2008 NEXT STAGE FESTIVAL Play Lineup
Master Schedule - all plays, all days
Individual Play Listings:
A Quiet Place
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single threat
Toronto, ON
presents
By Brendan Gall
Directed by Geoffrey Pounsett
In a small, dark room lit by a single bulb, two men face each other. David is tied to a chair. Henry is not. Some games aren't fair.
Hilarious and heartbreaking, A Quiet Place is a simple story about an impossible problem ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ one that will stay with you long after you leave the theatre.
5 STARS! The moody and mysterious script is gripping. ... You can't wait for more . - Eye Weekly
Word for word there seems to be almost nothing out of place. The language is as stark as the set, as the story in a way. ... I kept imagining myself in the audience. ... I kept having to stop and walk around the room a couple of times just reading it. - Joan MacLeod
A Quiet Place was shortlisted for the 2003 Herman Voaden National Playwriting Competition.
Cast: James Cade & Christopher Stanton
Stage Manager: Sherry Roher
Play-Comedy / Mature Audience / Warnings: content, language
Running time: 75 Minutes
Factory Studio Theatre
the gay4pay co-op
Edmonton, AB
presents
Written and performed by Chris Craddock and Nathan Cuckow
Directed by Ron Jenkins
Music by Aaron Macri
BASH'd! is a high energy Hip-Hop Opera that chronicles the tale of a pair of lovers; one of whom is bashed, prompting the other to take revenge.
BASH'd is BrilliantÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ this is a show you don't dare miss - Toronto Star
NNNNN ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ Now Magazine
One of the strongest Fringe entries I've seen in the 11 years of the festival ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ Theater Mania, NYC
An unreasonable delight ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ The Village Voice
I doubt that I will see a better show than this all year - Gay City News, NYC
Winner of Outstanding Musical 2007 NYC International Fringe Festival
Stage Manager: Eva Pang.
Musical / Mature Audience / Warning: Language, Fog Machine, Boys kissing boys
Running time: 60 Minutes
Factory Theatre Mainspace
Green Pea Collective
Toronto, ON
presents
Conservatives in Love is a study of two things: those mysterious new urbanites who are moving into all those towering downtown condos. And the non-economic value of Art.
The play is mostly set at the Art Gallery of Ontario. It brings together ten young downtowners who are converging for a Young Conservatives meet and greet. At this meeting, they will learn the exact value of a Henry Moore, and they will spend an indecent amount of time hitting on each other. (Because that is what Young Conservatives do.)
NNNNN - Best of the Fringe, Best New Play, Best Acting Ensemble, and Best Director. - NOW Magazine
Totally engaging and entertainingÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ The cast are wonderful - Jon Kaplan, NOW Magazine
Smart, sexy and silly. Why don't more local theatres put on Carley's plays? Bravo to director Sue Miner . - Glenn Sumi, NOW Magazine
4 STARS - A hilarious satire of Canadian conservatives performed by an outstanding cast. - EYE Magazine
Cast: Jason Jazrawy, Richard Lee, Anne Page, Naomi Snieckus
Costumes: Nina Okens
Stage Manager: Hilary Unger
Play-comedy / Mature Audience / Warning: Richard and Jaz take their shirts off. The girls don't. (chiz)
Running time: 70 Minutes
Factory Theatre Mainspace
UnSpun Theatre
Toronto, ON
presents
By Brendan Gall, Chris Hanratty, Kate Hewlett, Mike McPhaden, and Christopher Stanton
Directed by Chris Hanratty
James, the victim of a mysterious and vicious attack, has lost his vision. His days are long and cloaked in a drab, all-encompassing grey. But one night, the world of his dreams opens into a wild and beautiful vista. His dreamscape becomes a world filled with sex, with adventure, with hope - with a thrilling chance to see again.
James meets a beautiful singer who swears that she can help him - and he follows her into the dark, uneasy underbelly of a strange city. It is only here, James finds, that the questions surrounding his monstrous attack can at last be answered...
This deliciously strange, surreal play looks at a man tragically blinded, his fantastic reconstruction of how it happened and the collision of what may be imagination with his actual life. Inventive storytelling from a company who push their audience to wrestle with complex, challenging ideas. ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ Now Magazine
Cast: John Cleland, Kate Hewlett and Christopher Stanton
Dramaturge: Mike McPhaden
Assistant Director: Brendan Gall
Play-Drama / General Audience
Running time: 75 Minutes
Factory Theatre Mainspace
Monster Theatre
Vancouver, BC
presents
By Ryan Gladstone, Katherine Sanders and Bruce Horak
Directed by Bruce Horak
The Gospel According to Monster Theatre!
Hilarious/Blasphemous! Virtuoso Performances! - National Post
Nothing short of a Comic Miracle! - FFWD Magazine
NNNNN - Let's just say that comic acting ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ in the fringe or anywhere else ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ doesn't get better than this. - Glenn Sumi, Now Magazine
This delightful comedy is not only one of the most deft pieces of physical comedy I've ever seen, it is as subtle as it is overtly funny and as literate as it is energetic and frantic! - 5 STARS - SEE Magazine
In the bible, there is a plot-holeÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ We see Jesus at the age of 13 teaching with the Rabbis in the Synagogue, then he disappears from record until we find him 18 years later wandering in the desert.
Have you ever wondered what Jesus was really up to between the ages 13 and 30? Or how he reacted when told ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂJoseph isn't your real father!ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ Find out in Monster Theatre's latest ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂhistorically hilariousÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ extravaganza! Puppets! Songs! Sacrilege!
Don't Miss our Video GameÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ JESUS CHRIST: Zombie Slayer on www.monstertheatre.com
Cast: Katherine Sanders and Ryan Gladstone
Composer: Drew Jurecka
Stage Manager: Michelle Field
Play-comedy / General Audience / Warning: sacrilege
Running time: 60 Minutes
ZillA Productions
Cookstown, ON
presents
By Cathy Elliott
Directed by Jeannette Lambermont-Morey
Musical direction by Konrad Pluta
Cathy Elliott delivers the performance of a lifetime , Artsbeat Huronia.
It's moving day, July 20, 1969: man lands on moon, housewife packs it in, Godzilla saves the day. An unusual musical piece.
Sharon, a frustrated, alcoholic housewife, once again packs up the family's belongings to follow her husband to another promotion. John and the kids have gone ahead, leaving her behind to take care of the move. History is in the making and they have the TV in the car.
Sharon 's turmoil plays out like a Judy Garland-esque TV Variety Show. But her very real depression cannot be cured by ordinary means; it careens, angry and out-of-control, into fantasy, pop culture and Japanese anime as she searches for survival.
It's refreshing... a songwriter who doesn't shrink from warm open melodies and who is able to match them with succinct lyrics that mix the sugar of poetry with the spice of reality. Richard Ouzounian, The Toronto Star
Warmth, Humour and Understanding drive captivating performance! , Jennifer Jaensch.
Cast: Cathy Elliott as Sharon; Konrad Pluta on piano
Set Design: Cathy Elliott and the ZillA team
Musical / General Audience / Warning: Fog machine
Running time: 90 Minutes
Factory Studio Theatre
New Fangled Stages
Toronto, ON
presents
By Bruce Gooch
Directed by Sanjay Talwar
Victoria Daniels is ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂlet goÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ from her daytime soap. Producing and starring in a compilation of Shakespeare called The Seven Ages of Love; she crashes into her co-star, Russell Thomas, with whom she had a passionate affair fifteen years earlier. Can they survive each other?
NNNN - Gooch's absorbing two-hander about a couple of actors who rehash an old affair while rehearsing a show about love in Shakespeare is clever, moving and-if my antennae are accurately tuned-accessible enough to become a hot commercial property. Set in present and past, the script takes many shots at acting and its revered institutions. When asked to deliver the goods, the play and actors, Lynn Vogt and Bruce Gooch, make good with exquisite Shakespeare in an emotionally rich conclusion. - NOW Magazine
OUTSTANDING NEW PLAY - Toronto Fringe 2004; PICK OF THE FRINGE. - Robert Crew, Toronto Star
It was nice to see a love story. It felt realÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ good humour - CBC
Cast: Lynn Vogt, Bruce Gooch
Drama / General Audience / Warning: language
Running time: 90 Minutes
Factory Studio Theatre
JSquared Productions
Toronto, ON
presents
Written and directed by Jason Maghanoy
LINA stands alone on stage.
LINA
I noticed his eyes.
I don't know how I did. I guess I was looking for eyes like his.
He walked up to me, and I remember wondering what his mouth tasted like.
I didn't kiss him, but I remember a taste. I remember leaving the club with that taste in my mouth.
I imagined it all.
Featuring: Darrel Gamotin, Rose Cortez, Byron Abalos, Brandon Coffey and Edward De Juan
Production Manger: Maria Villegas
Play-drama / General Audience / Warning: language
Running time: 60 Minutes
Factory Studio Theatre