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Urban Planner: January 11, 2009
THEATRE: We would be remiss if we did not mention the Fringe‘s Next Stage Theatre Festival, as previewed in this past week’s inaugural Drama Club. The festival is a showcase of the eight top Fringe companies, with performances every night until January 18. The Fringe is also offering an evening double-bill of only $25 at the door ($5 off). On stage tonight are Take It Back and The Rake’s Progress: Do You Know Where Tom Rakewell Is? at the Factory Theatre Main Space and First Hand Woman and Don’t Look at the Factory Studio. There is free entertainment in the heated McAuslan Beer Tent throughout the festival. Factory Theatre (125 Bathurst Street), 7:15 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. (Factory Studio); 7:30 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. (Main Space), $15 per play.
COMEDY: Comedy website The Comedy Green Room (which claims to be the largest independently run comedy site in the world) present A Steamin’ Heap O’ Comedy. The night consists of free stand-up from Doug Brown, Tom Hills, Marty Simsovic, Christina Cieczkowski, Todd Graham, and Ariana Smith, hosted by Ruby. There is also free pool and cold beer. Ein-Stein’s Café and Pub (229 College Street), 8–10 p.m., FREE.
ART: The Power Plant gallery invites well-known artists and thinkers to drop by on Sunday afternoons to reflect on the current exhibits at the gallery. This week, Spacing’s associate editor Shawn Micallef will be at Sunday Scene to introduce the gallery’s winter exhibitions. Power Plant Gallery (231 Queens Quay West), 2 p.m., FREE with gallery admission ($5).
COMEDY: This week on Monkey Toast: The Improvised Talk Show, host David Shore interviews comedian Dave Brennan, wine expert Warren Porter, and author Patricia Pearson. Following the interviews, improvisers filled with sudden inspiration will burst into action and perform for the audience. Gladstone Hotel Ballroom (1214 Queen Street West), 7:30 p.m., pay what it’s worth afterwards.
Photo of The Rake’s Progress: Do you Know Where Tom Rakewell Is? by Matthew Marigold courtesy of the Next Stage Theatre Festival.