Mister Baxter

Happy Canada Day!

Episode 55 of This Is Toronto is now available!

This latest edition features Mister Baxter - an urban drama being performed at this year's Toronto Fringe Festival.

www.thisistorontopodcast.blogspot.com

NEXT EPISODE: July 15, 2011

Bloom

Episode 54 of This Is Toronto is now available!

This latest edition features Bloom - a new play premiering at the Toronto Fringe Festival.

www.thisistorontopodcast.blogspot.com

NEXT EPISODE: July 1, 2011

Toronto Fringe Applications Up

If you want to get in on the 2009 Fringe Theatre Festival the applications are now up on the Fringe Web site.

"Take your chances with the Fringe XXI lottery this January! Applications can be downloaded right here… The deadline for all applications is January 16, 4pm."

There is also info up about the Next Stage Theatre Festival which runs January 7 - 18, 2009.

Sara Hennessey Time @ Fringe!

The 20th Anniversary of the Toronto Fringe Festival is nearly upon us. In case you don't know, quick background:

"The Fringe is Toronto 's largest theatre festival. In 2008 it will host over 800 artists from Ontario , Canada and around the world, with over 135 unique productions in more than 25 venues. Productions range from dramas to musical extravaganzas to improv and take place in local theatres as well as in unusual spots: playgrounds, parking lots and more. A KidsVenue hosts eight plays exclusively for children and families. The festival also hosts a beer tent, two outdoor patios and a free nightly Cabaret. unjuried, unexpected, unforgettable"

One of the performers at this year's fringe one of the performers at this year's fringe is very funny Toronotonian Sara Hennessey in the appropriately titled Sara Hennessey Time. If history is any indicator, I suspect Sara's show might go something like this.



So, now that you're convinced you can go here for showtimes (For F ringe and other Sara Hennessey appearances) and then here for tickets (to Sarah Hennessey Time and other Fringe shows. More info about the Toronto Fringe Festival is available at fringetoronto.com and more information about Sarah Hennessey is available at sarahennessey.com more information about sausage is availabe at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sausage

No sausages were harmed in the making of this video

Fringe Fundraiser: The Further Adventures of Antoine Feval

The Toronto Fringe Theatre Festival is holding a fundraiser 'Fringe Britania' on April 28 at the
Theatre Passe-Muraille Mainspace, 16 Ryerson Ave.

The Further Adventures of Antoine Feval (written and performed by Christopher Gibbs): A mystery featuring cat burglar turned detective 'Antoine Feval'. Although I've never seen the show the reviews are pretty positive:

"“Gibbs’ performance as the witless and self-deprecating Barnaby is near flawless. His martini-dry wit is characteristically sharp, in both script and performance, and his comic timing is beautiful.” - CBC on Antoine Feval."

“Gibbs’ observations on the show-in-progress add further layers of irony, making this one of the most cleverly written and performed shows I’ve ever seen at the Fringe.” - EYE WEEKLY on Antoine Feval."

Also, because it is one night only, the luxury of waiting to see what other people think isn't available. It is however well worth the risk I think - Proceeds go to fund the Toronto Fringe Theatre Festival which is celebrating it's 20th Anniversary this year. If you support live theatre and creative and artistic freedom then you should already know about the festival, and if you don't:

"The Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals (CAFF) is the national association of 23 theatre festivals held across Canada and the US . CAFF members share the vision of creating the opportunity for both emerging and established artists to produce their work with artistic freedom, and of engaging members of the community by making productions as affordable and accessible as possible.  CAFF members abide by four guiding principles:

Participation in the Festival is determined by a non-juried process;

Participants receive 100% of the ticketed box office receipts for their performances;

Fringe Festival producers have no control over the artistic content of performances;

Fringes should provide accessible opportunities for audiences and artists to participate"

Gideon Arthurs Named New Executive of Toronto Fringe

According to a press release Gideon Arthurs has been appointed the new Executive of the Toronto Fringe Festival. Arthurs Bio from the CanStage website reads:

Gideon Arthurs is the Artistic Producer for Groundwater Productions, as well as an independent director.   He was  formerly the Company Manager for Soulpepper Theatre Company and sits on the Board of Directors for Pleiades Theatre and the Paprika Festival.   Recent directing credits include: Ubu Roi (Massacred), assistant director/producer for A Thought In Three Parts

Festival producer Bridget MacIntosh was clearly thrilled with the appointment “I am ecstatic to welcome Gideon to the team during such an exciting time in the Fringe’s development and look forward to working with him on what is sure to be an incredible 20th anniversary event.”

The 2008 20th Anniversary Toronto Fringe runs from July 2 to 13 see fringetoronto.com/ for details.

Fringe in the Winter: The Next Stage Theatre Festival

The Toronto Fringe Theatre Festival is kicking off it's 20th Anniversary with Next Stage.

The Next Stage will provide eight companies with the opportunity to nourish their creative appetite, showcase their work and ultimately invigorate Toronto's art community with energy and new ideas. This curated event will feature some of the most exciting indie theatre artists who have previously produced an artistically and critically successful production in the Fringe and will feature several past Fringe hits as well as new works.

The Next Stage lineup includes

A Quiet Place By Brendan Gall Directed by Geoffrey Pounsett

BASH'd! Written and performed by Chris Craddock and Nathan Cuckow Directed by Ron Jenkins Music by Aaron Macri

Conservatives In Love By Dave Carley Directed by Sue Miner

DON'T WAKE ME By Brendan Gall, Chris Hanratty, Kate Hewlett, Mike McPhaden, and Christopher Stanton Directed by Chris Hanratty

JESUS CHRIST: The Lost Years By Ryan Gladstone, Katherine Sanders and Bruce Horak Directed by Bruce Horak

Moving Day By Cathy Elliott Directed by Jeannette Lambermont-Morey Musical direction by Konrad Pluta

Random Acts of Love By Bruce Gooch Directed by Janet Laine Green

and

The Corner Written and directed by Jason Maghanoy

For more information visit the Next Stage event on Facebook or NextStageFestival.com.

A program for Next Stage (PDF) is also available here.

Vancouver Fringe Festival Seeking Actor for 'Hands Down'

Just passing this along. Please give it a read and pass it on if you know someone who might be interested:

"We are casting a role for 'Hands Down,' a play about a couple who enter the world of professional Rock Paper Scissors players and, naturally, learn something about themselves. We're looking for men, 25-40, to play Felix, a vaguely european "Master" of RPS. This is a broad character; we're looking for someone with a background in improv, or with good comedy chops to bring him to life.
The show runs the 6th to 16th of September, and will be a box office split. Auditions will be held on Saturday, July 28th from 11-3pm in Carousel Theatre's small studio, 1411 Cartwright Street on Granville Island. Please send your info (picture and resume) to me at danibryant@hotmail.com for the sides and to book an audition time. If you know someone who might fit the part, forward the notice to them."