2012/13 Season Brochure

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Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is dedicated to the promotion of more liberated, compassionate, and multifaceted identities for all.

For over 30 years, we have existed as a space for individuals to express their uniqueness and assert their right to deviate from the status quo.

This year, we proudly continue this tradition by offering you a season of plays from some of the most important voices in queer theatre. These artists challenge the political, social, and cultural structures that fabricate oppressive and alienating notions of “difference�. They embrace the individual as a catalyst of growth and empathy. They offer new ways for us to imagine ourselves and engage with each other. Together, they reaffirm Buddies as an important source of solidarity and understanding in our city.

I hope that you will join us in the crucial transgression that is queer expression.

Brendan Healy, Artistic Director

Tawiah M’carthy, Creator/Performer – Obaaberima

BUDDIES IN BAD TIMES THEATRE PRESENTS

Obaaberima World Premiere

CREATED AND PERFORMED BY TAWIAH M’CARTHY DIRECTED BY EVALYN PARRY LIVE MUSIC BY KOBENA AQUAA-HARRISON

SEPTEMBER 15 – OCTOBER 7 Imprisoned in Canada for committing a violent crime, a young man from Ghana tells his cellmates a story on the eve of his release. Although there is great risk in sharing his tale, he must tell it to be truly free. Through storytelling, dance, and live music, Obaaberima chronicles a young African-Canadian’s journey across continents, genders, races, and sexualities.

Laura Nanni, Festival Director – The Rhubarb Festival

BUDDIES IN BAD TIMES THEATRE PRESENTS

THE 34TH

RHUBARB FESTIVAL Raw. Radical. Performance.

FESTIVAL DIRECTOR LAURA NANNI

FEBRUARY 20 – MARCH 3 For two weeks, hundreds of local and international artists transform Buddies into a hotbed of creativity and experimentation, sharing new ideas in contemporary theatre, performance art, dance, and music with adventure-loving audiences. “the city’s go-to event for thought-provoking, political, adventurous entertainment” –Toronto Life

Daniel MacIvor, Playwright & Tyson James, Actor – Arigato, Tokyo

BUDDIES IN BAD TIMES THEATRE PRESENTS

arigato, tokyo World Premiere BY DANIEL MACIVOR DIRECTED BY BRENDAN HEALY STARRING MICHAEL DUFAYS CARA GEE TYSON JAMES DAVID STORCH

MARCH 16 – APRIL 14 One of our country’s most distinct and celebrated writers pens a darkly poetic love letter to love itself. From the underground nightclubs of Tokyo to the hallowed stages of Noh Theatre, a visiting Canadian author is pulled into a world of obsession, sex, and longing. The award-winning creative team behind Blasted and The Maids brings to life this thoughtful meditation on the many meanings of love and our place in it.

“MacIvor is simply masterful” –Globe & Mail

Edward Roy & Gavin Crawford, Actors – A Few Brittle Leaves

BUDDIES IN BAD TIMES THEATRE PROUDLY WELCOMES A CABARET COMPANY PRODUCTION

A few Brittle leaves World Premiere

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY SKY GILBERT STARRING GAVIN CRAWFORD EDWARD ROY

APRIL 24 – MAY 5 Veteran actors Edward Roy and Gavin Crawford play a pair of spinster sisters who, through a series of touching and comedic disasters, are forced to deal with the question: how does one age gracefully? Perennial provocateur Sky Gilbert returns to Buddies with this gender-bending dramatic comedy.

“Sky Gilbert has more theatrical flair in his little finger than anybody else in the Toronto scene” –Globe & Mail

Kimberly Persona, Actor – Of a Monstrous Child: a gaga musical

ECCE HOMO THEATRE IN ASSOCIATION WITH BUDDIES IN BAD TIMES THEATRE PRESENTS

of a monstrous child: a gaga musical World Premiere WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY ALISTAIR NEWTON STARRING BRUCE DOW AS LEIGH BOWERY KIMBERLY PERSONA AS LADY GAGA TYSON JAMES CHY RYAN SPAIN

MAY 14 – 26 Performance legend Leigh Bowery hosts an irreverent musical cabaret devoted to of one of our most enigmatic and polarizing pop stars, Lady Gaga. Featuring a collection of the art world’s greatest icons, this “dance floor dialectic” celebrates the place where high culture hooks up with low art. Brought to you by queer trailblazers Ecce Homo (Alistair Newton and Matt Jackson).

BUDDIES IN BAD TIMES THEATRE PROUDLY WELCOMES BACK A STUDIO 180 THEATRE PRODUCTION

THE NORMAL HEART

BY LARRY KRAMER

OCTOBER 19 – NOVEMBER 18

guest company DIRECTED BY JOEL GREENBERG STARRING JOHN BOURGEOIS MARK CRAWFORD PAUL ESSIEMBRE RYAN KELLY MARK MCGRINDER JEFF MILLER SARAH ORENSTEIN JONATHAN SEINEN JONATHAN WILSON

Photo by: John Karastamatis

Larry Kramer’s landmark play chronicles the rise of the AIDS crisis in New York City as seen through the eyes of writer/ activist Ned Weeks, the gay Jewish founder of a prominent HIV advocacy group. Buddies is pleased to welcome back Studio 180 Theatre with the return of their hit production of this important play. “brilliant work from one of the most reliably interesting and challenging theatre companies in town“ H H H H (out of four) –Toronto Star

Ticket info at studio180theatre.com

SEASON PASS Buddies’ fully flexible Season Pass* is your all access ticket to our 2012/13 Mainstage Season. Come on your own, or bring along some friends and use your pass to see what you want, when you want.

All Season Pass holders get up to 30% savings on tickets and priority seating.

THE OPTIONS 3 TICKET PASS $85 | 6 TICKET PASS $150 UNDER 30 / ARTS WORKER: 3 TICKET PASS $70 | 6 TICKET PASS $120 Each pass can exchanged for up to 3 or 6 tickets to any of the following shows: Obaaberima The Normal Heart The 34th Rhubarb Festival

Arigato, Tokyo A Few Brittle Leaves Of a Monstrous Child: a gaga musical

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL Order your Season Pass before July 1, 2012 and receive an additional ticket voucher.

TO ORDER YOUR SEASON PASS CALL

416-975-8555

*available while supplies last, all advertised prices are subject to HST.

SCHEDULE

P: Preview O: Opening Night

P P

P PO

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

OCT

SEPT

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

OBAABERIMA

P PO

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

NOV

OCT

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

THE NORMAL HEART

O

O

1 2 3

MAR

FEB

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

THE 34TH RHUBARB FESTIVAL

P P

P PO

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

APR

MAR

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

ARIGATO, TOKYO

PO

1 2 3 4 5

MAY

APR

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

A FEW BRITTLE LEAVES

MAY

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

OF A MONSTROUS CHILD: A GAGA MUSICAL P PO

Design: Jonathan Kitchen, jakcreative.com Photography: Tanja-Tiziana, doublecrossed.ca Art Direction: Vanessa Fischer

SUPPORTING COMMUNITY Each season, Buddies in Bad Times challenges and inspires audiences by presenting innovative and cutting-edge queer artistic programming.

Your support is critical for us to carry on celebrating all that the queer community has to offer. Make a difference. Take a stand to empower queer youth and queer expression, and to ensure our ticket prices stay affordable so that great theatre is accessible to everyone.

To become part of the Buddies family, please call our Director of Development at 416.975.9130 x23 or go to www.buddiesinbadtimes.com/donate.

Jamie Ebbs & cassy walker, Young Creators Unit

THE DIRECTORS CIRCLE Buddies gratefully acknowledges the following members of the Buddies family for leading the way.

VISIONARIES

LEGACY CIRCLE

Christine Armstrong & Irfhan Rawji Jim Lawrence & David Salak Paul Hains

Ed Cabell & Roy Forrester Russell Mathew & Scott Ferguson

BENEFACTORS

Harold Wu & Lawrence Bennett Jim Tennyson Joe Siegfried & Brad Dougherty Jonas Giesen & Gregory Kim Lionel Tona lisaj lander & Ruthann Tucker

Mark A German Michael Boyuk Russell Mathew & Scott Ferguson Safe Harbour MCC William Hodge & Robert Wylie

MONTHLY

Ed Cabell & Roy Forrester Jerry Doiron Joe Siegfried & Brad Dougherty Ken Aucoin & Gerald Crowell lisaj lander & Ruthann Tucker Mary Breen Michel Beauvais

Mitsuko Sada Paul Halferty Richard Bingham Richard McLellan Sarah Hunter William Hodge & Robert Wylie

Brendan Healy Dean Odorico Derek Billsman Ed Cabell & Roy Forrester Gavin Crawford

Brendan Healy Cathy Gordon Chris Rowlinson David Salak & Jim Lawrence Derek Billsman Diana Khong

OUR AMAZING PARTNERS We are sincerely grateful to our corporate sponsors, foundations, and government agencies for believing in us and the work that we do.

CORPORATE SPONSORS LEAD CORPORATE SPONSOR FESTIVAL SPONSOR

QUEER MEDIA PARTNER

MAINSTAGE MEDIA SPONSOR

PUBLIC AGENCIES

FOUNDATIONS THE

LAWRENCE FAMILY FO U N DAT I O N

K.M.HUNTER

CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

Charitable Registration Number: 11882 0778 RR0001