MY MOTHER'S LESBIAN JEWISH WICCAN WEDDING Ends Run in Toronto, 4/11

Toronto's homegrown musical comedy hit, MY MOTHER'S LESBIAN JEWISH WICCAN WEDDING, will end its run April 11, 2010 at the Panasonic Theatre.

MMLJWW began life during the 2009 Toronto Fringe at an 85-seat storefront theatre in Kensington Market, where it immediately became apparent the show deserved a longer life. The show made the transfer to the commercial mainstage under the auspices of Mirvish Productions.

Like they did at the Fringe, audiences have embraced it at the Panasonic from its very first showing, selling out performance after performance. Already 50,000 people have been touched by, laughed with and cheered this homegrown hit.

Cyberspace has been atwitter with audience recommendations, and the critics have agreed. Just recently, a new appreciation of the show was printed in a Toronto Star column. Theatre critic Richard Ouzounian praised this "tuneful, terrific show ... I absolutely loved it. Just like Mamma Mia! and Wicked and Evil Dead and Da Kink In My Hair, this is a show that the people have made a hit. And that's really the most lasting and hoinest kind of success. Don't wait like I did. Go right now to see it. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll enjoy!"

Written by David Hein and Irene Carl Sankoff, with songs by David Hein, MMLJWW tells the story of a mother and son. The mother feels lost in life, wrestling with her identity. A new job brings new opportunities and with it a chance to truly find herself ... discovering her sexuality, rediscovering her faith, and eventually coming out to her teenage son, ex-husband and homophobic Jewish mother.

MMLJWW features sensational songs that run the gamut from heartfelt ("If You Love Me") to hilarious ("You Don't Need a Penis" and "Don't Take Your Lesbian Moms to Hooters"), to educational ("A Short History of Gay Marriage in Canada").

The show is based on a true story. David Hein wrote the title song as a gift to his mother about her real life wedding. Convinced the story of his mother's journey would make a good theatrical work, David and his wife, Irene Carl Sankoff, stitched together the stories that everyone asks them to tell: what life is like with two moms, including the seven parents at their wedding; the "facts of life" talk that Irene received from her in-laws; and how David's mom first came out to him.

MMLJWW features (in alphabetical order) RoseMary Doyle, Jackie English, David Hein, Lisa Horner, Lori Nancy Kalamanski, Robert Kennedy, Kyle Orzech, Irene Carl Sankoff, TEd Simonette and Astrid Van Weiren.

Direction is by Andrew Lamb, with Sound Design by Richard Feren, Lighting Design by Michelle Ramsay, and Costume Design by LIndsay Anne Black. The band includes: Sarah Calvert on Piano, Jeff Daze on Bass, Timothy Bovaconti on Guitar and more and David Pontello on Drums.

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