From press release:

Based on an original story by Graeme Black Robinson

Directed by Alexander Offord
Starring & Devised by Amy Marie Wallace. Scott Garland
& Graeme Black Robinson
Masks and costumes designed by Amy Marie Wallace
Puppets designed by Graeme Black Robinson

When street youth Ash hears the legend of a lost neighbourhood in downtown Toronto, he sets off on a quest
to find a new home. His journey leads him beneath the city, through an abandoned TIC tunnel and into an unchecked
urban wilderness deep underground. It isn’t long before he’s fighting for his life against a pack of riotous
rats, a conniving crow, and a malnourished troll. In these subterranean tunnels where everyone’s hungry,
will Ash eat or be eaten? 

This summer, Silent Protagonist brings Graeme Black Robinson’s 2012 fairy tale to life with handmade masks and puppets. Rather than adapt the story into a script, director Alexander Offord and the cast (all of whom graduated from the acclaimed George Brown Theatre School this spring) have devised original staging and music from the ground-up. This multi-disciplinary work of theatre promises to be unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Join us at the 2013 Toronto Fringe Festival to experience the adventure yourself.

For more information, including production photos and our trailer, please visit www.silentprotagonist.ca

Silent Protagonist
In association with the Toronto Fringe Festival presents
Or Be Eaten
Based on an original story by Graeme Black Robinson
Directed by Alexander Offord
Starring and devised by Amy Marie Wallace.
Scott Garland and Graeme Black Robinson

July 4- 13. 2013
St. Vladimir’s Theatre. 620 Spadina Ave
Tickets can be purchased online at: www.fringetix.ca
or via phone at: (416)-966-1062 xl
or in person at the Festival Box Office: 581 Bloor Street W

PERFORMANCES
Thursday July 4 at 6:30pm
Friday July 5 at 3:30pm
Sunday July 7 at 5:45pm
Tuesday July 9 at 2:45pm
Thursday July 11 at 5:15pm
Friday July 12 at 9:45pm
Saturday July 13 at 7:00pm

TICKETS
$11 in advance
$10 at the door (1 hour before performance)

From press release:

“Squat: A Super-Secret Back-Alley” Musical brings life to a hidden Toronto treasure

An original musical, in an original spot. Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Spadina  Avenue, in an alleyway behind 401 Richmond sits a historic coachhouse. Usually it’s Cinecycle,  a cinema cum bicycle repair shop, but for two weeks in July it will become 401A – Toronto’s  only secret art squat. “The minute audience members walk in they’ll become immersed in the  characters’ world” says Leora Smith, 25, one of three playwrights. “That’s the best part of a sitespecific show – you’re watching it, but you are also a part of it.”

The show is “Squat: A Super-Secret Back-Alley Musical.” Suzie, a tough kid from Toronto and  her boyfriend, Ben Fife, sang love songs every night in 401A, the city’s most romantic secret  hideaway. When Ben was “discovered” and whisked away to Hollywood, Suzie was left behind  and disappeared on a heartbroken, alcohol-fueled bender. The show picks up as Suzie returns to  find the squat has been taken over by hipster duo Lex Zeppelin and Baritony Danza. Disgusted  and determined, she vows to reclaim her venue. Torontophiles can expect plenty of local  references to keep them laughing, including a full number about posing as a Toronto hipster sung  by a policeman undercover as a “social media expert.”

The musical began as an idea at the Burning Man Festival. Now 2 years, 5 scripts, and countless  Monday night writing sessions later, playwrights Smith, Eyal Rosenblum, and Jacob Ulrich are  ready for another festival – the Toronto Fringe. As newbies to the Toronto theatre scene they’ve  enlisted help from veterans Alex Soloway, Musical Director and Producer/choreographer Daniel Bennett.

“Squat” pays homage to big Broadway so expect energetic musical numbers, larger than life  characters, and of course – a love story. Still, it’s got a contemporary twist. “Everyone in Toronto  knows what it’s like to have hipsters take over your favourite spots” says Rosenblum, “It can get  under your skin. We’re really playing with that.” “Let’s just say, this is a 14+ show” says Smith.  “And also, we’re grateful that a lot of words rhyme with s***” adds Ulrich who wrote 11 original songs for the show. Despite her crassness, you’ll certainly come to love and root for  Suzie and her ragtag crew who bring this space to life.

Squat: A Super Secret Back Alley Musical is the inaugural production of theatre company Watch  The Elbow. Only 40 seats are available at each performance -so come early!

Show times:
July 4 -6, 11-3 @ 8pm – 8 pm
July 6, 13 @ 2pm
Tickets can be purchased through: Toronto Fringe #403 – 720 Bathurst Street Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 2R4
(416) 966-1062  www.fringetoronto.com

From press release:

Critically acclaimed Visually Impaired visual artist Bruce Horak lives with 9% of his vision and has, over the last two years, painted a series over 400 unique portraits which attempt to capture the way that he sees, aptly named The Way I See It.

As he tells the story of The Way I See It, the tale of Canadian painter Tom Thomson’s unsolved murder is interwoven throughout, including the truth and lies behind the mysterious death of one of Canada’s greatest artists and the subsequent rise of The Group of Seven. The mystery takes you from the tiny community of Canoe Lake, to the hallowed halls of our nation’s capital, and eventually on to the World stage.

Art, politics, greed, ambition, love and murder are intertwined in a one-man tour-de-force as Horak exploits icons of Canadian History, including Tom Thomson, Lawren Harris, and William Lyon Mackenzie King.As he reveals his controversial perspective on Canadian Art History, he shares the unique way he sees the world through an original portrait of each new audience.

What the critics are saying about Bruce Horak the actor… the painter…the creator…

 “One of the weirdest and most brilliant shows the Fringe has ever seen” ★★★★★–The Edmonton Sun

“Horak crackles with energy…he’s unbelievably fast on his feet.” – The Chronicle-Herald (Halifax)

“All anyone could talk about after the show” – The Peak Magazine

“Delivering lines with timing to set your atomic clock by.  The man was impeccable.” – Plank Magazine

“Bold and almost shocking in its originality…I haven’t quite seen through the eyes of a blind man, but I’ll probably never get closer.”  -Kelowna Daily Courier, in response to The Way I See It at the Kelowna Art Gallery

Monster Theatre has been creating plays and touring them across North America since 2000. Their success on the Canadian Fringe circuit has lead to great popularity among presenters across Canada, bringing Monster Theatre work to professional stages year round.  Select productions include The Canada Show: The Complete History of Canada in One Hour (Winner ‘Just For Laughs’ Frankie award for Best Comedy), The Shakespeare Show (★★★★★ –Winnipeg Free Press), The Seven Lives of Louis Riel (“★★★★★The idea is as brilliant as the execution is funny!” –CBC), Freud vs. his Ego (“Utterly adept at slapstick, wordplay and sound effects, these two actors from Vancouver are hilariously in sync with each other and their audience in this quick and clever version of the “talking cure.” ”★★★★ 1/2 -Winnipeg Free Press),  2011’s “Best of Fest” winner Houdini’s Last Escape (“Monster Theatre pulls a rabbit out of a hat with this wildly theatrical show…it’s no illusion this one’s going to sell out.” ★★★★ 1/2 –Uptown Magazine), Every Story Ever Told (“Get your tickets early to what may be the funniest show at this year’s Ottawa Fringe Festival.” -Fully Fringed) and No Tweed Too Tight: Another Grant Canyon Mystery (“Brings the house down!” ★★★★ 1/2 -Winnipeg Free Press).

Assassinating Thomson

Playing at the Toronto Fringe Festival

Venue: St. Vlad’s Theatre: 620 Spadina Avenue

Air Conditioned!

Friday, July 5: 7pm

Saturday, July 6: 5:45pm

Monday, July 8: 10:30pm

Tuesday, July 9: 8:30p,

Wednesday, July 10th: 12:15pm

Friday, July 12th: 4pm

Saturday, July 13: 10:30pm