Toronto Fringe is currently presenting its 36th Annual Toronto Fringe Festival with 77 shows at 16 venues across Toronto, including comedy, drama, musicals, dance, storytelling, along with KidsFest & Kids Camp at St. Volodymyr Institute, plus many more free summer fun at their pop-up Patio at The Tranzac.
I have received several messages from various artists premiering and presenting their work at the festival this year. I have also looked at the festival program and have made my list of show recommendations, including family and kid-friendly ones too.
Hye’s Picks Vol. 1 at Toronto Fringe Festival 2024
- Bol, brown boy, bol (speak, brown boy, speak) is a cheeky, heartfelt solo show weaving storytelling with the rhythms of tabla, the Northern Indian percussion instrument, createdy and performed by Nawaaz Makhani.
While told from the perspective of a GTA millennial, the autobiographical show speaks across generations. Musical influences include 60s Indian classics, 90s Bollywood hits, 2000s rap and hip hop, and more.
- Gringas is a bilingual coming-of-age story that is set to captivate young immigrant hearts and minds. The show is written by award-winning playwright Mercedes Isaza Clunie.
Gringas takes place under the Muskoka sun, where 7 Latina-teenagers from across the Latin American diaspora are at language camp, learning Spanish for the first time. Inside cabins, bathing in lakes, and in magical dreamscapes, these young women are determined to find themselves before the summer is up.
- The Humpty Dumpty Puppet Theatre is bringing the enchanting world of Doctor Dolittle to life at this year’s Toronto Fringe Festival.
You are invited to a magical journey with the charming and eccentric Doctor Dolittle, a physician who discovers he can communicate with animals. Together with his loyal animal friends, Doctor Dolittle sets off on a series of whimsical adventures that highlight the importance of kindness, empathy, and understanding.
- One Four One Collective, in association with Flying Penguin Theatre, presents the world premiere of Patty Picker by Toronto playwright, Evan Bawtinheimer.
This coming-of-age story on bullying, tolerance, and acceptance tells the story of Patty, a 16 year old girl who eats pizza for breakfast, loves to play chess, and has a secret. Patty’s life is turned upside-down when her secret shame becomes juicy gossip… Patty struggles to return her life to normal, while dealing with her picky girlfriend Phoebe, problematic father Paul, and getting revenge on that piece of crap Preston who caused the whole mess.
- Ghouls and Girls Theatre presents Girls’ Night Cabin Fever; written by Cassie Davidson.
This fast-paced, horror farce features three women trying to rekindle their childhood friendship. Charlie, Ember and Liz make a frenzied attempt to survive all the classic perils of a cabin in the woods.
- Award-Winning Kazu Kusano makes Toronto Fringe Festival debut with her solo comedic drama Pretty Beast.
Growing up in a dysfunctional family in Japan, Kazu dreams of escape. Raised by a distant, alcoholic father, and a mother suffering from schizophrenia, Kazu learned to use humor to heal her wounds and process her trauma. Despite the odds, she discovers her voice and sense of purpose in comedy. Armed with her newfound superpower, she embarks on an internal journey to find self-acceptance—and overseas to find a new life.
- Yoga for Billionaires is a play written by a former economist, Sara Raj, about society’s obsession with extreme wealth.
The inspiration for the show came during a summer spent in New York City, when Indian-Canadian creator Sara Raj lamented the high cost of yoga classes. “I started to think about how everything in society has been commodified… I thought it would be funny to see what happened if I took this idea to the extreme,” says Raj.
She developed the show concept further, using comedy open mics to test out how audiences react to certain interactive scenes and recruiting Albanian-American actress Lindita Kulla to form a comedy duo. Sound designer Wendy Cascade soon joined the team to make show songs that blended classical Indian music with pop culture.
- Midtwenties Theatre brings the premiere of their brand new gothic horror play The Bluffs by Sarini Kumarasinghe at this year’s festival.
The show follows Eleanor as she makes a final visit to her creaky bluff-side cottage, six months after her wife’s tragic death in the lake below. When a storm traps Eleanor, her squatter brother-in-law, and a mysterious neighbour inside the home, the three of them must contend with their complicated relationships to each other and the deceased, and work together to defeat the dark presence dwelling in the cottage walls.
- Under A Grove Productions presents Boy Boy and the Magic Drum; created by Jewelle Blackman (Book, Lyrics, Music) and Chantal Forde (Book, Lyrics).
This 2024 Adam’s Prize winning Soca-musical is the first of its kind and is bound to get the whole family up and dancing. Community, courage, culture, and tradition are celebrated in this brand new show adapted from the children’s book by the King of Soca, Machel Montano.
- Tonight! A clown who wanted to be loved? ; created by Andrea Barello.
Deep into his fifties, Andrea Barello finally figured out what he wants to be when he grows up: he just wants to be loved. Tonight! confronts one of the most classic challenges faced by every clown, and probably by every human: the urge to find love. Using comic absurdity, you wil join Andrea through his quest for love.
The Toronto Fringe Festival is a platform for innovative theatre and performance and there’s something for everyone! Enjoy the next hit musical in a historical Toronto theatre, or see an experimental dance show in a community centre gym. Looking to experience even more? Check out the Fringe Patio’s free events and programming, or bring your little ones to KidsFest to enjoy family-friendly performances.
The Toronto Fringe Festival continues until July 14, 2024. For full festival programming and tickets, please visit torontofringe.com.
