Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Toronto, Ontario - The Next Stage Theatre Festival (NSTF) is Toronto’s premiere winter theatre event. Presented by the Toronto Fringe, the curated NSTF offers Fringe Festival artists the opportunity to bring their work to the next level. The 2016 Next Stage Theatre Festival runs from January 6 – 17, 2016 at the Factory Theatre.
The 2016 line-up offers two world premieres by celebrated Toronto Playwrights: Governor General Award Winner, Nicolas Billon (Agamemnon) and Dora Award nominated Rob Kempson (Mockingbird); Heart-warming musicals (Heart of Steel and From Judy to Bette), the return of Fringe Favorites from 2015 (All Our Yesterdays, Urban Myth and A Man Walks Into a Bar), plus the return of some of our National Fringe Treasures: Mark Brownell (Three Men in a Boat), Paul Van Dyck (Blood Wild) and Natasha Boomer (Stuck).
Like the summer Fringe Festival, NSTF is committed to keeping ticket prices low – making it possible to see professional, cutting-edge theatre for only $10 or $15.
Plus, if you book before December 1 you are entitled to our EARLY BIRD Special—which awards you an additional 15% off.
Shows in the Festival:
Agamemnon by Nicolas Billon, directed by Sarah Kitz
Featuring: Nigel Shawn Williams, Brigit Wilson, Earl Pastko, Susanna Fournier, Ron Kennell, Amy Keating, Darla Contois, Zita Nyarady, Ishvan Dave
After a ten year siege, the city of Troy lies in ruin. Clytemnestra waits for Agamemnon with murder in her heart. A visceral, contemporized re-imagining if the opening chapter of Aeschylus’ ORESTEIA by the Governor General Award winning playwright Nicolas Billon.
Mockingbird written and directed by Rob Kempson
Featuring: Tess Degenstein, Beau Dixon, Margaret Evans, James Graham, Stephen Jackman-Torkoff, Esther Jun, Andrew Moodie, Rahnuma Panthaky, Andrew Pimento, Kaitlyn Riordan, Paula Wing
When we first meet the English Department of Finch Park Collegiate, rumours are flying about a teacher-student relationship. Two days later, Mr. Foster has been removed from the school and everyone is trying to make sense of what has happened. An exploration of what occurs when innocence meets authority, and the grey area between right and wrong.
Urban Myth created by Deanna Kearney
Choreographed and performed by Canada’s top urban dancers, including: Amadeus “Primal” Marquez, Anthony “Illz” Put, Mariano “Glizzi”Abarca, Caroline “Lady C” Fraser, Caitlin “Caddy” Superville, Deanne “Dee” Kearney
Krump. Breaking. Popping. Locking. House. Waacking. Bringing raw urban dance from the street to the stage, created by Canada’s top urban dancers and choreographers.
Heart of Steel: A Steel Plant Musical Comedy written and composed by Wesley J Colford and directed by Luke Brown Featuring: Nicole Power, Eliza Jane Scott, Mercedes Morris, Rose Napoli, Greg Campbell, Hilary Scott, Richard Lam, Sam White, Amy Wallace, Vicktoria Adam, Dan Abrahamson, Kenton Blyth, Hilary June Hart, Toshi Murohasi, Rosie Dykstra
1943: the boys are overseas and it’s up to Cape Breton’s female force to hold the fort! Hear the Tale of the Sydney Steel Plant told through a blend of traditional East Coast Folk and 40’s swingin’ boogie woogie.
All Our Yesterdays written and directed by Chloe Hung Featuring: Chiamaka Umeh and Amanda Weise
Sisters Ladi and Hasana have been kidnapped by Boko Haram. Through memory we journey through their captivity as they wrestle with autism, the need to escape and their past. When one makes a selfish decision, the effects reverberate to their present.
A Man Walks Into a Bar written by Rachel Blair and directed by David Matheson Featuring: Rachel Blair and Blue Bigwood-Mallin
A woman, with the help of a man, tells a joke: A man walks into a bar and meets a waitress. Lines blur in this tense and funny meta-theatrical two-hander, skewering the dialogue surrounding men, women, and feminism.
Blood Wild written and directed by Paul Van Dyck
Featuring: David Baby, Eric Davis, Patricia Summersett and Alex Weiner
The Jackson gang has just pulled off the ultimate holdup. But what happens when the leader and the money both go missing? A fast, fun, bloody ride that pits depravity against heroism in its bid to uncover the true meaning of the Wild West.
Three Men in a Boat by Mark Brownell and directed by Sue Miner Featuring: Matt Pilipiak, Victor Pokinko, Scott Garland
Venture alongside three intrepid bachelors (and their dog) as they spend a disastrous week punting up the River Thames! A stage adaptation of the 1889 British travelogue by Jerome K Jerome.
Stuck created by Natasha Boomer and directed by Paloma Nunez
Featuring: Natasha Boomer, Paloma Nunez, Karen Parker, Ashley Comeau, Lisa Merchant, Kevin Whelan, Rob Baker,
Ralph MacLeod, Ashley Botting, Kevin Vidal, Aurora Brown
Delightful. Dramatic. Damn funny. Through audience selection of location we explore character and relationship under the duress of being stuck. Nine different plays and three different musicals as performed by some of Toronto’s best comedic talent.
From Judy to Bette: The Stars of Old Hollywood created by Rebecca Perry Featuring: Rebecca Perry and Quinton Naughton
Judy Garland, Bette Davis, Lucille Ball, and Betty Hutton: trailblazers who refused to be “just another ingénue” during the golden age of cinema. An evening of scandalous headlines and marvelous melodies.
Next Stage Theatre Festival (Presented by the Toronto Fringe)
January 6-17, 2016 at Factory Theatre
Tickets on sale now! By phone (416.966.1062) or online
2015-11-13
Toronto: Next Stage Theatre Festival tickets on sale November 16