JULY 4–15, 2018 Melissa Hart and Benjamin Maloney-Lee Melissa Hart and Benjamin FRINGETORONTO.COM SHAKESPEARE IN HIGH PARK .com romeo and juliet PWYC OR RESERVE + a midsummer ONLINE WRITTEN BY William Shakespeare ROMEO AND JULIET DIRECTED BY Frank Cox-O’Connell night’s dream DREAM DIRECTED BY Tanja Jacobs “A must-see summer JUN 28-SEP 2 attraction in Toronto” HIGH PARK AMPHITHEATRE – THE GLOBE AND MAIL A Canadian Stage production in collaboration with The Department of Theatre, School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design at York University SEASON SPONSOR WELCOME! A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: I would like to acknowledge the lands and waterways that the festival exists upon and how privileged we are to live, work, play, create, and convene here. As an immigrant to Canada myself, I still have much to learn about my place within this history. The Toronto Fringe takes place on the ancestral territory of Tkaronto, and we acknowledge the Anishinaabe, including the Mississaugas of the New Credit, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat Nations as the original stewards and caretakers, as well as all nations recorded and unrecorded, acknowledged and unacknowledged. We are grateful to the knowledge keepers on this land, as they are also the original storytellers. We are beyond thrilled to present you with the 30th edition of the Toronto Fringe Festival. Who knew the little festival that began back in the summer of ’89 would become one of the mainstays of our city’s arts and culture scene? We have 159 shows for you this summer, organized in this program guide by genre to make them even easier to navigate and highlighting the great variety we have on offer. There are also many ways to search for shows online. We encourage you to take a chance on something new this year – see 30 shows with our special edition 30 Show Pass (or buddy up with a friend and see 15 shows each). We are spreading our wings this summer and reaching neighbourhoods in Toronto beyond the usual Fringe district with some of our site specific shows. Check out the map on page 16 – if you can’t always come to us, we are working on ways to get the Fringe to you. We are also back at Scadding Court to host POSTSCRIPT, the Fringe patio, our newly designed pop-up festival hub, which will take over the hockey rink at Dundas & Bathurst. Join us there for 12 days of free entertainment, a fully stocked bar, and delicious food from Kanto by Tita Flips. So please, take this guide, see some shows, wish for sun, and immerse yourself in the best 12 days we can offer you! Much love and happy Fringing, Lucy Eveleigh Executive Director THE FRINGE OF TORONTO THEATRE FESTIVAL CONTENTS 204-688 Richmond St. West Toronto, Ontario. M6J 1C5 Letters ..................................................2 Master Schedule ..............................19 Charitable Tax Number: 12716 2840 RR0001 Tickets and Passes ............................3 Comedy ...................................................30 © All rights reserved. How to Fringe .................................... 4 Drama ................................................ 54 ® FRINGE and FRINGE FESTIVAL are Accessibility ........................................6 Musical .............................................. 68 registered trademarks of the Canadian Association of Staff ......................................................7 Dance ..................................................74 Fringe Festivals. Our Donors ......................................... 8 Storytelling .......................................78 Program guide doppelgangerdesign.com Festival Sponsors...............................9 KidsFest ............................................ 82 Program cover bfdesign.ca POSTSCRIPT .....................................10 Index by venue ............................... 87 Cover photo tanja-tiziana.com Venue Map ........................................16 Index A-Z .......................................... 88 1 LETTERS JUSTIN TRUDEAU Prime Minister of Canada Dear Friends: I am pleased to extend my warmest greetings to everyone attending the 2018 Toronto Fringe Festival. This festival offers a wonderful opportunity for participants to experience a wide variety of live performances by emerging and established artists. I am sure that everyone in attendance will enjoy this exceptional showcase, and I would like to commend all of the artists for sharing their talent with appreciative audiences. I would also like to thank the organizers, sponsors and volunteers for bringing this event to the community and for ensuring its success, year after year. On behalf of the Government of Canada, I wish you a memorable and enjoyable festival. JOHN TORY LUCY EVELEIGH Mayor of Toronto CAFF President It gives me great pleasure On behalf of the Canadian to extend greetings and a Association of Fringe Festivals warm welcome to everyone (CAFF) welcome to the Fringe! attending the 30th anniversary of the Toronto Fringe Festival. We exist as an organization to unite, support, empower Congratulations to the Toronto and strengthen our member Fringe Festival, the largest festivals across North America. theatre festival in Ontario, on this milestone. The festival provides a We currently have 33 member platform for everyone to access, Festivals spanning Canada discover and experiment with the and the USA and we are arts either through performing in consistently growing every the festival’s shows or helping to year. produce them. CAFF members return 100% of the ticket price back to the Events like these encourage residents to participate in their artists and all Festivals are selected either by lottery or on a first community, connect with each other and contribute to the come/first served basis, ensuring that everyone has the same community’s strength. I am delighted that wonderful events like opportunity to tell their story on the stage. yours are taking place in Toronto. We hope you enjoy this Fringe and you are inspired to visit other On behalf of Toronto City Council, I wish everyone an enjoyable Fringe Festivals to explore this incredible movement with as and memorable event. Please accept my best wishes for much passion as the artists offer you and the same curiosity that continued success. brought you here. 2 BUY TICKETS AT FRINGETORONTO.COM AND 416.966.1062 TICKETS AND PASSES SINGLE TICKETS - $13 PASSES ($11+$2 service charge) ADVANCE TICKETS 5 SHOW 10 SHOW AVAILABLE ONLINE AND BY PHONE JUNE 7 www.fringetoronto.com | 416 – 966 – 1062 PASS - $45 PASS - $85 Subject to a $2 per order fee. SAVINGS OF $20! SAVINGS OF $45! Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay Valid for 5 at-the-door Valid for 10 at-the-door tickets. Maximum 1 ticket tickets. Maximum 2 tickets AVAILABLE IN PERSON JULY 4 per performance. per performance. Festival Box Office Container at 707 Dundas St. West find us in the Bathurst St. parking lot 30TH FESTIVAL SPECIAL every day of the festival, from noon - 8pm Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard, UnionPay, debit, cash 20 SHOW 30 SHOW AT-THE-DOOR TICKETS PASS - $170 PASS - $246 At the show’s venue starting one hour prior to show time. SAVINGS OF $90! SAVINGS OF $144! Cash sales only, limit of 4 per person, subject to availability. Valid for 20 at-the-door Valid for 30 at-the-door tickets. Maximum 2 tickets tickets. Maximum 2 PREVIEW TICKETS - $8 per performance. tickets per performance. ($6+$2 service charge) All passes are transferable, but may only be used by one NEW THIS YEAR (5 show pass) or two patrons per performance. Passes can A selection of shows have designated their first performance be purchased online, over the phone or in person at the to be a preview (see Master Schedule or website for details). Festival Box Office (not at individual venues). You may book Can be purchased in advance or at-the-door. advance tickets on your pass at the additional cost of $2 per ticket, or use them at-the-door, subject to ticket availability. DAILY DISCOUNT There are no refunds for any unused portion of a pass. TICKETS - $8 ($6+$2 service charge) Check the Daily Discount listings online or at the Festival IMPORTANT REMINDERS box office to see which performances are offering this deal. Can only be purchased day of, by phone, online or THE FRINGE DOES NOT ISSUE REFUNDS at the door. Because we return 100% of the net ticket sales to the artists. ALL SHOWS START ON TIME KIDSFEST TICKETS - $5 Set your clocks to Eastern Daylight Time. KidsFest shows only, for patrons 12 years and under. Can be purchased in advance or at-the-door of the LATECOMERS ARE NOT ADMITTED George Ignatieff Theatre. Even if you have a ticket. Please arrive 15 minutes early. FTQ - FREQUENT TICKET QUESTIONS HOW DO I GET MY TICKETS? WHY DO ALL TICKETS WHY DO SOME TICKETS Bring your e-ticket (either on your HAVE A $2 SERVICE CHARGE? HAVE A $2 ORDER FEE? phone or printed at home) to the The Fringe returns 100% of the net The $2 per order fee is to offset venue to be admitted to the theatre. ticket price to the artists. The $2 the payment processing fees Tickets can also be printed for you to service charge goes to the software, incurred through online and phone pick up in person at the Festival Box hardware, materials, and the staff we transactions. Office (not at individual venues). need to sell tickets. FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SHOWS AT FRINGETORONTO.COM 3 HOW TO FRINGE “FRINGING” Fringing is for everyone who comes out to the festival. It’s about discovering and experiencing something new. Here are some hot tips to make the most of your time at the festival. CREATE YOUR STAY IN THE KNOW OWN ADVENTURE Follow the Toronto Fringe on social media and be the first to find out about special offers, behind-the-scene news, With over 1000 performances, 44 venues, and and upcoming events. POSTSCRIPT, our outdoor patio, there is something for everyone at the Toronto Fringe. Explore the different Check out our website: fringetoronto.com shows in this program guide or search for shows by your specific interests at fringetoronto.com. Catch us on Facebook: facebook.com/torontofringe Follow our Twitter: @Toronto_Fringe SURPRISE YOURSELF #FringeTO #StartedAtTheFringe No matter if you are festival newbie or a seasoned Fringer, Check out our Instagram: toronto_fringe there is always more to discover.