A Moment for Frayed Nerves at Theatre Passe Muraille

A Moment for Frayed Nerves is an experimental new musical by Kevin Wong and Alysa Pires, co-directed by Rielle Braid, presented as part of the 2026 Toronto Fringe Festival. The show follows emotionally-linked vignettes inspired by Ghibli cooking scenes, lo-fi study mixes, warm baths, and the quest for existential meaning, featuring completely original music and choreography rooted in Lauridsen choral harmonies, 80s Japanese city pop, 90s early R&B, and 2020s synth pop. It marks the first collaboration between musical theatre creator Kevin Wong and choreographer Alysa Pires, whose credits include Exterminating Angel, New York City Ballet, and National Ballet of Canada. The cast features Delia Clark-Bautista, Nathaniel Cadougan, EJ Candelaria, Sarah Evasiw, Claire Haig-Halsall, Violet Legarde, Marissa Monk, Bryan Nothling, Chris Otchere, and Helena Shields-Ballantyne.