pina
Harbourfront Centre’s World Stage presents Alain Platel/Les Ballets C. de la B.
Outstanding Performance
Juan Ogalla Espejo de Oro / Mirror of Gold
Outstanding Original Sound Design/Composition
Joby Talbot Chroma
THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES DIVISION
Outstanding Production
Routes Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People presents Concrete Theatre
Outstanding Performance
John Cleland Edward The “Crazy Man”
MUSICAL THEATRE DIVISION
Outstanding New Musical / Opera
Rufus Wainwright Prima Donna
Outstanding Production
A Year With Frog and Toad Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People
Outstanding Performance by a Male in a Principal Role
Tony Sheldon Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Outstanding Performance by a Female in a Principal Role
Kate Hennig Billy Elliot
OPERA DIVISION
Outstanding Performance
Alan Oke Death in Venice
Outstanding Production
Orfeo ed Euridice Canadian Opera Company
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Preview: SPIN
Photo by: Tanja-TizianaOpening this week is a show that Liza and I have been desperately waiting for all winter! We saw Evalyn Parry perform in the fall at an appreciation gathering for Kyle Rae. We instantly knew we liked her and both of us couldn't wait to see her again. Her show SPIN opens this week at Buddies and we have heard nothing by glowing things about it.
Show Description:
Through a series of songs played live on a vintage bicycle, SPIN recounts a theatrical cycle of stories about bikes, women and liberation. Inspired by the incredible true tale of Annie Londonderry, the first woman to ride around the world on a bicycle in 1894, SPIN blends theatre, music and technology in a unique tribute to the bicycle as muse, musical instrument and agent of social change.
Written and performed by critically-acclaimed actor, singer and songwriter, Evalyn Parry (Breakfast, Clean Irene & Dirty Maxine), SPIN features Parry’s unique talents as vocalist and raconteur. Parry’s outspoken, personal and political performances are inspired by a powerful vision of social activism. Called “equally funny and dangerous” by CBC Radio, her irreverent wit holds nothing sacred.
For tickets and more info click here!
For more info on Evalyn Parry please click here!
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
in association with OutSpoke Productions presents
SPIN
Written and Performed by Evalyn Parry
Directed by Ruth Madoc-Jones
Musicians Anna Friz and Brad Hart
Production Design Beth Kates
And Starring The Bicycle
March 15 – 27, 2011
Wed-Sunday at 8pm
$20
Buddies in Bad Times
12 Alexander Street
Toronto Ontario
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Preview: L'Orchestre d'Hommes-Orchestres Joue a Tom Waits
The Theatre Centre presents the multi-instrumentalists from Quebec L'Orchestre D'Hommes-Orchestres who will be performing their unique, carnivalesque tribute to Tom Waits. They perform with over 100 ordinary objects as instruments and bring an element of risk and unpredictability to every performance.
Check out this video below for a taste of how brilliant these performers are:
LISTING INFORMATION:
VENUE: The Theatre Centre, 1087 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON, M6J 1H3
TITLE: The Theatre Centre presents L’Orchestre d’Hommes-Orchestres performs Tom Waits
DATES & TIME: March 2 - 5, 2011, Wednesday – Saturday, 7:30pm
DESCRIPTION: Armed with nearly 100 objects as invented instruments, L’Orchestre d’Hommes-Orchestres perform – in madcap scenes of unbridled energy – a powerful tribute to the world of Tom Waits.
TICKETS: $25
BOX OFFICE: 416-538-0988
Tickets AND INFO: Click here!
Friday, February 25, 2011
Preview: Project Humanity's The Middle Place

EAP is very excited to be see Project Humanity's The Middle Place tonight. We have heard nothing but wonderful things about the show and we are really intrigued by its subject matter and staging choices.
Show Description:
In 2007, a young, white, middleclass playwright ventured into one of Toronto’s roughest neighbourhoods with a video camera to interview youth about life in a shelter. The result is The Middle Place, a touching and brutally real examination of the aspirations, frustrations and bravery of these homeless youth. Without sentimentality or condescension, this docu-drama explores the heart-wrenching lives of its subjects through their own words. Five actors bring to the stage the extraordinary voices of sixteen homeless youth, three tireless caseworkers and one outsider in this disquieting yet humorous and hopeful play.
For tickets please click here!
Project Humanity's The Middle Place
Berkeley Street Theatre
February 14 to March 12
Written by Andrew Kushnir
Transcribed by Andrew Kushnir and Catherine Murray
Directed by Alan Dilworth
Performed by Akosua Amo Adem, Antonio Cayonne, Jessica Greenberg, Andrew Kushnir and Kevin Walker

