NS2023 Something in the Water Program

neXt stage SOMETHING IN THE WATER

Photo by Brianne Jang

WELCOME TO THE 2023 NEXT STAGE FESTIVAL.

Thank you for being here at Buddies in Bad Times for Next Stage 2023. If this is your first show of the festival, I hope it won’t be your last. We have six companies joining us this year, all offering something unique and wonderful, and we would love for you to see as much as possible. We have not had an in-person Next Stage Theatre Festival since January 2020, so it is glorious to be back. This festival is very important to the ecosystem of theatre and performance in this city and beyond, offering a showcase for artists and an opportunity for audiences to see what’s new and exciting in our sector.

As always, I will use this opportunity to ask you to donate to the Toronto Fringe. If you can, please support us as we continue to navigate these choppy waters. Despite having a wildly successful Toronto Fringe Festival this past July where we returned $500,000 to artists, we are still struggling financially. With decreased funding and increased costs, it is harder and harder to plan for the future of this organization. Your help will go a long way in providing sustainability for us and for the artists we support.

Thank you and Happy Next Stage!

Lucy Eveleigh Executive Director

Land Acknowledgement

Toronto Fringe acknowledges that our festival occupies spaces in the city known as Toronto, on lands and waterways that have known human activity for thousands of years. It has been the territory of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy of Six Nations, and more recently is also the territory of Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit, who are part of the Anishinaabe Nation. We acknowledge our privilege to stand on this land, our responsibility to uphold truth, and our shared stewardship of our home and each other. To all the people of Turtle Island, chi miigwetch.

FUNDERS PARTNERS

The McLean Smits Family Foundation

NEW YOUNG REVIEWERS

The New Young Reviewers Program, supported by the Jon Kaplan Legacy Fund, is a workshop series and writing group for emerging theatre and performance reviewers Canada-wide. The cohort of writers for this festival consists of Melissa Avalos, Columbia Roy, and Zoe Marin, facilitated by Signy Lynch and Stephanie Fung. Their reviews of Next Stage shows can be found online at Intermission Magazine at www.intermissionmagazine.ca.

ABOUT THE JON KAPLAN LEGACY FUND

For over three decades, beloved theatre reviewer Jon Kaplan wrote about and celebrated Toronto theatre. He was a strong supporter of young artists and diverse voices. Following his death in 2017, the Jon Kaplan Legacy Fund was created to provide recognition and financial support for theatre makers at all stages of their careers.

ACTIVE LISTENERS

Active Listeners will be available for audience members at Next Stage each day of the festival. Active listeners are there to provide compassionate, empathetic, and confidential support during or following a performance. Additional mental health resources can be provided if requested. Learn more at fringetoronto.com/accessibility/access-measures

This program is funded by the Community Services Recovery Fund, through the Canadian Red Cross. Now more than ever, community service organizations like the Toronto Fringe play a key role in addressing complex social problems faced by many communities across Canada. We are grateful for the support.

neXt stage

SOMETHING IN THE WATER

Created & Performed by S.E. Grummett

Directed by Deanna Fleysher

Puppetry Direction by Mind of a Snail

Puppet & Video Design by S.E. Grummett

Stage Manager & Sound Design: Sam Kruger

Music by The Garrys

With Additional Collaboration by Alyssa Billingsley

Holly Brinkman

Kenn McLeod

Charlie Peters

S.E. GRUMMETT, CREATOR / PERFORMER

Grumms (they/them) is a queer, transgender theatre artist from Treaty 6 Territory. Over the past decade, Grumms has created a body of original queer work and toured it around the world, including across Canada, US, UK, Europe, and Australia. They are the co-creator of SCUM: a manifesto, Girl in the Box, Pack Animals, and Creepy Boys. With Something in the Water, Grumms has toured around the world performing to queer audiences young and old. Grumms is the recipient of the 2022 RBC Outstanding Award in recognition for their contribution to the queer and trans community across Saskatchewan. Outside of self-creation, Grumms also works as a director, puppeteer, and video artist. Next up, Grumms is writing a new TYA puppet musical in collaboration with indie music icon, Rae Spoon, premiering and touring across the prairies in early 2024.

DEANNA FLEYSHER, DIRECTOR

Deanna Fleysher (she/her) is a comedy artist, teacher, and director devoted to fierce vulnerability and interactive comedy magic. She tours the world with her award-winning hit show Butt Kapinski and her popular performance workshops Naked Comedy (Fully Clothed) and Drag King Comedy. She is also the director/cowriter of other international touring shows, including Red Bastard and Frank: To Be Frank. She directs comedy artists who work without a 4th wall and teaches audience connection and physical presence to people of all ages.

MIND OF A SNAIL, PUPPETRY DIRECTION

Mind of a Snail is a shadow puppetry duo currently based out of Vancouver BC. Since 2003, Chloé Ziner and Jessica Gabriel have been developing a multilayered style of visual storytelling using overhead projectors as their main light source. They have created work for many organizations, including Vancouver Art Gallery, Telus World of Science, Persephone Theatre in Saskatoon, and numerous others. They have also performed in theatre and arts festivals across Canada, such as Centaur Theatre’s Wildside Festival in Montreal, Intrepid Theatre’s Winterlab in Victoria, Revolver Festival in Vancouver, SummerWorks in Toronto, Casteliers International Puppetry Festival in Montreal, Festival International des Arts de la Marionnette à Saguenay, and many more. Their show Multiple Organism won the Critic’s Choice Innovation Award at the 2018 Jessie Richardson Theatre

Awards. They were nominated for Outstanding Projection Design for Persephone Theatre’s production of Matchstick at the 2015 SATAwards in Saskatoon. Their shows Multiple Organism, Curious Contagious, Caws & Effect, and Against Gravity have won dozens of awards including “best of fest” “artistic risk” and “patron’s pick” at Fringe Festivals across Canada and the USA.

SAM KRUGER, STAGE MANAGER & SOUND DESIGNER

Sam Kruger (he/him) is a performer, writer, and all-around theatre artist. Since 2017, he has created and toured independent theatre across Canada, the UK, the Czech Republic, and Australia. His solo works Fool Muun Komming! [BeBgWundrful/YEsyes/4sure.Hi5. TruLuv;SpankSpank:SOfun_Grate_Times] and Bat Brains have received various awards and praise (Just for Laughs Comedy Award, Artists Pick Edmonton Fringe, Artist Pick Minnesota Fringe, Outstanding Performance Ottawa Fringe, Outstanding Performance London Fringe). Most recently, he finished a month-long run of Creepy Boys, a new manic comedy-theatre work co-created and performed with S.E. Grummett, at the Edinburgh Fringe (Summerhall).

NOTES ON THE PLAY: When I first graduated from acting school, I was frustrated that there weren’t more opportunities for queer and trans folks like me, so I started writing and performing my own work. Self-creation was, and continues to be, a way out: a way of being myself and my gender on stage.

I created this show in 2019 and again in 2020. Since then, it’s gone around the world and played to queerdo-weirdos young and old in five different countries. I wanted to create something that looked at my transition and gender journey in a silly and absurd way. When I was first coming out, I thought: “Does it make me unlovable? Is everyone going to hate me or think I’m disgusting?” I hope we can poke fun at the way the world often portrays us trans folks as monsters. If we can laugh about it, then we take away its power.

I won’t lie to you - it’s a very scary time to be trans, especially in the prairies where I’m from. But all I can do is show up – to get on stage, to tell queer stories and to hopefully make you laugh.

I hope this show brings you some joy, as it has me.

THANK YOUS To Deanna, for ditching the bouffon show I was going to make and instead making this soft and squishy thing with me. To the Snails, thank you for your mentorship, inspiration, and kindness. To Holly, Kenn, Alyssa, and Charlie – thanks for your expertise and for being an outside eye and a listening ear. And to Sam, my love, thank you for going along with all my hair-brained schemes and for carrying me (and this show) for the past 3 years.

AFTER STAGE WITH TENT

This show has created special programming with the support of the 2023 TENT (Theatre Entrepreneurs’ Network & Training) Program participants, in order to enhance your experience of the production. Check out fringetoronto.com/next-stage/community-programming for full details.

INTERESTED IN A CAREER IN MEDIA, THEATRE OR DANCE?

Dance

COMMERCIAL DANCE

Our Programs: Media

DANCE PERFORMANCE PREPARATION

DANCE PERFORMANCE

MEDIA ACTING – GRADUATE INTENSIVE MEDIA FOUNDATION

ACTING FOR MEDIA

VIDEO DESIGN & PRODUCTION

SCREENWRITING & NARRATIVE DESIGN

SOUND DESIGN & PRODUCTION

VISUAL EFFECTS

Theatre

THEATRE ARTS – PERFORMANCE

THEATRE ARTS – PREPARATION

George Brown College School of Media and Performing Arts

TORONTO FRINGE

MISSION

The Toronto Fringe is a platform for everyone to access, discover, and experiment with the arts. By valuing creative experiences, we contribute to a healthy arts economy and, ultimately, a thriving society.

VALUES

ACCESS – in every sense of the word

ACCOUNTABILITY – we work with integrity and respect

CREATIVITY – freedom of expression permeates everything we do EXPLORATION – we let curiosity be our guide

SUPPORT – empowering you to take a chance

FESTIVAL PEOPLE

Executive Director Lucy Eveleigh

Managing Director Laura Paduch

Communications Manager Tessa Cernik

Projects & Operations Manager Kevin Yue

Associate Producer Suzanne Wilkie

Metcalf Executive Management Intern* Lucy McPhee

Publicist Damien Nelson, Want & Able Arts Consulting

Next Stage Content Coordinator Oliver Pitschner

Festival Production Manager Caitlin Farley

Festival Technical Coordinator Anthony Allan

Volunteer Coordinator Ellen Reade

Community Support Coordinator Jules Vodarek Hunter

Accessibility Coordinators The Disability Collective - Ali Hand, Emily Maxwell, Nathan Sartore

TENT Program Director Tanya Rintoul

New Young Reviewers Facilitators Signy Lynch, Stephanie Fung

Finance Coordinator Scratch Anderson

Web Developer Tom Dearden

Eventotron Developer Chris Perkin

Brochure & Graphic Design Trajectory Brands Inc.

*With Support from the Metcalf Foundation.

NEXT STAGE 2023 SELECTION COMMITTEE

Lucy Eveleigh, Laura Paduch, Daniel Carter, Derrick Chua, Amanda Lin

OUR

BOARD

Chair Jason Murray

Vice Chair Kate Supleve

Treasurer Garth Sheriff

Secretary Boyd Neil

Directors Nicole Biros-Bolton, Roger Dunbar, Ian Filderman, Cynthia Foo, Dr. Cindy Gouveia, Nancy Konopinsky, Prerna Mathews, Jayan McPherson, Chuck Okonkwo, Miquelon Rodriguez, Denise Ruzage, Sherry Yuan Hunter

SPECIAL THANKS McWood Studios, Luminato Festival Toronto, Dancemakers, the staff of Buddies in Bad Times Theatre

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SUPPORTERS

We are so grateful to the following listed and to EVERYONE who has donated to the Toronto Fringe. We continue to rely on your generosity and we want you to know that when you donate to the Fringe and to Next Stage your money goes far. Since we return 100% of box office revenue to artists in the Toronto Fringe Festival and 70% to artists in the Next Stage Theatre Festival, your donation helps us to support them. If you want to join this list of incredible people, please reach out to Executive Director Lucy Eveleigh at lucy@fringetoronto.com.

$10,000+

Neville Austin

B Street Collaborative

$5,000–9,999

Anonymous

Cindy Blakely

Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation

IATSE LOCAL 58

McLean Smits Family Foundation

Douglas Steiner & Jasmine Herlt

Tony Cesaroni Family Foundation

Junek Velodromes

Scott Windsor

$2,500–4,499

Anonymous

Joan Jamieson

Robert Sherrin

Heidi Stock, Aspiring Canadian Writers Inc.

Darlene Varaleau

$1,000–2,499

Anonymous

Byron Bellows

The Benjamin Foundation –in memory of Julie Rae King

Doug Ewart & Judith Keene

Lisa Feld

Ian Filderman

Sherry Yuan Hunter

Jason Murray

Perry Orestes

Leanne Rapley

Garth Sheriff, Sheriff Consulting

Stendel Family Foundation

Zukerman Family Foundation

$500–999

Anonymous

David Atkinson & Sarah Joy Bennett

Efrim Boritz

Roger Dunbar

Bryan Eaton

Anne Fleming

Andrew Gillespie

Richard Gotlib

Oi Yan Gouveia

Randy Hesp

Elizabeth Howson

Nancy Konopinsky

Leah Lambert

Lisa Lambert

Gabriel Mansour

Prerna Mathews

Jayan McPherson

William Milne

Susan Moellers

Boyd Neil

Chuck Okonkwo

The Paul Butler and Chris Black Foundation

Barry Peters

Charlotte Ryan

Spencer Saunders

Dianne Saxe

Kelly Straughan

Kate Supleve

$250–499

Susan Anderson

Pat Anweiler

Nicole Arends

Gideon Arthurs

Linda Barghoorn

Jeannie Baxter

The Baxter Agency

Nicole Biros-Bolton

Andrei Borissenko

Brian F Curran

Iris Gershon

Jenny Ginder

John Goddard

Sania Hameed

Shelley Hobbs, dedicated to those who are brave enough to put on a show

Happy Fiets Canada

Steve Fisher

Sandra Fleischer

Raymond Hickman

Jennifer Hollett

Andrew Johnston

Birthe Jorgensen

Barry Joslin

Johnson Lai

Susan Leclaire

Marcel Martel

David Nairn

Paul Nash, dedicated to Carol Farkas

Shivani Nathoo

Milton O’Brodovich

Personal Tax Advisors

Karen Reid

Miquelon Rodriguez

Angela Rudden

Norman Seli

Matt Shoom-Kirsch

Maureen Simpson

William Tallon

Steve Welch

W Bruce Wither

Claire Wynveen

$150-249

Marlowe Ain

Ruth Albertyn

Harry Arthurs

Amanda Barker

Kathryn Ball

Gregory Beneteau

Bonnie Bereskin

Sarah Brooks

Leora & Mauricio Chiprut

Laura Clark

Gail & Richard Cooper

Dan Copeland

Michael Crump, dedicated to Duncan Green

Peter Cuff

Sarah Dale-Harris

Eileen de Villa

Miriam Diamond

Leah Dietrich

Sholem Dolgoy

Robert Duchnicky

David Eden

Lucy Eveleigh

Joyce Feinberg

Sam Festino

Barbara Fingerote

Karen Fricker

Jody Garriques

Randy Goldman

Kath Hammond

Celia Harte

Ray Hogg

Robyn Hoja

Ruth Hull

Lena Hurzook

Donna Hutchins

Calvin Johansson, remembering

Valerie Lawson, long time Fringe supporter

Henriette Katz

Gordon Phillip King

Carol Kobel

Jury Krytiuk

Paul Kuypers

Steven Lico

Lisette Lu

Chuck McEwen

Eddy Morassutti

Noel Mowat

Gayle Owler

Anna Pace

Leo Petrazickis

Joan & Bill Rajala

Patrick Robinson

Roseneath Theatre

Cyn Rozeboom

Mark Russom

Kathleen Ryan

Patti Ryan

Nadine Sandercock

Pam Seran

Hank Shannon

Christopher Stanton

Kenn Taylor

Bryant Thompson

Martha Tobe

Brent Vickar

Donna Walsh

Martin Richard Wasserman

Nathalie Younglai

This list represents people who donated $150 or more from September 1, 2022 to September 20, 2023. A special thanks to all who donated this year! Every amount makes a difference.

HOW DO YOU “FRINGE”?

“To Fringe” is a verb meaning to support the indie arts community, engage with theatre and the performing arts, and value cultural experiences.

FRINGE AS AN ARTIST:

Applications are opening at the end of October for the 2024 Toronto Fringe Festival lottery! For more information visit fringetoronto.com/get-involved/artists/fringe

FRINGE AS A VOLUNTEER:

The Fringe has a very active community of over 400 volunteers. Find more information at fringetoronto.com/get-involved/volunteer

FRINGE AS A PARTNER:

We are actively seeking new sponsors and partnerships for the upcoming year to support our year-round and festival programming. fringetoronto.com/get-involved/partner

FRINGE AS A DONOR:

Help ensure the survival of the Toronto Fringe and show your support of creativity. Give now at fringetoronto.com/donate

The Mary-Margaret Webb Foundation The JB Doherty Family Foundation

The Michael and Sonja Koerner Charitable Foundation