Next Stage Theatre Festival Approaches Opening

Opening January 3rd and running until January 14th, the 2018 Next Stage Theatre Festival will kick off the 30th year of the Toronto Fringe.

Help us celebrate this milestone and move forward into the next 30 years by purchasing a ticket to a special fundraiser performance of Martin Dockery's Delirium. For one night only, this "verbal magician" will perform his NNNNN one-man-show, that played to sold-out audiences at the 2017 Toronto Fringe. It is a theatre event not to be missed.

The 2018 Next Stage Theatre Festival features a new Canadian musical and a Newfoundland drama directed by Steven Gallagher; award-winning improvisers showcasing a format made popular by Amy Poehler; an unapologetic dive into conversations of feminism, sexual assault, and an all-to-famous radio personality; a surprise party for a lonely clown; and so much more. Full listings here.

Festival Highlights:

Rumspringa Break!
Music and Lyrics by Colleen Dauncey and Akiva Romer-Segal (Prom Queen, Bremen Rock City),
Book by Matt Murray (Ross Petty's A Christmas Carol, Myth of the Ostrich)
An outrageous, new Canadian musical following two sisters who leave their Amish community behind and discover that the modern world is way more f-ed up than they ever could have imagined. After being developed at Sheridan as part of the Canadian Musical Theatre Project (Come From Away, Theory of Relativity, Prom Queen), Rumspringa Break! is stepping out from behind the workshop music stands for its first fully staged production, directed by Steven Gallagher (Birthday Balloon at Next Stage 2018, Myth of the Ostrich) and music directed by Wayne Gwillim (Kinky Boots, Les Misérables). More info.

Good Morning, Viet Mom
Written and Performed by Franco Nguyen
soaring in liquid skies, the sleeper hit that played to sold out houses at the 2017 Toronto Fringe, returns with a new name and a revamped production. Dora award-winning actor Byron Abalos takes the helm as director for playwright, performer, and rising comedic star Franco Nguyen's stories of growing up, living with mom, and Vietnam. Nguyen was featured in the 2017 NBC UNIVERSAL Breakout Festival in Chicago, was a semi-finalist for StandUp NBC Chicago, and is now part of The Second City's House Company. More info.

JONNO
Written by Alix Sobler, Directed by Paul Van Dyck
A bold and angry comedy about sexual assault and a powerful radio personality debuts in Toronto, the city rocked by the sexual assault trial of Jian Ghomeshi. Angry, visceral, and disturbingly humourous, the play takes an honest look at the violence perpetuated against women, and forces a light onto the men who engage in it. JONNO joins the movement for honest theatre about the treatment of women, continuing the conversation started this fall by Nightwood Theatre's Asking For It and Lo (or, Dear Mr. Wells). More info.

The Harold Experience
Created by The Assembly
True made-up stories! All spontaneous and on the spot! Featuring some of the best, award-winning improvisers in the country, The Harold Experience is an improv comedy show where the audience shapes the characters and stories they see unfold on stage. Directed by Rob Norman (Second City Touring Company) and featuring familiar faces from Canadian stages and TV shows, including Ashley Botting (CBC's Because News), Ken Hall (TBS's People of Earth), and Paloma Nunez (CBC's Baroness Von Sketch Show). More info.

One Night Only: Delirium
Written and Performed by Martin Dockery
January 13, 2018 at 10:30pm, Factory Theatre Mainspace
Celebrate the closing weekend of Next Stage and kick off the 30th year of the Toronto Fringe! Fringe veteran Martin Dockery performs his critically-acclaimed one-man-show as a special fundraiser for the Toronto Fringe. It is the ridiculous, true story of a search for meaning amidst love, loss, and Monarch Butterflies. Martin will also perform his piece Moonlight After Midnight with partner Vanessa Quesnelle, as part of the 2018 Next Stage lineup. Before the show, beginning at 9:00pm in the Beer Tent, enjoy samples of Steam Whistle's unfiltered pilsner and free snacks provided by The Paddock Tavern and Panago Pizza. As this performance is a fundraiser for the Toronto Fringe, we encourage you to "Give What You Can" by choosing a ticket price between $15 and $95. More info.

About the Festival:
The Next Stage Theatre Festival is the premiere winter theatre event in the city. Produced by the Toronto Fringe, Next Stage is a platform for past Fringe artists to take ground-breaking work to the next level - and a gathering place for discerning culture lovers.

Tickets:
$15 - Mainspace and Studio shows
$10 - Antechamber shows
Buy over the phone (416-966-1062 ext. 0), online, or at the venue box office. Online and phone sales subject to a $2 per order fee.

Schedule:
View the full Next Stage show schedule here:
https://fringetoronto.com/festivals/next-stage/schedule

Venue:
Factory Theatre
125 Bathurst Street

Passes:
$48 - Four Play Pass (+$2 order fee)
Valid for 4 tickets, redeemable in advance by phone, online or at the door. Maximum of one ticket per performance. Non-transferable. Savings of up to $12.

$90 - Eight Play Pass (+$2 order fee)
Valid for 8 tickets, redeemable in advance by phone, online or at the door. Maximum of two tickets per performance, per pass. Savings of up to $30.

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