From Press Release

Elbow Room, a debut theatrical production from playwright Lana Lovell, of Gloria Grethel Productions, opens at the Toronto Fringe Festival on Thursday, July 4, 2019 at 8:15pm in the Annex Theatre

The one act play is directed by veteran actor Conrad Coates (Star Trek: Discovery, Degrassi: The Next Generation), and features performances from a cast of burgeoning multi-racial Toronto actors.

Elbow Room unites a group of actors at an audition for the lead role in a remake of the iconic “Cleopatra Jones,” Black exploitation film. The women of Elbow Room are ensnared in the competitive nature of the scenario, and find themselves trading barbs, information and insights as they jostle for psychic position.

“I’ve elbowed my way into this audition because I’m the person to play Cleopatra Jones”, says Nancy, the play’s antagonist. Together with her frenemy, acting rival Saada and newcomer Kia, tension boils hot as they revisit past differences, all the while giving the casting assistant, Hanna a bird’s eye view.

“This is a story rooted in women’s pursuit of excellence. The rivalries, victories, injuries and absurdities in Elbow Room provide a glimpse into that space where women experience growth as they become their better selves.” Lana Lovell, playwright.

During the past 20 years, Lana Lovell has written, directed and produced documentaries and factual based pro-grams for CBC, Bravo television, and Omni Television. Since 1985, Conrad Coates has acted in theatre, film, television and radio and performed in over 60 stage productions across the continent. Elbow Room is his third directorial opportunity.

Gloria Grethel Productions
Elbow Room
Producer/Writer Lana Lovell
Director Conrad Coates

Elbow Room runs from Thursday, July 4 to Sunday July 14, 2019
Performances:
July 4, 8:15pm
July 6, 1:15pm
July 8, 3:45pm, R
July 9, 9:15pm, R
July 12, 6:30pm
July 13, 2:30pm
July 14, 6:00pm
Please note that latecomers will not be accommodated, except at relaxed performances (R).
Annex Theatre
736 Bathurst St
Toronto, Ontario
M5S 1Z5
Tickets are available for purchase at: https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/elbow-room

From Press Release

Spicy Day brings the silly and supernatural with In Waking Life at
the Toronto Fringe

This July, Spicy Day presents the “side-splittingly funny” In Waking Life at the Toronto Fringe Festival. The hilarious and heartwarming play will be performed in the Crow’s Theatre studio space in Leslieville for seven performances between July 4 and 14. This is the first time a Fringe venue has extended East past the Don Valley Parkway.

A partially-improvised comedy, In Waking Life follows two psychic
sisters as they welcome you into their business and their lives. Fortunes are told, dreams are dissected, and love matches are made as the Synsk Sisters fix all of your problems (and ignore their own).

Having received rave reviews everywhere it has been performed since its 2016 debut, In Waking Life has been described as “Wild, high energy, and intimately memorable […] an emotional roller coaster from its goofball beginning to its shell-shocking end” (Showbill Victoria), and “A cavalcade of non-stop action” (Apt613).

Spicy Day is an Ottawa-based theatre company founded by Lauren
Welchner and Monica Bradford-Lea. Often working in diverse styles and in non-traditional performance venues, the company seeks to create unique theatrical experiences, using humour and heart to provoke conversation about topics we don’t often see on stage. In just three years operating as a company, Spicy Day has created five brand new theatrical productions and presented these works at Fringe Festivals across the country. This will be Spicy Day’s first time at the Toronto Fringe Festival.

In Waking Life will be presented at the Crow’s Theatre studio space, 345 Carlaw Ave, from July 4 to 14. Tickets can be purchased at https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/waking-life or at the door.
Performance Schedule
Thurs, July 4 / 6:45pm
Sat, July 6 / 10:15pm
Mon, July 8 / 4:00pm
Wed, July 10 / 5:45pm
Thurs, July 11 / 4:15pm
Sat, July 13 / 8:30pm
Sun, July 14 / 2:30pm

From Press Release

From Press Release

BOY FALLS FROM THE SKY

Jake Epstein Solo Theatrical Debut at Toronto Fringe

Toronto, Ontario… Jake Epstein and Derrick Chua are thrilled to announce the World Premiere of Epstein’s autobiographical tale Boy Falls From The Sky: Jake Epstein Live at Supermarket, playing as part of the Toronto Fringe Festival, July 3 – 14, 2019. Performance venue Supermarket is a vibrant restaurant and bar, located in the heart of Kensington Market at 268 Augusta Avenue (just south of College Street), Toronto.

He’s been “that guy from Degrassi”, starred in US National Tours of Spring Awakening and American Idiot, played Spider-Man on Broadway in Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark and originated the lead role of Gerry Goffin (Carole King’s husband) in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Not bad for a kid who dreamed about performing on Broadway in the back seat of his parents’ minivan on their annual family road-trip to NYC. But the thing about dreams is, they don’t always go as planned. Through a series of funny and revealing stories and songs, ranging from touring the US, to surviving Spider-Man, to enduring steroid shots and Broadway Boos, Epstein shares the rejection, stage fright and heartbreak behind a seemingly successful career in this showbiz tell-all. For anyone who’s ever tried to go after their dreams.

According to Epstein: “I’ve spent my life going after my singular dream of doing musicals on Broadway. And what’s crazy is that I achieved that dream. But the reality is that going after your dreams can be complicated and filled with disappointments. This show is my attempt to turn those disappointments into theatrical moments of joy and humour. I love story-telling and I thought this was a good story to tell. And you might even laugh.”

Boy Falls From The Sky is directed by Robert McQueen (Selected directing credits: Fun Home, Life After, The Wild Party, Falsettos, Caroline, or Change, The Light In The Piazza (Musical Stage Company), The Immigrant (Harold Green Jewish Theatre), Man of La Mancha (Stratford Festival)), music directed by Daniel Abrahamson (Musicals include: Stars of Mars, Funny Business, Girls End, Act Now and Hugh and I. Musical direction for Drayton Entertainment, Magnus Theatre, Ryerson Theatre School, Bluewater Playhouse, Toronto and Edmonton Fringe Festivals), and produced by Derrick Chua (Selected credits: Mary’s Wedding (Crow’s), Music Music Life Death Music (Tarragon), Obeah Opera (Young Centre), I’m Doing This For You and Oh My Irma (International Tours)).

Boy Falls From The Sky: Jake Epstein Live at Supermarket

Supermarket, 268 Augusta Avenue, Toronto

Thur July 4 at 7:00 pm | Fri July 5 at 5:00 pm | Sat July 6 at 7:00 pm | Sun July 7 at 4:00 pm**|Wed July 10 at 7:00 pm** | Thur July 11 at 7:00 pm | Fri July 12 at 5:00 pm | Sat July 13 at 7:00 pm

Tickets: $13.00. Fringe Box Office: 416.966.1062 or www.fringetoronto.com

Company Website: www.jakeepstein.ca

**These performances will be ASL Interpreted

PARTICIPANT BIOS

JAKE EPSTEIN (WRITER AND PERFORMER)

Jake is a Toronto based actor, singer and writer. He originated the role of Gerry Goffin on Broadway in the Tony nominated hit Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and survived a year as Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark. On tour, he has performed in most major theatres across the US starring in the Tony winning hit Spring Awakening (Melchior) as well as Green Day’s American Idiot (Will). Off-Broadway, he starred in the New York Times critics pick Straight. Selected Toronto credits include Billy Elliot (Mirvish), Therefore Choose Life (Harold Green, actor and co-writer, Broadway World Award), Dog Sees God (Michael Rubinoff) and two Ross Petty Pantos. He is best known for playing Craig in Degrassi for which he won a Gemini Award. Recently, he spent two years playing Chuck in Designated Survivor (starring Kiefer Sutherland, ABC) and Brian in Suits (USA Network), in addition to numerous other film and tv credits. Graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada.

ROBERT MCQUEEN (DIRECTOR)

Robert is an Associate Artist with The Musical Stage Company for whom he has directed Fun Home (2018 Toronto Theatre Critics Award for Outstanding Direction), The Wild Party, Falsettos, Caroline, or Change and The Light In The Piazza. Additionally Robert directed the premiere production of the Musical Stage/Canadian Stage co-production of Life After (2018 Dora Award for Outstanding Direction) as well as ReFramed, a MSC collaboration with the Art Gallery of Ontario and You Are Here a co-production with The 1000 Island Playhouse. Other recent directing projects include the New York premiere of Forest Boy, a new work by the Scottish writing team of Claire McKenzie and Scott Gilmor, The Magic Flute for Vancouver Opera, La Boheme for The Canadian Opera Company; Where Elephants Weep at the Chelna Theatre in Phnom Penh, Carousel for the Galaxy Theatre in Tokyo; The Immigrant for the Harold Green Theatre and Man Of La Mancha for the Stratford Festival, as well as Associate Directing the Broadway and North American companies of Mamma Mia. Robert has worked on the development of new musicals and opera in both Canada and the US for companies that include Yonge Street Theatricals, The Canadian Musical Theatre Project at Sheridan University, The Arts Club Theatre, Vancouver Opera, Canadian Opera Company, CAP21, NY and the O’Neill Centre, Connecticut.

DANIEL ABRAHAMSON (MUSICAL DIRECTOR)

Daniel is a performer, composer, and musical director. His musicals include Stars of Mars (CMTP 2018/19, Off-Sheridan 2019), Funny Business (Toronto Fringe 2007, Diesel Playhouse, Bluewater Playhouse, Richmond Hill Centre, Bread and Circus, Vaughan City Playhouse) published by Samuel French, Act Now and Hugh and I (Patron’s Pick Toronto Fringe 2011 and 2014). His one woman musical Girl’s End debuted to rave reviews in Winnipeg and Edmonton Fringe summer 2016. Musical direction for Drayton Entertainment, Magnus Theatre, Ryerson Theatre School, Bluewater Playhouse, Toronto and Edmonton Fringe Festivals. He is a member of the 2020 class of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre workshop and recently sold out a concert of his songs at 54 Below, both in NYC. Upcoming; Sam Phillips/Musical Direction for Million Dollar Quartet in Port Hope, ON, and another cabaret at Birdland Theatre in NYC. danieljohnabrahamson.com and insta @danieljohnabrahamson.

DERRICK CHUA (PRODUCER)

Derrick is an award-winning theatre producer and entertainment lawyer. His recent productions include Stephen Massicotte’s Mary’s Wedding (Crow’s Theatre), Adam Seelig’s Music Music Life Death Music (Tarragon Theatre), Haley McGee’s I’m Doing This For You and Oh My Irma (International Tour), Nicole Brooks’ Obeah Opera (Panamania) and numerous shows in Toronto, New York and Edinburgh. Derrick is co-founder and Core Artistic Team Member of Studio 180 Theatre. He is chair of Groundling Theatre, sits on the boards of CanadaHub, The AFC, Theatre Museum Canada and fu-GEN Theatre, and co-produces 120 Diner’s Sunday Night Cabaret Series. He is the recipient of a Dora Award, a Harold Award, Now Magazine Award as Toronto’s Best Indie Producer and Canadian Actors’ Equity Association Honorary Membership for his Outstanding Contribution to the Performing Arts.

From Press Release

TORONTO FRINGE RELEASES FULLY-ACCESSIBLE SCREEN READER-FRIENDLY ASSISTED PERFORMANCES SUPPLEMENT

FEATURING 84 ASSISTED PERFORMANCES, INCLUDING ASL-INTERPRETED, AUDIO DESCRIBED AND RELAXED SHOWS

FRINGE ENTERS YEAR TWO OF A THREE-YEAR INITIATIVE TO OVERHAUL ACCESS AT THE FESTIVAL

June 24, 2019 (Toronto, ON) – Ontario’s largest theatre festival is entering its 31^st season this year and is making the festival more accessible than ever for its 90,000+ patrons. With increased box office accessibility, website tools, comprehensive venue accessibility information, a communications overhaul, and changes to staffing and hiring practices, Fringe’s goal is to better reflect our commitment to independence and dignity for all, including Deaf, Mad and disability-identified patrons.

Working with Accessibility Ontario document expert, Barbara Moody, Fringe has published its first fully accessible, screen reader-friendly Assisted Performances Supplement. The Assisted Performances Supplement, a companion to our Fringe Program Guide, highlights the 35 companies offering 84 individual Audio Described, ASL Interpreted, or Relaxed performances.

View or download the Assisted Performance Supplement here.

The Toronto Fringe is committed to creating an inclusive experience for all patrons, staff, volunteers and artists. Fringe continues to work with the community to identify, prevent and remove barriers so a fulfilling experience can be enjoyed by all. Fringe is grateful to the Metcalf Foundation for supporting the organization-wide access initiatives.

What else is the Fringe doing to make a more open, accessible festival?

PERSONAL SUPPORT WORKERS
Fringe welcomes people with disabilities who are accompanied by a personal support person. Personal support workers will be welcomed for free.

PRIORITY SEATING
Priority seating is available for patrons to ensure good sight lines for ASL Described shows, for those who need a little extra time to get to their seats or for any other access need. Patrons are asked to arrive at least 20 minutes before to ensure early access.

SERVICE ANIMALS
Service animals are welcome in all areas of our venues that are open to the public. If you frequently travel with a service animal, you can now include that information in your Fringe box office account.

VENUE ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION
Detailed accessibility information will be available on our website for each main venue and POSTSCRIPT, the Fringe patio. Information includes door widths, ramp specifications, and accessible washroom details. General accessibility information for site-specific venues can also be found online.

VISUAL VENUE GUIDES
These guides help patrons get acquainted with a venue before they visit. The guides will be available online for all main venues, some site-specific venues, and POSTSCRIPT, the Fringe patio. They include directions to the venue and information on what patrons can expect when they get there.

SENSORY TOOLS
These items, including weighted blankets, fidgets, and noise-dampening ear muffs, are available for anyone that needs a little extra support processing all the excitement at POSTSCRIPT, our busy Fringe patio.

WAYS TO SERVE THE PUBLIC BETTER
All points of service at the Fringe are now equipped with magnifying tools as well as pen and paper. At performance venues, Fringe staff let patrons know that seating is beginning through visual signage as well as an audio call. Staff and volunteers receive training on serving patrons with disabilities.

BOX OFFICE
Patrons can now update their box office accounts with information about their access needs online or over the phone. This information will be used by Fringe’s Box Office and Front of House teams to better serve patrons with access needs.

Fringe Executive Director, Lucy Eveleigh, says: “For the last few years The Toronto Fringe has made access for all a priority, it is included in our values and our strategic plan. It is very simple – when we say we want our Festival to be inclusive, we mean it. We know that we still have a long way to go and we are open to feedback along the way, but we are striving to find ways for everyone to be a part of our Festival and we will do the work to ensure that can happen.”

A Note About Fringe Venues:

Venues, including main and site specifics, have varying degrees of physical accessibility.

Some patrons may experience barriers (due to ramp inclines, lack of automatic doors, etc.) even at the most accessible of venues depending on access needs. To better serve our patrons we seek to provide the most up to date and accurate information about our venues so that patrons can make informed decisions. To that end, detailed access information about main venues will be available online during the festival.

The Fringe is striving to identify and choose the most accessible venue options available in Toronto within our means while also encouraging our existing venues to meet and exceed AODA requirements. This is an ongoing process and we appreciate feedback and suggestions from the public.

While developing these programs and policies, Fringe has relied heavily on input from Deaf, Mad or disability-identified “Fringers.” Fringe always welcomes and actively solicits feedback, as we strive to make the festival more accessible.

Read the Toronto Fringe’s Accessibility Manifesto here.

Read the Toronto Fringe’s Accessibility Policy here.