Next Stage Theatre Festival Opens in 3 Weeks

Opening January 4th and running until January 15th, the 2017 Next Stage Theatre Festival will be the festival's 10th birthday celebration. Audiences are invited to join the party!

Watch this hilarious birthday party video trailer here, featuring NSTF artists:

The 2017 Next Stage Theatre Festival features a "ball-busting look at those who paved the way for Hillary Clinton;" a troupe of dance-theatre renegades; our first ever show performed in Mandarin, Cantonese and English; a musical that has appeared on Orphan Black; bawdy adult puppetry and so much more.

Here are some highlights from the festival:

The Death of Mrs. Gandhi and the Beginning of New Physics (a political fantasy)
Written and Directed by Kawa Ada

Featuring an all-female cast, this brazen political satire centers on some of modern history's greatest political figures, at odds with each other and their people. "Hillary Clinton's made history," says Ada. "But it didn't come easy. I wrote this play to pay homage to the women who helped pave the way for Hillary." The cast is led by powerhouse actors Elley-Ray Hennessy as Margaret Thatcher, Nina Lee Aquino as Imelda Marcos and Ellora Patnaik as Malala Yousafzai. Rounding out the cast, Tennille Read takes on the role of Benazir Bhutto and Trenna Keating plays a young Kim Campbell. More info.

Blood Ties
Written Anika Johnson and Barbara Johnston ("Johnson & Johnston")
Directed by Ann Merriam

Equal parts a horror film and a musical comedy, Blood Ties is an evening in the theatre that you won't soon forget. Blood Ties is a musical by Johnson and Johnston based on a true story about a bachelorette weekend gone horribly wrong. Sheila's uncle kills himself on the eve of her wedding and she and three best friends are left with the task of cleaning up the mess left behind - a mess that is soon revealed to extend far beyond the blood splattered on the floor. Fans of the BBC America/SyFy cult smash "Orphan Black" may already be familiar with Blood Ties. It was featured in a truncated and spoofed up version over a three-episode arc in Season 2 of the series featuring four cast members of this current production. More info.

My Big Fat German Puppet Show
Written and Directed by Frank Meschkuleit

This veteran Muppets/Fraggle Rock puppeteer has created a show that is NOT for the kids. Part puppet show, part circus, part cabaret - ALL FUN! This show won the Just for Laughs Best Comedy Award when it premiered at the Montreal Fringe Festival. Now's your chance to catch this remount in Toronto! More info.

Silk Bath
Created by Bessie Cheng and Aaron Jan
Directed by Aaron Jan

Unapologetic, brutal and unflinching, this 2016 Toronto Fringe audience hit returns to the stage at the 2017 Next Stage Theatre Festival. Lauded for its brutal look at the psychological challenges of Chinese-Canadian immigrants, Silk Bath will be the first show in NSTF history to be presented in English, Mandarin and Cantonese. NOW Magazine called the show "powerful and affecting." More info.

MANICPIXIEDREAMGIRLS
Created by Rock Bottom Movement
Choreographed by Alyssa Martin

Rock Bottom Movement has become known for its absurd, laugh-out-loud style that straddles the lines between dance, theatre, clown and tongue-in-cheek performance art. In this piece, choreographer Alyssa Martin channels millennial nostalgia and classic indie film for a hallucinatory romp through glitter, girl power, and the hysteria of young love. Martin has created a gleeful pop culture mashup featuring 90's female singer songwriter karaoke and athletic dance breaks. More info.

How to book your media tickets

We have a new online media tickets portal. If you would like to book your own tickets at your convenience, 24/7, please email Claire at communications@fringetoronto.com and we will set you up with an account and a Smart Card that will allow you to tap in at the door of the venue.

If you only expect to see one or two shows, email Claire at communications@fringetoronto.com or call 416-966-1062 x 225 with your list at least 24 hour before the first performance. We will then send you an E-ticket.

About the festival

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

Tickets

$15 - Mainspace and Studio shows
$10 - Antechamber shows

Buy over the phone (416-966-1062) or online or at the door of the venue.
Online and phone sales subject to a $2 per order fee.

Schedule

View the full Next Stage Festival schedule here:
http://fringetoronto.com/next-stage-festival/listings/

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.