Excerpt from press release:

North American humans you think William Shakespeare wrote Mac Beth ha, ha, ha..well we’ll tell you the truth (wink wink) who really wrote the play. Three bouffon women (if you want to call them that) put the weird in the Wyrd sisters. The bouffon search for humanity brings a reluctant William Shakespeare on a journey from a living hell to acceptance.

Weirder Thou Art stars Ronak Singh as The Virgin, Stephen Flett as the Matron, Anne Shepherd as the Crone and Philip Krusto as William Shakespeare.

Details

• Weirder Thou Art plays at the St. Vladimir Institute. (620 Spadina Ave.)
• Tickets are $12. The festival also offers a range of money-saving passes for serious Fringers.
• Tickets can be purchased online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Fringe Club at Scadding Court, and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
• Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.
• Content Warnings: Unsuitable for Minors, Sexual Content, Audience Participation, Mature Language.
• This venue is wheelchair-accessible through a secondary route. After the building’s business hours, a staff member will need to escort you through this route, so plan to arrive early for evening shows.

Performances

• Thursday July 6th, 08:15 pm
• Saturday July 8th, 03:30 pm
• Sunday July 9th, 05:15 pm
• Tuesday July 11th, 10:15 pm
• Wednesday July 12th, 01:45 pm
• Friday July 14th, 12:00 pm
• Sunday July 16th, 08:30 pm

Photo by Ardyth Johnson.

Excerpt from press release:

(TORONTO — May 31, 2017) You Are Perfect is a new and uniquely original dramatic stage play that delves into the psyche of Charles Manson and his followers, a group that has both reviled and fascinated the public for nearly a half century. You Are Perfect’s Toronto Fringe run at the Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace marks the first Canadian-staged production for White Horse, New York City’s 14-year-old off-Broadway theater company. The play is directed by Rhys J. McClelland, winner of a 2004 Directors Guild of Great Britain Award.

You Are Perfect takes a unique view on the Manson murders by chronicling the experience of one singular Family member: Susan Atkins. As Manson’s most ardent disciple, Atkins was implicated in at least eight coldblooded killings, including the infamous Tate/LaBianca murders. Set in Atkins’ prison cell on the eve of a key moment in the Manson murder trial, You Are Perfect is a theatrical re-imagining of her life and inner demons.

“After debuting You Are Perfect off Broadway, we strongly felt a need to share this story with audiences across the border,” explains acclaimed writer/director Cyndy A. Marion, “with people for whom these horrific events don’t hit as close to home. We’re very interested in seeing if Canadian audiences can help us better understand this tragedy.”

You Are Perfect features Lindsay Danielle Gitter (Crashlight, The Scarlet Letter) as Susan Atkins, Kristin Samuelson (A Lie of the Mind, Johnny) as The Woman, and Alexander Reid (His Girl Friday, Mindflood) as Charles Manson. “What hopefully makes this production distinctive is its highly theatrical structure,” Marion notes. “We play with time and space in a way that aims to entertain, enlighten, and surprise.”

Details

• You Are Perfect plays at the Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace. (16 Ryerson Ave.)
• Tickets are $12. The festival also offers a range of money-saving passes for serious Fringers.
• Tickets can be purchased online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Fringe Club at Scadding Court, and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
• Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.
• Content Warnings: Sexual Content, Mature Language.
• This venue is wheelchair-accessible. Accessible seating is in the very front row.

Performances

• Friday July 7th, 01:45 pm
• Saturday July 8th, 09:15 pm
• Monday July 10th, 05:00 pm
• Tuesday July 11th, 08:00 pm
• Wednesday July 12th, 03:30 pm
• Friday July 14th, 11:00 pm
• Saturday July 15th, 08:45 pm

Photo of  Kristin Samuelson, Alexander Reed &
Lindsay Danielle Gitter by John Robert Hoffman.

Excerpt from press release:

Toronto, ON – Nourishment is an intergenerational exploration of female relationships, how we pass down traditions from one generation to the next, as well as societal and cultural definitions of womanhood. Inspired by the many ways and places women have gathered to discuss politics, share stories, and nourish one another throughout history, we dedicate this play to the strong women we know and love – our heroes of today, yesterday, and every day.

Nourishment weaves together feminist history with the complex lives of a family of four very different women. Using a medley of stylized choreography, soundscapes, and theatricalized audio description, Nourishment is made accessible to visual and hearing impaired audiences. Incorporating creative methods that resonate with and reach a more diverse audience is a necessary and important part of our practice.

ECM Theatre is comprised of three Canadian feminist theatre-makers (Erin Maxfield, Gloria Mok, and Jessica Watkin), who share a healthy fascination with food, theatre, and activism. Inspired by French salons in the early 18th century, Nourishment began as a weekly meeting and writer’s circle to discuss current events and share ideas. Featuring a cast and creative team entirely comprised of female-identified artists, Nourishment is a collection of love letters, recipes, and protests about what it means to be a woman.

Writer and Lighting/Sound Designer Gloria Mok was the co-creator of the 2017 Next Stage Festival hit Silk Bath (NNNN). Writer and choreographer Jessica Watkin was the Blind Community Consultant on lemonTree creations and Buddies in Bad Times 2016 co-production of Body Politic (NNN). Actor Isabel Kanaan is a cast member on CBC’s Royal Canadian Air Farce 150 special, and has been praised for her roles in Hey ‘90s Kids, You’re Old (Winner of Toronto Fringe 2014 Patrons’ Pick) and Women at the 2016 Toronto Fringe (NNNN).

Details

• Nourishment plays at The Theatre Centre’s Franco Boni Theatre. (1115 Queen St. W.)
• Tickets are $12. The festival also offers a range of money-saving passes for serious Fringers.
• Tickets can be purchased online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Fringe Club at Scadding Court, and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
• Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.
• Content Warnings: Sexual Content, Mature Language.
• This venue is accessible.

Performances

• Wednesday July 5th, 07:00 pm
• Friday July 7th, 11:30 pm
• Sunday July 9th, 01:45 pm
• Tuesday July 11th, 05:00 pm
• Thursday July 13th, 09:45 pm
• Friday July 14th, 05:45 pm
• Saturday July 15th, 12:00 pm

Photo of Kira Renee, Catherine Wylee, Grace Thompson and Isabel Kanaan by Hashmita Alimchandani.

Excerpt from press release:

Robin Henderson, creator of the Best of Fringe hit Dance Animal, is thrilled to be returning to the Toronto Fringe Festival with Pineapple Club, from July 7^th-16^th, 2017at the Factory Theatre Mainspace. The opening performance is on Friday July 7^th at 3:15pm. Then Sat July 8th at 7:30pm; Mon July 10th at 9:00pm; Tues July 11th at 1:15pm; Wed July 12th at 11:30pm; Fri July 14th at 7:30pm; Sun July 16th at 12:00pm. Media is welcome at all performances.

One part comedic dance, one part sketch, one part social commentary, Pineapple Club provides a joyful, yet dark take on the emotional fallout of 2016. Loosely anchored in the five stages of grief and borrowing from the catalogues of artists who passed in 2016, Henderson blends the diverse talents of Paul Barnes, Jonathan Shaboo and Pascale Yensen. The Pineapple Club is a blazing mash-up of comedic dance, sketch comedy, puppetry, and music.

Welcome to the Pineapple Club. Come for the comedy. Stay for the calamity.

Details

• Pineapple Club plays at the Factory Mainspace. (125 Bathurst St.)
• Tickets are $12. The festival also offers a range of money-saving passes for serious Fringers.
• Tickets can be purchased online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Fringe Club at Scadding Court, and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
• Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.
• Content Warnings: Audience Participation, Mature Language.
• This venue is wheelchair-accessible through a secondary route.

Performances

• Friday July 7th, 03:15 pm
• Saturday July 8th, 07:30 pm
• Monday July 10th, 09:00 pm
• Tuesday July 11th, 01:15 pm
• Wednesday July 12th, 11:30 pm
• Friday July 14th, 07:30 pm
• Sunday July 16th, 12:00 pm

From press release:

Shirley Gnome is making her Toronto Fringe debut with the Canadian premiere of Taking It Up The Notch.

Hailing from Vancouver and currently signed to 604 Records (Canada’s largest independent music label), this international multi-award winning cabaret comedian has wowed critics and audiences alike with her unique brand of witty, explicit, boundary-pushing satirical music. She is regularly featured on SiriusXM stations all over North America and was recently a guest performer on Dan Savage’s #1 rated podcast The Savage Lovecast.

In Taking It Up The Notch, Gnome deals with the pressure of her first record deal by attempting to develop a moral compass to guide her in making an album for troubled times. Dark humour and taboo notions about sexuality and human nature mix with beautiful vocals, gorgeous guitar stylings, and epic backing tracks.

She returns to Canada after a three-month sell-out tour of Australia and New Zealand, where she received critical acclaim for her performances of Taking It Up The Notch. She was also featured as the closing act of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s all-female comedy showcase UpFront.

Fans of Garfunkel and Oats and Tenacious D, get ready to be taken to the next level.

Details

• Shirley Gnome: Taking It Up The Notch plays at the Factory Studio. (125 Bathurst St.)
• Tickets are $12. The festival also offers a range of money-saving passes for serious Fringers.
• Tickets can be purchased online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Fringe Club at Scadding Court, and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
• Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.
• Content Warnings: Unsuitable for Minors, Sexual Content, Realistic Violence or Gore, Nudity, Mature Language.
• This venue is accessible.

Performances

• Wednesday July 5th, 10:30 pm
• Saturday July 8th, 02:00 pm
• Monday July 10th, 07:00 pm
• Wednesday July 12th, 09:30 pm
• Thursday July 13th, 04:15 pm
• Friday July 14th, 05:30 pm
• Sunday July 16th, 02:00 pm

Photo credit: Rufio Van Hoover.