Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is pleased to announce the line-up for Queer Pride 2012 – a community-focused festival of comedy, theatre, art, music, and parties. For four weeks, Buddies hosts a stellar line-up of Toronto’s most exciting queer entertainers, while Buddies After Hours offers up some of the most outrageous clubbing in the village.
Festival highlights for 2012 include:
•The best queer comedy in town, with perennial favourites Bitch Salad and Homo Night in Canada showcasing the talents of Richard Ryder, Marco Bernardi, Dawn Whitwell, The Queer Comedy Collective, Gavin Crawford, The Cheeto Girls and more
•A reunion party from the people behind iconic queer nightclub JOY
•Work It!, Toronto’s first-ever queer hip hop showcase, hosted by MC Jazz
•Ecce Homo offers up a high-art dance party with A Monstrous Ball, complete with a Lady Gaga-inspired fashion show and recreations of iconic works of performance art featuring Nina Arsenault and Tyson James.
•Canada’s premiere all-male burlesque troupe Boylesque TO
•A steampunk circus extravaganza from acclaimed aerial dance company Femmes de Feu
•PrideCab, a multi-disciplinary cabaret created by members of Buddies’ Queer Youth Arts Program that explores what it means to be young and queer today
•Canadian art rock legend Carole Pope performs from her latest album Landfall
•Cabaret sensation Shawn Hitchins presents his farewell performance: Fire(crotch) Sale!
QUEER PRIDE 2012
A FESTIVAL FOR THE COMMUNITY
JUNE 8 – JULY 1, 2012
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander St, Toronto, Canada. Box Office 416-975-8555 www.buddiesinbadtimes.com
Festival Sponsor TD Bank Group Queer Media Partner XTRA Buddies After-Hours Sponsor Cruiseline
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is pleased to announce the line-up for Queer Pride 2012 – a community-focused festival of comedy, theatre, art, music, and parties. For four weeks, Buddies hosts a stellar line-up of Toronto’s most exciting queer entertainers, while Buddies After Hours offers up some of the most outrageous clubbing in the village.
Boylesque TO presents
O MANADA! Friday, June 15 9pm, The Chamber Tickets $20 advance, $25 at the door
Canada’s premiere all-male burlesque troupe presents a stripped-down and dirty homage to the true north strong and free. Come celebrate our country’s history with some nearly nude dudes. boylesqueto.com
The Cabaret Company presents
GENDERQUEER a reading of Nick Green’s Body Politic Saturday, June 16 2pm, The Cabaret Tickets PWYC
Chronicling the creation, controversies, and eventual demise of one of Canada’s first queer publications, this new play explores the rich history of The Body Politic – a paper that was on the forefront of the gay rights movement. Developed in partnership with the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives & lemonTree creations.
COMEDY GIRL SECOND ANNUAL PRIDE SHOW Saturday, June 16 8pm, The Chamber Tickets $15
Toronto’s top female comedians come together in a celebration of funny, queer women who have made laughter their revolution. Hosted by Dawn Whitwell and featuring performances by Zoe Whitall, Carolyn Taylor, Allyson Taylor, Heather Gold, Andrya Duff, Lindy Zucker, Ashley Moffatt, and Mariko Tamaki.
The Cabaret Company presents
FREE JANE Sunday, June 17 8pm, The Cabaret Tickets FREE
Everyone’s favourite beauty queen rebel, Jane (aka Sky Gilbert), is back with the notorious Free Jane – featuring a new play by Hope Thompson and Jane’s infamous open mic.
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre presents
PRIDECAB Wednesday, June 20 8pm, The Chamber Tickets FREE for youth 25 and under, $10 for adults 26+. All advance tickets $10
directed by Chy Ryan Spain assisted by Jonathan Seinen and Alisha Stranges featuring Sean Casey, Reece McCrone, Ethan Resendes, Jackie Rowland, Shauna Sloan, Katherine Sly and Philip Turkiewicz
The ever-popular PrideCab tackles what it means to be young and queer today through original stories, songs, and performances. The hallmark of Buddies’ Queer Youth Arts Program, PrideCab is created by eight queer youth under the age of 25.
Run Ginger Run Entertainment presents
SHAWN HITCHINS: FIRE(CROTCH) SALE! Thursday, June 21 8pm, The Cabaret Tickets $20
musical direction by Mim Adams musical guest Sioux Newberry opening act Andrya Duff
Cabaret sensation Shawn Hitchins gives one final, farewell performance. Everything must go and all songs are final. Featuring new laughs and refurbished material from his hit one-man shows, plus a surprise line-up of special guests. shawnhitchins.com
ICONOCLASM Carole Pope in Concert Thursday, June 21 8pm, The Chamber Tickets $20
Reigning art rock pontiff Carole Pope performs her newest album Landfall live, joined on stage by fellow genre-busting irreverent fem rockers Slanty Eyed Mama.
Femmes du Feu presents
AIRSHIP Saturday, June 23 8:30pm, The Chamber Tickets $15-$20
Aerial dance company Femmes du Feu invites you into a sexy steampunk circus world, filled with electrifying feats, otherworldly music, and high-flying acrobatics unlike anything you’ve ever seen. femmesdufeu.com
Black CAP in collaboration with Project: Humanity and the Ontario HIV Treatment Network present
YOUNG, GIFTED, AND BLACK: (RE)TELLING STORIES OF
SURVIVAL AND THRIVAL FOR YOUNG BLACK MEN Wednesday, June 27 8pm, The Cabaret Tickets PWYC
A reading of a new play that sheds light on the experiences of Black gay and bisexual youth, crafted by Project: Humanity from interviews conducted as part of a Black CAP research project around sexuality, sexual health, and identity. Come early, at 6:30pm, for the CIHR-funded Café Scientifique: a panel discussion with local and international experts, front-line service providers, and community activists. black-cap.com
Eventual Ashes and Asian Arts Freedom School present
FREAKS AND GEEKS: THE DRAG MUSICAL Wednesday, June 27 8pm, The Chamber Tickets PWYC
directed by Katstopme Kandace and Nookie Galore featuring Margarita, Anura: The System Smasher, Tony Danza, Franny, Lasienaga, Fire Under the Ashes and Lady Kansas
Freaks and Geeks is a glamorous musical celebration of all that is outcast, awkward, unusual, and beautiful. Developed in partnership with The 519 Church Street Community Centre. eventualashes.com
Wog Productions presents
PAUL HUTCHESON’S PRIDE PACKAGE II Thursday, June 28 8pm, The Cabaret Tickets $10-$20
Paul Hutcheson brings his unique blend of storytelling and stand-up comedy back to the Buddies stage, along with a diverse band of queer comedians that includes Mike Albo, Kristen Becker, Susan Fischer, D'yan Forrest, Robert Keller, and more. paulhutcheson.com
BITCH SALAD GIVES BACK hosted by Andrew Johnston Friday, June 29 8pm, The Chamber
Tickets $20
Bitch Salad unites the country’s fiercest female comedians for one unforgiving night of laughter. Catch acts by Christina Walkinshaw, Emma Hunter, Julia Hladkowicz, The Cheeto Girls, Gavin Crawford, and some very special surprise guests. Partial proceeds go to support the AIDS Committee of Toronto and Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. bitchsalad.com
Glam-Glam Productions presents
HOMO NIGHT IN CANADA Saturday, June 30 8pm, The Chamber Tickets $25
Now in its 12th year, this Pride tradition brings the best in queer comedy to the stage for a night of hilarious high-schticking. Hosted by the infamous B-Girlz and featuring Kristen Becker, Ian Lynch, David-Benjamin Tomlinson, Marco Bernardi, Richard Ryder, Dawn Whitwell, and the Queer Comedy Collective, among others. glam-glam.com
THE LADY OIYE’S TEA DANCE Sunday, July 1 3pm-10pm, The Cabaret Tickets FREE
Buddies provides cool respite for the weary and thirsty on Pride Day afternoon, spreading out the welcome mat for a family-friendly gathering just off the parade route.
John Wulff presents
JOY – THE REUNION Friday, June 8 10:30pm, Full Facility Tickets $20 advance, $25+ at the door, $15 reduced guest list
hosted by JennStar, Rom Mel, Charles Pavia, and James St. Bass DJs Scott Cairns and Mark Falco video installation by Drasko Bogdanovic and Young Astronauts
Iconic queer nightclub JOY is back! Fifteen years after shutting their doors, the people behind one of Toronto’s most infamous after-hours clubs transform Buddies into the hottest circuit party in town to kick off our Queer Pride festivities.
BUDDIES AFTER HOURS Saturday, June 9
Featuring Donnarama and special guests DJs K-Tel and Triple-X 10:30pm, Full Facility Tickets $10
Chat Perdu Productions presents
STRIP SPELLING BEE – PRIDE EDITION Friday, June 15 11pm, The Cabaret Tickets $10
The game is played a lot like strip poker, but it's a spelling bee, and it's played in front of a live audience of hooters, hollerers, and hecklers who want to see some smart skin! A hilarious and sexy night for exhibitionists and voyeurs alike.
BUDDIES AFTER HOURS Saturday, June 16
Featuring Donnarama and special guests DJs K-Tel and Triple-X 10:30pm, Full Facility Tickets $10
The Queer Hip-Hop Movement presents
WORK IT! Friday, June 22 9pm, The Cabaret Tickets $7 or FREE before 10pm
The fierce and fabulous MC Jazz hosts Toronto’s first ever queer hip hop showcase, with young MCs throwing down their rhymes for a chance to win cash prizes. Plus, DJ Nix will be spinning classic hip- hop and R&B tunes late into the night, so bust out your parachute pants and come dressed to impress in your old school finest.
BUDDIES AFTER HOURS Saturday, June 23
Featuring Donnarama and special guests DJs K-Tel and Triple-X 10:30pm, Full Facility Tickets $10
Ecce Homo presents
THE MONSTROUS BALL Thursday, June 28 10:30pm, The Chamber Tickets $10
A wild night of performance art, fashion, music, and dancing inspired by Lady Gaga. Featuring a Gaga runway show, performances by Tyson James, Kimberly Persona, and Nina Arsenault, plus a full-facility late-night party with DJ Miss Margot and Cassandra Moore. Fashion statements highly encouraged. eccehomotheatre.com
BUDDIES AFTER HOURS Friday, June 29 DJs K-Tel and Triple-X 10:30pm, Full Facility
Tickets $15
BUDDIES AFTER HOURS Saturday, June 30 Featuring Donnarama and special guests DJs K-Tel and Triple-X
10:30pm, Full Facility Tickets $15
BUDDIES AFTER HOURS Sunday, July 1 DJs K-Tel and Triple-X 10:00pm, Full Facility
Tickets $10
Established in 1979, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is a professional Canadian theatre company dedicated to the development and presentation of queer theatre. Over the course of its history, it has evolved from a small production company into the largest facility-based queer theatre company in the world and has made an
unparalleled contribution to the recognition and acceptance of queer lives in Canada.
Illustration: The Strip Spelling Bee. ©2011 Chat Perdu Productions.
2012-05-03
Toronto: Buddies in Bad Times announces Queer Pride 2012 programming