theBUZZ Features
Toronto Fringe Festival offers over 100 performances of theatre, dance, comedy, musicals, and more- July 5 to 16, 2023
Bryen Dunn
Toronto Fringe Festival celebrates 35 years with over 100 shows at more than a dozen indoor venues across the city between July 5 – 16, 2023, along with a Launch Party on July 4, KidsFest and Kids Camp, and summer fun at the POSTSCRIPT Patio located outside the Transac Club at 292 Brunswick Ave. The schedule includes shows by local and visiting artists featuring contemporary and experimental theatre, dance, comedy, musicals, and solo shows – all chosen by lottery.
The Launch Party on the POSTSCRIPT Patio invites audiences and supporters to celebrate with pop-up performances by Fringe artists, hosted by the immaculate dame, Pearle Harbour. The popular POSTSCRIPT Patio is also the community hub for all things Fringe. Located in the heart of the Annex, it hosts the festival box office, a full-service bar, food vendors, free entertainment, crafts, and activations. Each day of the festival POSTSCRIPT Patio will host a wide variety of free events including Visual Fringe Art Market, Stitch ‘n’ Sit, UkeZac Ukelele Jam, Silent Disco, stand-up comedy, karaoke and so much more.
BUZZ Picks – What’s Queer
Other Highlights from the 35th Annual Toronto Fringe Festival include:
Ancient Dying Chinese Dialect at Factory Theatre Studio
Chantal’s ancient dialect is DYING – will audiences help keep it alive? Created and performed by Filipina-Chinese comedian Chantal Lim, and directed by Ken Hall (Netflix’s Umbrella Academy), Ancient Dying Chinese Dialect is a journey of language and love in the name of celebrating where we come from and embracing who we are.
Curious K Explores the Paleozoic at St Volodymyr Institute
When their friendship hits a new low, a class trip to the museum finds best friends Emma and Olivia in a hidden room with a robot that sings songs about the Paleozoic Era – the very topic of their homework! But can they work together to finish their assignment and get back to their class in time? Curious K Explores the Paleozoic is directed by audience favourite Chantal Forde.
Dancer at Al Green Theatre
Winner of the 2023 Adams Prize For Musical Theatre, sponsored by the Pat &Tony Adams Freedom Fund, Dancer is the inspirational story of Northern Dancer, the ‘too small, too awkward, too feisty’ colt who defied all odds to become the first Canadian horse to win The Kentucky Derby. Part high-concept musical, part high-octane ballet, with book and lyrics by Jim Betts and music by Marek Norman, Dancer celebrates a Canadian legend.
Dead End at Al Green Theatre
Dead End is a darkly comic mystery written by Michael Posner, which stars the enduring and popular performer Chris Gibbs, and Cara Hunter, a former member of the Stratford Festival company. Dead End follows a British estate agent, Reg Lawson, as he shows a once grand property in the English countryside. But Reg is understandably preoccupied – his wife has recently disappeared and he’s a potential suspect.
Emo Majok: African Aussie at Tarragon Theatre Solo Room
Award-winning South-Sudanese-Aussie comedian Emo Majok makes his Toronto Fringe debut where he will be digging into his experiences of culture-clashes, with side-splitting stories of adjusting from a refugee camp in East Africa, to gifting out jokes globally, with this brand-new show.
Fertility Slippers at Tank House Theatre
A Turkish mother. Her 1.5 generation daughter. A challenging situation. Just put on the damn slippers and everything will be fine! Maybe? Probably. A poignant, dysfunctional comedy by Ece Aydin that attempts to heal the cultural and generational gap jeopardizing one of life’s most critical relationships.
Frankenstein(esque) at Tarragon Theatre Extraspace
On a stormy night, in the shadows of a raided cemetery, one man weaves together the flesh of the dead: to create life! Frankenstein(esque) by Silent Protagonist Theatre features a 6-foot tall puppet, animated by the entire cast in this unique retelling of Mary Shelley’s classic novel: “Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus”.
Good Ol Days at Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace
Written by Michael Albert Ross and directed by Jill Harper, Good Ol Days stars Cass Van Wyck and Brianna Wright in a play about two former roommates who chase one another through a trippy, urban dreamscape in an attempt to mend their broken past. A surreal, philosophical, darkly comedic adventure about the fractured world we live in.
Maggie Chun’s First Love and Last Wedding at Factory Theatre Mainspace
After committing to spending the rest of her life in the small town of Windser, Ontario (yes, with an E), the sudden arrival of Maggie’s middle school crush on her wedding day forces her into an abrupt awakening. Maggie Chun’s First Love and Last Wedding by Helen Ho was the 2023 New Play Contest Winner, sponsored by The Aubrey and Marla Dan Foundation.
Our Little Secret: The 23&Me Musical at Alumnae Theatre Mainspace
What does an only child do when a DNA test reveals that his biological parents aren’t quite who he thought they were? Write a musical, of course! In this hilarious, moving, and true story, acclaimed performer Noam Tomaschoff grapples with questions of family, identity, and just how many brothers and sisters he really has.
The Woman Who Ate Falafel at Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace
An inspiring portrayal of a Middle Eastern woman’s journey towards self-discovery and empowerment, challenging social injustice and stereotypes. Through her unique perspective, writer, performer, and co-producer Fatma Naguib sheds light on the obstacles her character faces in pursuing her passion for the arts.
New in 2023 for Toronto Fringe is a streamlined box office – all tickets can be purchased online or at one of our two Festival Box Office Booths in the west or east end. There will be no tickets for sale at-the-door at the performance venues, and online sales will now remain open until 5 minutes before the show. Multi-show passes can still be used to redeem at-the-door, and customers can pick up a Fringe Festo smartcard at a Festival Box Office to simply tap at the venue.
Toronto Fringe Festival
July 5 – 16, 2023
Single Tickets are $13 + $2 service fee
Schedule and Box Office Available Online at
www.FringeToronto.com
facebook.com/torontofringe / instagram.com/toronto_fringe / twitter.com/Toronto_Fringe
The 2023 venues for Toronto Fringe include: Aki Studio, Al Green Theatre, Factory Theatre Mainspace, Factory Theatre Studio, St. Vladimir Theatre, Tarragon Theatre Extraspace, Tarragon Theatre Mainspace, Tarragon Theatre Workspace, Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace, and Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace, plus new Fringe venues Alumnae Mainstage Theatre and The Tank House Theatre in the Young Centre for the Performing Arts.
About the Author
Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, lifestyle, entertainment and hospitality. He has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He enjoys discovering delicious eats, tasting spirited treats, and being mesmerized by musical beats.
