Monica Garrido Receives The Buddies Queer Emerging Artist Award

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is thrilled to announce Toronto performer, theatre, creator, and filmmaker Monica Garrido as the winner of the fifth annual Buddies Queer Emerging Artist Award. The award was presented on Friday at the company's season launch party.

"We were struck by Monica's involvement and leadership in queer and latinx communities, and by the overtly queer perspective that she brings to her work in theatre, film, and comedy", says Buddies Artistic Director Evalyn Parry.

A multidisciplinary performer, creator, and producer, Monica's work creates space for storytelling and representation in both the queer and Latinx communities. Monica created her solo piece, The Cunning Linguist, as part the Buddies Emerging Creators Unit in 2015, which has since gone on to the Queer Acts Festival in Halifax (where it won the audience choice award) and Aluna Theatre's Caminos Festival. She also brings her unique voice to Toronto's comedy scene in her work with Bad Dog' Theatre's troupes The Kweendom and Kinsey Fail. This year, she was awarded the Diversity Fellowship at the Second City, which highlights some of the best and brightest new voices in comedy.

Her comedy and improv work has been seen at festivals including Blockbuster Weekend, Combustion Festival, and the Ottawa Improv Festival. Two of Monica's short films, Love You to Death and Diferente, were presented as part of the Inside Out Festival's official selection. Monica's Latinx drag king band, Boiband the Boyband have performed at the Rhubarb Festival and the Toronto Fringe Festival.

The Buddies Queer Emerging Artist Award seeks to recognize and encourage the achievements of queer artists who are founding careers in the arts while engaging with the community. Monica was selected by a panel of adjudicators comprised of the current and formerArtistic Directors of the company: Evalyn Parry, Brendan Healy, David Oiye, Sarah Garton Stanley, and Sky Gilbert. The award includes a $1,000 cash prize, made possible by a gift from the Estate of John Alan Lee.