Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Buddies in Bad Times' 2012-13 Season comes to a show-stopping finale with the world premiere of Ecce Homo Theatre's Of a Monstrous Child: a gaga musical. Broadway star Bruce Dow leads an ensemble cast in this pop music spectacle that is anything but the karaoke-style jukebox musical you might expect.
The production is written and directed by Ecce Homo Artistic Director Alistair Newton, with performances by Bruce Dow (Jesus Christ Superstar on Broadway), Gavin Crawford (Dora Award winner for The Situationists), Tyson James (currently starring in Buddies' production of Arigato, Tokyo), Kimberly Persona, Chy Ryan Spain, and Kyle Travis Young, musical direction by Dan Rutzen, choreography by Sky Fairchild-Waller, and designs by Matt Jackson, Trevor Schwellnus, and Lyon Smith.
A STAR-STUDDED CAST PORTRAYS THE ART WORLD'S GREATEST ICONS
Two of Canada's greatest character actors share the stage for the first time as they take on a cast of characters that reads like an art world A-list. Stratford veteran Bruce Dow shows us his wickedly playful side as the show's master of ceremonies: legendary queer performer Leigh Bowery. Starring along-side Dow is celebrated comedian and talented impersonator Gavin Crawford, playing a host of famous artists and intellectuals that include Björk, Marina Abramovic, Andy Warhol, and countless others.
This show also introduces Toronto to the amazing talents of Kimberly Persona, an up-and-coming young performer who looks, sounds, sings, and moves with an uncanny likeliness to Lady Gaga. An accomplished performer seen recently as Mrs. Pinkerton in Pinkalicious at the Lower Ossington Theatre and the creative force behind the web series Miss Persona and the Marvelous Melodies, Kim's starring role as Lady Gaga marks her first mainstage performance in Toronto. Buddies is thrilled to once again introduce Toronto audiences to an exciting young performer in a once-in-a-lifetime role.
A POP MUSICAL LIKE IT HAS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE
Of a Monstrous Child is the first musical to ever be commissioned and developed by Buddies in Bad Times. In-keeping with the company's almost-35-year tradition of transgressive queer performance, this show will test the boundaries of the musical genre and offer audiences a distinctly queer perspective on the cultural phenomenon of Lady Gaga.
Inspired by an essay Lady Gaga wrote while studying at NYU, the show chronicles an encounter between one of her obsessed super-fans and performance legend Leigh Bowery. In it, the iconic Bowery gives a crash course in the history of queer performance, trotting out a virtual who's who of artists, academics, and celebrities whose work has been appropriated by Lady Gaga. The pop star's chart-topping hits and memorable moments act as a background for the likes of Yoko Ono, Quentin Crisp, Boy George, Madonna, and so many more to share the stage in an unforgettable celebration of the creative people and art that came before us.
DIRECTOR ALISTAIR NEWTON LEADS HIS COMPANY TO NEW HEIGHTS
An accomplished director, with several independently produced musicals and a world premiere at the acclaimed Philadelphia Theatre Company under his belt, Alistair Newton has established a reputation for thought-provoking, topical new musicals in a signature style that blends traditional musical theatre with an unmistakably queer, Weimar-Republic-inspired aesthetic.
Five short years after bursting onto the Toronto theatre scene with the Summerworks hit The Pastor Phelps Project, Newton's company Ecce Homo Theatre makes its mainstage debut with this ambitious production. Even within the constraints of a summer festival – where most of their work has previously been staged – the company has developed a reputation for large-scale, beautifully-designed, and technically-complex productions. Now that their work is being produced on the main stage, audiences can expect to see a fully realized endeavour from one of Toronto's most exciting young companies.
Ecce Homo has been in residence at Buddies since 2010, as part of the company's Artist Residency Program.
Ecce Homo Theatre in association with Buddies in Bad Times Theatre presents
OF A MONSTROUS CHILD: A GAGA MUSICAL
written & directed by Alistair Newton
starring Bruce Dow, Kimberly Persona, Gavin Crawford, Tyson James, Chy Ryan Spain and Kyle Travis Young
musical director Dan Rutzen
Previews May 14 & 15 | Opening Night May 16 | Closes May 26
Runs Tues-Sat 8pm, Sun 2:30pm
Tickets PWYC - $37
Box Office 416-975-8555 or buddiesinbadtimes.com
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander Street, Toronto ON
Photo: Kimberly Persona as Lady Gaga. ©2013 Tanja-Tiziana.
2013-04-03
Toronto: Ecce Homo presents the world premiere of “Of a Monstrous Child: A Gaga Musical” May 14-26