Steve Fisher News

ANIMAL FARM, Orwell's brilliant political satire about the corrupting influence of power, charts the fall of idealism and the rise of tyranny after the animals of Manor Farm rise up against their oppressive human owner in a struggle for rights, equality, gaining the right to make their own choices on how to live their lives. Onstage, the story is read by two children, the girl (Sierra Rose Friday) and boy (Shane McDermott), keeping the audience informed as to the action taking place or what has gone on off stage leading to that particular scene. It all begins as the animals, led by Snowball, an idealistic pig (Christopher Yarrow), take over the farm from Mr. Jones (Steve Fisher). Their plan goes well at first; all the animals are equal and content. But eventually, several of the other pigs, led by Napoleon (Mark Lewis) and Squealer (Melora Marshall), yield to the lure of power and start to make decisions that serve their own interests best, eventually leading them to proclaim that some animals are more equal than others. The quote, 'absolute power corrupts absolutely,' certainly applies to Orwell's masterful work.

Robin Henderson, creator of the Best of Fringe hit Dance Animal, is thrilled to be returning to the Toronto Fringe Festival with Pineapple Club, from July 7th-16th, 2017 at the Factory Theatre Mainspace.

Robin Henderson, creator of the Best of Fringe hit Dance Animal, will be returning to the Toronto Fringe Festival with Pineapple Club, from July 7th-16th, 2017 at the Factory Theatre Mainspace.

Robin Henderson, creator of the Best of Fringe hit Dance Animal, is thrilled to be returning to the Toronto Fringe Festival with Pineapple Club, from July 7th-16th, 2017 at the Factory Theatre Mainspace.

History's greatest house party and the invention of modern plumbing collide in the unlikely story of Henri Rousseau's climb from art zero to art hero. Dubbed "Lovely and Entertaining" by Vue Weekly when the show previewed last year at the Edmonton Fringe, The Life Henri, marks Adam Bailey's third original play since penning The Assassination of Robert Ford and Adam Bailey is On Fire.

How do lies become truths? An acclaimed stage adaptation of Animal Farm, the classic novel by George Orwell, opens at Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum on June 17, part of the company's "Rising Up" Summer 2017 Repertory Season.

Director Jim Strait's wit shines in Desert Rose's CLARK GABLE SLEPT HERE. The script needs pruning, but the dialogue flies most of the time, as do the audience's guffaws. The two women in the cast have the juicy roles, and make the most of them. The audience will have fun at this raunchy play.

xandre Dumas' timeless classic, The Three Musketeers, comes to life in the Murray Theatre at Ruth Eckerd Hall with this new and fast-paced spin on a classic tale of intrigue, romance and adventure by Joe Winskye, Bianca Badia and Hat Trick Theatre. Full list of performance dates and times are noted below. Tickets are on sale now.

Prolific screenwriter and playwright Del Shores is perhaps best known for his series of plays about growing up gay in the South. In the semi-autobiographical SOUTHERN BAPTIST SISSIES, now playing at the Desert Rose Playhouse in an excellent production, he describes the clash between his identities as a devout Baptist and a gay child.

Did you know Ruth Eckerd Hall has a resident theater company? Well, we do! Hat Trick Theatre, a group of passionate, young actors, found their permanent home at the Murray Theatre at Ruth Eckerd Hall in 2015.

Charles Busch's SLEEPING BEAUTY OR COMA and VAMPIRE LESBIANS OF SODOM are difficult plays to produce, but Desert Rose's director (Jim Strait) and its performers are up to the task. The double bill is the company's annual Gay Heritage presentation, which succeeds spectacularly.

Desert Rose Playhouse's production of POZ, by Michael Aman, is superbly acted and directed. The play is more o a sweet comic drama than the comedy, as which it was originally billed.

Not even a wall can keep these lovers apart. This particular wall happens to be in modern-day East Jerusalem and as Theatricum Botanicum's production of ROMEO AND JULIET commences, chaos ignites at a checkpoint that divides Israel and Palestine. It is a city that has seen struggle for thousands of years and for one Muslim boy named Romeo and one Jewish girl named Juliet, not even their innocence can change the course of this story.

Director Ellen Geer re-sets William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet in East Jerusalem, kicking off the 2016 summer repertory season at Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum's outdoor amphitheater on June 11.

If you're awkward and you know it clap your hands!

Desert Rose Playhouse, the Coachella Valley's main LGBT-friendly theatre, is currently presenting the world premiere of JUNK, a sweet, funny musical, written and composed by Michael Penny. The talented actors perform their roles with panache, and the company's behind-the-scenes designers help give Mr. Penny's clever material a top-notch introduction to audiences.

Director Ellen Geer re-sets William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet in East Jerusalem, kicking off the 2016 summer repertory season at Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum's outdoor amphitheater on June 4.

Robin Henderson and Derrick Chua are thrilled to announce the cast of DANCE ANIMAL: TORONTO, which will premiere at the Toronto Fringe Festival, June 29 to July 10, 2016, at the Tarragon Theatre Mainspace. Specific show times to be announced in May.