From the press release:
The Fringe, Toronto’s largest theatre festival, is geared up and ready to provide the most accessible, exciting and affordable entertainment in town. There isn’t another place in the city to catch rising stars from around the world, all for under $10, and with 150 productions at 30 venues to choose from, this year there’s something for everyone.
We’re not ashamed of our cheap and easy reputation…in fact, we consider ourselves “well loved” and there is plenty of love to go around, with an anticipated 60,000 in attendance and 1200 participating artists. As always, the Fringe operates as a non-profit organization ensuring each year that 100% of ticketed box office earnings go back to our companies.
The Fringe is built for times like these so it’s time to come together and enjoy some cheap and easy entertainment that’s unjuried, unexpected and unforgettable!
Expect the Unexpected! All the world’s a stage this year at the Fringe Festival. From loading docks to movie theatres, pubs to play houses, you’ll get a taste of traditional theatre with a refreshing twist. Conveniently, all 30 venues are downtown and easily accessible by public transportation.
BYOV: Bring Your Own Venue. These site specific shows are created specifically for their location and extend beyond the traditional theatre walls. Venues include; Honest Ed’s loading dock and grocery section, Free Times Café, Bread & Circus, Innis Town Hall, Cat’s Eye Lounge (U of T), Holy Joe’s, Lower Ossington Theatre, The Miles Nadal JCC, Intrepid Travel, Walmer Centre, Comedy Bar, Bloor Cinema and The Shevchenko Musical Ensemble.
Themes! Have trouble choosing between comedies and dramas? Are you an avid hockey fan? Craving some dance in your theatre? The Fringe offers a variety of show to suit your every mood. Some prominent themes at this year’s fringe include; the economy/depression, violence/ crime, sports/hockey, the environment, health, clowning/role, play/sketch/improv, adolescence/aging, love/romance, family, various religions, feminism/woman’s issues, LGBT, literacy, and internet/technology with the largest categories being; comedies, musicals and dance. A full list is available upon request. Contact media@fringetoronto.com
Around the world: Participants come from all over world speaking French, German, Danish, Japanese, Estonian, Spanish, Cantonese, Serbian, Bislama, Patwa (Jamaican dialect), Farsi, Yugoslavian, Arabic, Russian, Romanian, Italian, Filipino, Turkish, Hebrew, Portuguese, Hindi, and Urdu…just to name a few! Oh la la! This year, for the first time, we have an all French speaking cast from Paris, France.
Award Winners: Many shows have garnered Fringe awards in other countries along with Dora Awards, Gemini Awards, Canadian Comedy Awards, Just for Laughs Toronto Awards, Ovation Awards, and some have even made it into The Guinness Book of World Records! The Fringe is often a launching pad for epic productions like The Drowsy Chaperone and Da Kink in My Hair. What show will be the next big thing? Come out and see…
More…The Fringe is more than a theatre festival; it is a showcase of independent artists and a hub for new projects to develop. Here are a few different events to participate in;
24 Hour Playwriting Competition – Launches Wed July 1st at 7pm in the McAuslan Beer Tent
We promise you more action than Jack Bauer could ever deliver…The annual tradition continues as brave playwrights receive directions on the first day of the fest on what they need to include in a play they’ll be writing in the span of 24 hours. Make sure you catch the winning script performed (FREE) on July 12th 9:30pm at the Fringe Club…or why not try writing a play yourself?
The Fringe Club – 292 Brunswick Ave. NOON-2am DAILY
The beating heart of the fringe experience and home base for the duration of the festival is The Fringe Club. Come to the FREE nightly Late Cabaret featuring Toronto’s best comics and musicians, enter your ticket stubs in the daily draw for great prizes, and relax with a drink in the shade of the McAuslan Beer Tent
FringeKids! There really is something for EVERYONE at the Fringe…Make sure you bring the whole family out to FringeKids! for the best in Theatre for Young Audiences. Kids’ tickets are only $5!
New this year: FREE playwriting classes for kids, lead by Alison Broverman. Selected pieces will even be read at FringeKids! and at the Fringe Club by professional actors. www.fringetoronto.com/fringekids.htm
The Harold Online: Catch all the latest festival news and gossip in our daily newsletter – which celeb was spotted where, articles to and from Fringe artists, hilarious notes from festival reporters and more. www.fringetoronto.com
From July 1-12, thirty spaces throughout the city will be taken over by artists from across Canada and around the world. With musicals, modern dance, comedy, searing drama and everything in between, there’s something for everyone at the Toronto Fringe Festival. The Fringe is unique in the chance it gives both our artists and you, our patrons, to be part of a shared creative experience. Join the excitement and beat the economic blues with 59,000+ other fringers over two weeks of laughter, tears, arguments, catharsis, and most importantly, entertainment.
What You Need to Know
It all happens July 1-12 shows will be running each day from 11am until midnight
The Fringe Press Page is NOW Up and Running – www.fringetoronto.com/press
Public info page www.fringetoronto.com
THE FRINGE HOTLINE 416-966-1062
TIX: PASSES go on sale June 5th and ADVANCED tickets June 15th
Prices are $10 or less. Children’s tickets cost $5 (FringeKids! only)
Get them ONLINE at www.fringetoronto.com
By Phone at 416-966-1062 or 1-866-515-7799
In person (July 1-12 only) at The Fringe Club, 292 Brunswick Ave
For media inquiries, please contact Fringe publicist Cat Fawcett at media@fringetoronto.com