Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Sharron Matthews!!!


Tomorrow is your last chance to see Sharron Matthews live at Statler's Piano Lounge. In the show called 'Sharron Matthews: Back to Basics' Sharron goes back to her roots, in an intimate room, with an intimate feel.

We here at EAP really love Sharron and think she is such a refreshing powerhouse theatre personality in the city. Go see her show on Wednesday night!


Details:
Statlers on Church
487 Church Street
Phone 416-962-1209
You can reserve your tickets at statlersonchurch.com.
It starts at 8:30pm in the Upstairs Cabaret room... a gem of a room.
The cover is $12.00

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Last Days of Best of Fringe!

Now is your last chance to check out the Best of Fringe at the Berkerley Street Theatre...

Playing still is:

As You Puppet
Morro and Jasp
A Singularity of Being
Head First

Head to http://fringetoronto.com/fringe09/bestoffringe.html to get the details!!!

Friday, July 17, 2009

Opening this week in the city!

African Women Are As Strong As The Baobab Tree (Baobab Youth Theatre Group). A woman survives an abusive relationship and struggles to support her family. Jul 24 at 8 pm. $25. Glenn Gould Studio, 250 Front W. 416-253-4799, baobabtheatregroup.com.

As Bees In Honey Drown by Douglas Carter Beane (Rep 21 Contemporary Theatre). A diva tries to transform an earnest novelist into a glitzy screenwriter for her biopic. Jul 23-25, Thu 8 pm, Sat 2 pm. $15. Theatre Passe Muraille, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, rep21.ca.

Bare: A New Musical by Jon Hartmere and Damon Intrabartolo (WatersEdge Productions). Teenage boys at a Catholic boarding school deal with a secret romance and facing the future. Opens Jul 17 and runs to Aug 1, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $35, stu/srs $25. Hart House Theatre, 7 Hart House Circle. 416-978-8849, watersedgeproductions.net.

Benefits Without Borders (Burners Without Borders). This fundraiser variety show features burlesque, belly dance, comedy games and more. Jul 18 at 9 pm. $10. Bread & Circus, 299 Augusta. benefitwithoutborders.com.

Best Of The Best (Famous People Players). The blacklight theatre company performs old favourites and new material as part of its final week at its current location. Jul 22 fundraiser features show and live music. Opens Jul 21 and runs to Jul 25, Tue-Sat 6 pm. $35-$54.50. Famous People Players, 110 Sudbury. 416-532-1137, fpp.org.

The Best Of The Fringe (Fringe Toronto/CanStage). Encore performances of Hipcheck – The Musical, My Mother's Lesbian Jewish-Wiccan Wedding, Politically Correct Bedtime Stories, Head First, As You Puppet, Morro And Jasp Do Puberty and A Singularity Of Being. Opens Jul 15 and runs to Jul 25, nightly at 7 and 9 pm, see website for exact schedule. $16.50. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley. 416-368-3110, fringetoronto.com.

Between Sea & Sky by David Anderson and Krista Dalby (Clay & Paper Theatre). Puppets and live actors take a nautical journey in this outdoor presentation. Opens Jul 10 and runs to Aug 9, Wed-Sun 7 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2:30 pm. Pwyc ($10 sugg). Dufferin Grove Park, Dufferin S of Bloor. clayandpapertheatre.org.

Farther West by John Murrell (Rep 21 Contemporary Theatre). A brothel madam seeks independence from male control in 1800s western Canada. Opens Jul 21 and runs to Jul 24, Fri and Tue 8 pm. $15. Theatre Passe Muraille, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, rep21.ca.

The Foursome by Norm Foster (Flower City Theatre Festival). College buddies reunite after 15 years for a round of golf. Jul 15-19, Wed-Sat 7:30 pm, mats Thu and Sat-Sun 2 pm. $25-$35. Rose Theatre, 1 Theatre Lane. 905-874-2800, rosetheatre.ca.

Half Life by John Mighton (Flower City Theatre Festival). Two nursing home residents fall in love in this drama. Opens Jul 18 and runs to Aug 1, Wed-Sat 7:30 pm, mats Sat-Sun 2 pm. $25. Rose Theatre, 1 Theatre Lane. 905-874-2800, rosetheatre.ca.

The Harder They Come by Perry Henzell (Theatre Royal Stratford East/UK Arts/Mirvish). A country boy enters the reggae music scene of Kingston, Jamaica, and becomes an outlaw. Previews Jul 21-22. Opens Jul 23 and runs to Aug 23, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mats Sat-Sun and Wed 2 pm. $20-$99. Canon Theatre, 244 Victoria. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

High School Musical 2: On Stage (Jonathan Randall Productions). The stage version of the Disney Channel movie is performed. Opens Jul 15 and runs to Jul 25, Sat-Sun and Wed 7:30 pm, mats Wed-Thu and Sat-Sun 1:30 pm. $22. Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge. 416-872-1111.

Hockey Mom, Hockey Dad by Michael Melski (Blyth Festival). Two single parents meet at their sons' hockey game. Previews Jul 22-23. Opens Jul 24 and runs in rep to Sep 5. $25-$28, previews $20, youth $15 . Blyth Memorial Community Hall, 431 Queen. 1-877-862-5984, blythfestival.com.

I Ought To Be In Pictures by Neil Simon (Globus Theatre Inc.). A has-been Hollywood scriptwriter meets his long-lost daughter, who wants to be a star. Opens Jul 15 and runs to Jul 25, Tue-Sat 8 pm (see website for mats). $26.50, stu $20. Lakeview Arts Barn. 1-800-304-7897, lakeviewartsbarn.com.

The Lieutenant Of Inishmore by Martin McDonagh (Rep 21 Contemporary Theatre). An Irish thug seeks revenge for the murder of his cat. Opens Jul 22 and runs to Jul 25, Sat and Wed 8 pm. $15. Theatre Passe Muraille, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, rep21.ca.

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupéry (Resurgence Theatre Company). The classic tale for all ages is presented outdoors. Opens Jul 14 and runs to Aug 23, see website for days and times. $27, stu/srs $22. Fairy Lake Park, 500 Water. resurgence.ca.

Romeo And Juliet by William Shakespeare (Hart House Theatre/Canopy Theatre). The classic tragedy is staged outdoors. Opens Jul 15 and runs to Aug 1, Wed-Sat 8 pm. $10, stu/srs $8, Wed pwyc. Philosopher's Walk, 80 Queen's Park. 416-978-8849, canopytheatre.ca.

Sharron Matthews: Back To Basics (Statler’s). The cabaret artist performs new and old material. Opens Jul 8 and runs to Jul 29, Wed 8:30 pm. $12. 487 Church. 416-962-1209, statlersonchurch.com.


Top Girls by Caryl Churchill (Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts). A career woman interacts with notorious women from history at a dinner party. Opens Jul 21 and runs to Jul 25, Tue-Sat 8 pm. $22. Annex Theatre, 730 Bathurst. 416-872-1111, randolphacademy.com.

Toronto Burlesque Festival: Tassels Without Borders (Toronto Burlesque Festival). The 2009 festival features Michelle L'amour, Kitten DeVille, the Wet Spots, Skin Tight Outta Sight, Miss Mitzy Cream, Dr Sketchy's Anti-Art Show and more. Jul 23-26, see website for venues and schedule. $20-$35, weekend pass $100. torontoburlesquefestival.com.

Ways Of The Heart by Noel Coward (Shaw Festival). The Astonished Heart, Family Album and Ways And Means are performed as part of the Tonight At 8:30 cycle of one-act plays. Previews Jul 21-31. Opens Aug 1 and runs in rep to Oct 11. $30-$110; special mats srs $40, stu $25. Court House Theatre. 1-800-511-7429, shawfest.com.

Courtesy of nowtoronto.com

Saturday, July 11, 2009

FRINGE UPDATE!

First off, I would just like to begin with an expression of love to Sara Hennessey who provided a much needed hour of compulsive laughter (and sweating) at her one woman variety show - 'Sara Hennessey Town'. The girl knows what she is good at and explores even more dimensions of her self through various skits that I personally thought all worked.

Also, 'Hipcheck' was a mix of successes and mild failures. The cast works hard in this production and the monolgue by Josee Young is really strong. However, the music is slightly uneven and a little repetative.

A total success at the festival has been 'My Mother's Lesbian Jewish-Wiccan Wedding'. A great cast delivers a really funny and touching score. We would highly recommend this musical at the festival this year!

Shadows in Bloom, 36 Little Plays About Hopeless Girls, and Wanderlust are the three other shows we are suggesting you see, along with Sara and My Mother..., this final weekend of the 2009 FRINGE Festival!


Saturday, July 4, 2009

New musical at Fringe!

As most of our readers know - EAP is dedicated to the development of new musicals. At this year's FRINGE festival we have a new musical that is making audiences stand up and cheer. News like this that trickles through the community is always a good sign. It not only signals that we have a possible hit on our hands, but encourages us to believe we have a 'strong' musical production on our hands, for the show seems to be truly connecting with its audience.

An ensemble cast, including the delightful Shannon Taylor, heads up the musical about an all female hockey team!!! EAP will be checking out the musical in the coming days and will post a mini review, however, right now we know the audiences and critics around the city are both enjoying the show - so this is a hot pick of ours at this year's Toronto Fringe Festival!

Here are the details:

HIPCHECK - THE MUSICAL

Book by Shelley M. Hobbs, Music by Rob Torr, Lyrics by Shelley M. Hobbs and Rob Torr(http://www.hipcheck-themusical.com/) presented by Torrent Productions from Toronto, ON

"The Banshees are a women’s rec hockey team on the brink of a championship, but can they overcome having no stars, a distracted coach, and a battle of wills on and off the ice?"

Audience: General AudienceWarning: Content, Language75 min.

Venue 2: Robert Gill Theatre: Sun, July 5 8:15 PM - Mon, July 6 6:45 PM - Tues, July 7 1:15 PM - Fri, July 10 11:00 PM - Sun, July 12 5:15 PM

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

FRINGE FESTIVAL TORONTO







HAPPY BIRTHDAY CANADA!

Canada is another year older and we all know what that means... another year of the best theatre festival in the country!


The Toronto Fringe Festival begins today!!!

Please go to http://www.fringetoronto.com/index.htm for all the details on shows, tickets and individual show times. As we see shows we will be posting little reviews and recommendations.

First suggestion: go and see SARA HENNESSEY. We aren't even friends and we are plugging her, however, the girl makes us laugh and her exuberant stage presence is infectious and exactly what the doctor ordered. Enjoy!