All posts by Lin Young

Lin Young is a PhD candidate in the English Department at Queen’s University by day, an insatiable theatre-goer by night. She truly loves seeing innovative indie theatre, the strange sort of hole-in-the-wall shows that big companies would never take a risk on. She’s seen plays in basements, gardens, bars, and in old dilapidated houses, to name a few. She’s always on the lookout for the next theatrical experiment in the city, and loves seeing shows that have some quality of fantasy, historicity, or strangeness to them – especially if they involve puppets! She tweets about theatre, comics and the 19th century at @linkeepsitreal.

The ADHD Project – Toronto Fringe 2019 Press Release

From Press Release:

Written and performed by award-winning storyteller Carlyn Rhamey, directed and designed by Fringe veteran Jon Paterson (Dora Award winning BoyGroove), The ADHD Project is a biographical account of growing up with ADHD and learning to embrace and celebrate what makes us different. “I’m sharing my story in hopes that it will raise awareness and promote acceptance towards neurodiversity”, explains Rhamey, “and hopefully show how hilariously eventful life can be, when you experience it a little differently.” The ADHD Project also includes a projection element to include photos and personal home videos.

The ADHD Project premiered in the 2017 Ottawa Fringe Festival, where Rhamey won the Emerging Artist
Award. Since then it has sold out shows across the Fringe Festival circuit in Orlando FL, Vancouver, Edmonton,
London and Hamilton. In each city, audience members have lined up at the end of the show to share their own experiences with ADHD and neurodiversity. The Toronto Fringe Festival is the fifth stop on a nine-city Canadian tour this summer, with four Fringes for The ADHD Project and a stop in Edmonton for the National AccessAbility week. The ADHD Project also tours Ontario schools for Grades 4-12 with Prologue to the Performing Arts.

SPEND YOUR KIDS’ INHERITANCE – Toronto Fringe 2019 Press Release

From Press Release:

Canadian Comedy Award winner directs new musical, 
SPEND YOUR KIDS’ INHERITANCE is a reverse coming-of-age musical about four seniors who plot to regain their independence. 2019 Canadian Comedy Award winner, Andrew Lamb, director of the hit musical My Mother’s Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding, directs this new musical premiere at the Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse, at the Toronto Fringe, July 4-14, 2019.
In SPEND YOUR KIDS’ INHERITANCE, a newcomer upsets the status quo at a retirement home, unleashing repressed desires and igniting conflict between staff, residents and their adult children. A trio of seniors go AWOL from the home, embarking on a journey that forces them to wrestle with the power of choice and its consequences, and challenges stereotypes about age, love, family, friendship … and freedom.
The SPEND YOUR KIDS’ INHERITANCE team has collectively worked on over 40 Toronto Fringe Shows. The stars of this musical, Charlotte Moore, Denise Norman, Jillian Rees-Brown and Rick Jones, are talented actor/singers who each bring decades of experience to the stage.
Dora-award-winning actor, Charlotte Moore, reflects, “there are very few strong roles for women, let alone experienced and talented professionals over 50, in Canadian theatre, especially musicals. Spend Your Kids’ Inheritance puts three retired female characters right at the centre of the story.” Jillian Rees-Brown, whose acting credits include two years with the touring company of Billy Elliot and Mirvish productions, agrees: “finally a musical where mature adults shine and have all the adventure!”

Some People To Think About – Toronto Fringe 2019 Press Release

From Press Release:

Some People To Think About is a solo sketch comedy show by Canadian Comedy Award Nominee Paul Blinov (Gossamer Obsessions, Rapid Fire Theatre), directed by Beth Dart. It offers a finely curated collection of strange fools and plausible nonsense: an all-too-honest father, an all-too-desperate screenwriter, and more. 
 
Paul Blinov is a comedian and writer based in Edmonton. He improvises weekly with Rapid Fire Theatre where he’s the Director of Education (Youth), and he’s toured and performed sketch and improv in places like Vancouver, Toronto, Atlanta, and Chiang Mai (Thailand!). He also co-hosts an award-winning arts criticism podcast called I Don’t Get It.
 
Dates ‘n’ times:
Wed, July 3 (8:30 pm)
Friday, July 5 (2:30 pm)
Sunday, July 7 (8:30 pm)
Monday, July 8 (5:45 pm)
Tuesday, July 9 (6:15 pm)
Friday, July 12 (4:15 pm)
Saturday, July 13 (3:15 pm)

Runtime: 50 minutes
Price: $11
Rating: 14+
Location: Venue 15, Streetcar Crowsnest Scotiabank Studio, 345 Carlaw Avenue

Sidney Needs a Kidney – Toronto Fringe 2019 Press Release

From Press Release:

SIDNEY NEEDS A KIDNEY: AN INAPPROPRIATELY MEDICAL DINNER PARTY

Sidney Needs a Kidney is an original story about a couple with a plan. And it’s a good plan. Isn’t it? Well, Mark says it’s a good plan, Sidney says it’s the only plan they’ve got. Desperate and out of options, Mark and Sidney have decided to take things into their own hands – with a dinner party. They didn’t want it to be this way. But he made up his mind, and there’s no changing it. Join us at Theatre Pass Muraille during this year’s 2019 Toronto Fringe Festival for the premiere of this strangely funny dramatic thriller about love, survival, and morality that is set exclusively in Mark and Sidney’s kitchen.

The play is an original story collaboratively created by four new generation writers. Mirroring the characters in Sidney Needs a Kidney, the writers are two couples, connected by two sisters. The writing process was one of close collaboration whereby each week the team would meet, map out the next 7 pages, and assign them to one of the writers. Regular editing meetings and close planning created a well-blended show with one strong voice that successfully portrays and explores the depths and limits of love and community.

The cast is made up entirely of new generation actors, all of whom have a connection to Sheridan College’s joint acting program with the University of Toronto. This has truly been a collaborative and hands on process from start to finish with the four writers also taking on roles as producers, directors, stage manager, and even cast member. Notable accomplishments of some of the company members are Eric Gordon’s work on the shows Fear Thy Neighbor and Unexplained, and his performance as Jimmy in Paul Downs Colaizzo’s Really Really. Jake Settle’s work on Disasters at Sea, and as Hamlet in Theatre Erindale’s production of Hamlet are also of note; along with Kat White’s performance as Geraldine Moodie in Photographic Evidence during the 2018 Hamilton Fringe Festival.

We invite you to join the company members for dinner this July – you’ll be thankful there isn’t a place set for you at Mark and Sidney’s table.

Little Fish Productions
In association with The Toronto Fringe Festival presents
Sidney Needs a Kidney
Written by Bronwyn Fischer, Hannah Fischer, Eric Gordon, Emma Workman
Directed by Hannah Fischer
Assistant Directed by Bronwyn Fischer
Starring Max Ackerman, Eric Gordon, Karen Scora, Jake Settle, Kat White
Stage managed by Emma Workman

Opens July 3rd runs to July 13th.
THEATRE PASSE MURAILLE – MAINSPACE, 16 Ryerson Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T 2P3.

Performances:
July 3, 8:30pm
July 5, 3:00pm
July 7, 10:30pm
July 8, 5:45pm
July 10, 8:00pm
July 11, 9:30pm
July 13, 3:15pm

Please note that there is absolutely no latecomer seating.

Tickets:
Tickets go on sale June 6th, 2019.
Purchase online: https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/sidney-needs-kidney
By Phone: 416-966-1062
In Person: During the festival at POSTSCRIPT, the patio at the Toronto Fringe. Located in the Hockey Rink at 275 Street (Dundas + Bathurst).

Scadding – Toronto Fringe 2019 Press Release

From Press Release:

Common Boots Theatre, in association with The Toronto Fringe Festival, is proud to present,

Scadding
A site-specific audio event

Created and performed by: Jennifer Brewin, Alex Bulmer, Leah Cherniak, Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah, John Gzowski, Maggie Huculak, Anand Rajaram, Jenny Salisbury, and Stephon Smith.
Directed by: Jennifer Brewin and Alex Bulmer
Sound design by: John Gzowski
Dramaturgy by: Leah Cherniak and Alex Bulmer

Grab your headphones and favourite pair of shoes for this walkabout audio event. Produced with binaural audio recording, the Cadillac of recording technology, 6 short plays bring to life the hidden, hilarious world of Scadding Court. This immersive audio experience bursts open the box of radio drama, bringing you right to where the story happens. Armed with a map and some helpful guides, find your own play while exploring the world of Dundas and Bathurst.

Adventure across the skate park, pool, playground, and fish tank that make up Scadding Court Community Centre. Bring your own headphones and device, or borrow one from our box office.

At the heart of this piece is the spectacular artistry of Jennifer Brewin (Jesse Richardson Award; Dora Mavor Moore Award; Armstrong Award for Excellence), Alex Bulmer (AMI International Radio Award; Dora Mavor Moore, Chalmers and BAFTA nominee; Society of Canadian Musicians Award) and John Gzowski (six-time Dora Mavor Moore Award; Juno Award nominee). Together, these three lead a powerful ensemble to leap the gap between physical and aural performance, asking the question “how can you hear someone slip on a banana peel?”

Joining Alex, John and Jennifer is an extraordinary group of theatre creators: Leah Cherniak(Chalmer’s Award; Pauline McGibbon Award; George Luscombe Award for Mentorship), Maggie Huculak (Dora Mavor Moore award; Chalmers award), Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah (Actra Toronto Award Nominee), Anand Rajaram (Dora Mavor Moore Award; Canadian Comedy Award Nominee), Jenny Salisbury (Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts graduate; co-Artistic Director of Common Boots Theatre), and Stephon Smith ( 2019 Humber College Theatre Performance graduate).

Scadding – come see with your ears.

Audience Notes
Bring your own smartphone or tablet and headphones. We have a limited number to loan at the box office.
This show contains some coarse language.

Accessibility: This audio event has been imagined and produced with a diverse audience in mind.Access for Blind Audiences or those With Low Vision: Audiences who are Blind or have low vision will enjoy an audio-led performance. A professional sighted guide is available for each performance.

Touch Tours: Touch tours are available at 1 pm on each performance day, by request. Please contact Jenny Salisbury, jsalisbury@commonbootstheatre.ca, to book.
Access for Deaf Audiences or those with Hearing Loss: Transcriptions of the audio is available to borrow from the box office at each performance.

Relaxed Performance: All of our performances function as a Relaxed Performance. Patrons can set their own audio volume, move at their own pace, make noise, and take breaks.
Access for those Using a Wheelchair: All locations are accessible for those using wheelchairs or other mobility devices. The route is on level ground or over ramps.

Scadding is part of the 2019 Toronto Fringe Festival
Dates: July 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, at 2 pm and 4 pm.
Location: Scadding Court Community Centre, 707 Dundas Street West.
Tickets: $11 + $2 surcharge.
Purchase online: fringetoronto.com
By Phone: 416-966-1062
In Person: During the festival at POSTSCRIPT, the patio at the Toronto Fringe. Located in the Hockey Rink at 275 Bathurst Street (Dundas + Bathurst). https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/scadding
http://www.commonbootstheatre.ca/scadding/