More Shows to Consider As You Plan your Fringe.... MORE!

The Program is a lot of fun to search through... Here's a few more shows that have caught my eye... 

Low-Budget Narnia: Now With 50% Less Wardrobe!

Step through the wardrobe into an irreverent (and occasionally offensive) parody of C.S. Lewis' classic novel. Four siblings stumble into Narnia, a frozen world ruled by the neon yellow White Witch. To defeat her, they must team up with disturbingly amorous anteaters, a spandex-clad lion, and a particularly musical beagle.

Playwright: Joel Mendenhall
Director: Joel Mendenhall
Cast: Jack Bizuk, Sam Creighton, Laura Dahl, Phil Haverkamp, Aidan Jones, Lee Lamanes, Rena Rachar, Francesca Scarpella, Kynan Sorochan, Daniel Summers, Mya Tse, Kiyang Wajo
Stage Manager: Sam Papirnik
Website/Socials: psychopomptheatre.com

I've been seeing clips and photos from their rehearsals on Instagram for the last month or so and they look ridiculous (in a *good* way). I love the Narnia Chronicles and a good parody! I also know there are some powerhouse singers in this cast so I am intrigued... 

Quiz Icarus

In 2024, Nam & Aaron both competed on Jeopardy! and returned with prize money & a permanent monkey on their backs. Now they're here to tell you their stories of growing up nerdy & striving for trivia glory. If you feel brave, step on stage - they'll put their pride (and $$$) on the line to prove they're still smarter than you.

Cast: Nam Nguyen & Aaron Brown
Website/Socials: torontotrivia.com

For those of you who know me or follow me on Instagram, you could probably guess I have a passionate attachment to Jeopardy and all things trivia. The idea that I could get onstage and compete is actually more exciting. I told my husband about this show and he too wants to go (mostly to try to get onstage). Weird how I'd rather get onstage and do trivia than get onstage and clown around! ha ha ha

Bomb

Dora Award winning director Lianna Makuch helms the Canadian premiere of Bomb by Ukrainian playwright Natalia Blok, featuring a star-studded cast (Anna Kuman, Geoffrey Simon Brown, Mariya Khomutova, and James MacDonald). Explosively funny and razor sharp, Bomb is a dark absurdist comedy that detonates with wit and strikes deep.

Playwright: Natalia Blok
Director: Lianna Makuch
Cast: Anna Kuman, Geoffrey Simon Brown, Mariya Khomutova, James MacDonald
Designers: Stephanie Bahniuk (Production), Bernardo Pacheco (Sound)
Stage Manager: Lore Green | Producer Sheiny Satanove
Website/Socials: pyreticproductions.ca | @pyretic.theatre

Okay - so this one drew me is because of the incredible cast. I love seeing James MacDonald onstage and we haven't been able to for the last 5 years or so because he was gone from our city. The rest of the cast is pretty amazing too! I also like a Fringe experience that challenges me to do more than just laugh, and while I have a feeling I will laugh at this show I think it will be for very different reasons than some of the other things I am seeing.

The Peter Pan Cometh

Hook, Tinker, and Smee all dreamed of a life outside of their Neverland. Then along came Peter. From those who brought 2024's "Who's Afraid of Winnie the Pooh?"; it's The Ice Man Cometh, but Peter Pan. "Clever, smart, ridiculous, and well executed" - Cherry & Spoon. "Another triumph for the company" - The Stages of MN.

Director: Alexander Gerchak
Cast: Alec Berchem; Thomas Buan; Nick Hill; Isabelle Hopewell
Designers: Genevieve Kafka; Connor McEvoy
Stage Manager: Karina Hunt
Website/Socials: IG @clevernametheatre

Last year my friends raved about Who's Afraid of Winnie the Pooh... but they did it too late in the Fringe for me to get a ticket to see it! I am determined not to miss this one. 

The Pansy Cabaret

Take a step back in time to when queer artists ruled Vaudeville stages, and frivolity was the fashion. Featuring songs and monologues from up to a hundred years ago, as performed by Sterling Award WINNER Lilith Fair ("Outstanding Fringe Performance by an Individual" - The Pansy Cabaret - 2023).

Playwright: Darrin Hagen
Director: Darrin Hagen
Cast: Zachary Parsons-Lozinski aka Lilith Fair, Daniel Belland

I saw this a few years ago when it premiered at the Fringe and I LOVED IT. It is such an excellent show - for content and performance. It's classy, but thoughtful and very relevant today even though many of the stories and songs are from long ago. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend. And if you have seen it, you might want to check it out again as it's relevance seems even greater today than 3 years ago. 

Final Girl: A New Musical

Ugh, teens are so dramatic. Always screaming when they get stabbed, and crying and flailing around when they get choked. Weekend trip? Next time, I think I'll skip. It's Scream meets Mean Girls, and this musical, from the creators of Krampus and Cult Cycle, is one to die for... The real question is "Who will be the Final Girl?"

Playwright: Seth Gilfillan and Stephen Allred
Director: Stephen Allred
Cast: Alyson Horne, Bella King, Jaimi Reese, Josh Travnik, Liz Janzen
Designers: Amanda Neufeld and Stephen Allred
Stage Manager: Amanda Neufeld

I'm not likely to miss a show from this company particularly when it is one of their new works. Their original musical Krampus, which I saw in it's original version at the Fringe and it's updated version in the regular season, raked in a Sterling Award this past season. Cult Cycle was hysterical (I still have the tank top!). They have a penchant for the macabre and ALWAYS have amazing actor/vocalists in their casts! Needless to say, I will be in the audience for this one!

Whatever you get to this Fringe - Enjoy! Happy Fringing! Stay tuned for more recommendations!

Tickets for Fringe Shows