Steve Fisher, BFA, CD (he/him)
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gracingthestage.bsky.social
Steve Fisher, BFA, CD (he/him)
@gracingthestage.bsky.social
530 followers 350 following 450 posts
A&E critic emeritus—Torontoist/AV Club/Now Magazine, etc.
HMCS YORK Recruiter/Master Sailor/BOSN.
Canadian Theatre Critics Association board member, #TheaTO hashtag creator.
Burly #BikeTO boi, karaoke kid, LGBTQ+ Ally. BLM
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gracingthestage.bsky.social
Saw 2 #TheaTO shows this week, both co-pro's w/ Soulpepper, & I gave both standing O's: @thehowlandcompany.bsky.social's THE WELKIN (a chronologically chimeric going away gift from dir. W.Mengesha, w/ a heckuva ensemble), & TRIA Theatre's remount of KING GILGAMESH (vid by J.LaVercombe's request).
September 21, 2025 at 6:23 PM
gracingthestage.bsky.social
OK, it's boomer catnip—& if you h8 not hearing a song in its entirety, it'll drive ya bonkers. But I thrilled @ how much @bdslips.bsky.social @swinghammer.bsky.social & co. crammed into this 90min showcase of guitar-driven music, & legends who've made their marks w/ SIX STRINGs. #TheaTO #TOMusicCity
On an orange table sits a ticket and theatre program for Soulpepper Theatre's production of "Six String: A History Of The Guitar," running to July 27 2025 at the Young Centre in Toronto, ON.
July 23, 2025 at 9:35 PM
gracingthestage.bsky.social
Lastly, #FringeTO '25 directors: A.Lundy brought the 102 yr old THE ADDING MACHINE to new life & relevancy; J.L.Archer-Chan coaxed gr8 performances from the teen cast of ALPHA; A.Harkin helped J.O’Sullivan translate SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO’s storytelling for Videocabaret’s in-the-round stage.
A collage of promotional images for the play THE ADDING MACHINE, presented at the 2025 Toronto Fringe Festival.
July 18, 2025 at 10:19 PM
gracingthestage.bsky.social
A special S/O to the stage design of APOTHECARY; the ivy covered & functional shelves of the titular time travelling space was the best #FringeTO festival set I’ve seen in years. No designer was credited. Was it director C.Van Wyck, producer & co-lead L.Piccinin, or someone else?
Sydney Marion in a scene from APOTHECARY, at the 2025 Toronto Fringe Festival. Photo by Seanna Kennedy.
July 18, 2025 at 10:19 PM
gracingthestage.bsky.social
#FringeTO dramatic standouts included W.Borden, still forceful & magnetic at 83, as the titular prisoner in JUSTICE FOR MAURICE HENRY CARTER; T.Walker in the ADDING MACHINE, adding another top-notch Everyman role to his growing C.V. of them; & the energetic teens in ALPHA.
5 Trinidadian BIPOC boys in blue shirts and grey slacks dance with abandon around their classroom tables, with a purple wash backdrop, in a scene from ALPHA at the Toronto Fringe Festival 2025. Photo by Kajay Ramkarran.
July 18, 2025 at 10:19 PM
gracingthestage.bsky.social
My #FringeTO '25 comedy standouts include V.Sagar & V.W.Sepejak, “kittens” for SWEET & SULTRY BURLESQUE (both were also in UFC 3: NO LAUGHING MATTER, where Sepejak best understood the assignment); M.Nadeau’s George & N.Passmore’s Isabella Rossellini in DAVID LYNCH’S SEINFELD; & E.Jeffer’s BITTY-BAT.
Emily Jeffers as her clown character Bitty-Bat. Photo by Lyon Smith.
July 18, 2025 at 10:19 PM
gracingthestage.bsky.social
… IF capacity & hours can’t be improved on @ Young Centre, what about Old Flame? Their patio held a crowd for the #FringeTO silent disco. Or how about the open space @ 125R Mill St., East of the streetcar loop? Could the City of TO and Canary Landing approve a truly “late” night event permit there?
A section of map showing the North-East end of the Distillery District in Toronto. The Young Centre complex is located on the West side of Cherry Street, bordered by Mill Street to the North, Tank House Lane to the South, and Cherry Street to the East. On the East side of Cherry Street is a TTC streetcar loop (and BikeShareTO station); east of there is a large open space at 125R Mill Street, with some landscaped wild gardens, south of the Oak House and Maple House condos. This space is managed by the Canary Landing condo corporation, and has hosted special events there in the past. Could the Toronto Fringe work with Canary Landing and the City of Toronto to get a special events permit to host the Fringe Hub, with late night programming and hours, at this location?
July 18, 2025 at 10:19 PM
gracingthestage.bsky.social
— #FRINGETO PATIO. Fringers were V. disappointed w/ YC courtyard patio’s capacity & hours. I heard it referred to as “the nook” & “smaller than my 1st apartment.” W/ the 11pm shutdown + travel time b/w venues, many eschewed meeting & celebrating there, exchanging word of mouth buzz, buying drinks…
Fringe artists taking part in the opening day parade on 02 July 2025 mill about on Mill Street, post-parade. The Toronto Fringe patio (AKA the Fringe Club, or Hub) has in the past 2 decades been a outdoor area with late (well past midnight) serving hours, that could accommodate large crowds from the Fringe community. This year's patio, at the Young Centre courtyard, through the yellow arch in the photo, was far too small to accommodate many artists, let alone patrons and supporters, and was shut down by 11pm each night. Photo by Colleen Yates.
July 18, 2025 at 10:19 PM
gracingthestage.bsky.social
— EMPTY SEATS. Most sold out #FringeTO shows I saw had 5-15+ empty seats, w/ eager rush patrons shut out! If ticket holders are no shows @ 2 min to show, FOH should seat count & fill ‘em w/ rush patrons. If there's a late call, & ticket holders still no-show, fill seats w/ patient rushers then.
The 03 July 2025 line-up for #FringeTO show CONFESSIONS OF A REDHEADED COFFEESHOP GIRL, which sold out this opening performance.
July 18, 2025 at 10:19 PM
gracingthestage.bsky.social
Tonight's silent disco range, I've heard, will cover both Old Flame Brewing and The Young Centre, so dancers will have multiple rooms in which to get their groove on. #FringeTO
TORONTO FRINGE poster, with a red brick background. Text proclaims: "You asked, we listened! "Atrium Bar open until 12am midnight July 12 & 13. "Late night serving hours for closing weekend!"
July 13, 2025 at 12:13 AM
gracingthestage.bsky.social
Happy #WorldFringeDay! I've seen 25 @toronto-fringe.bsky.social shows so far. I've micro-reviewed 20 so far (more to come): bsky.app/profile/grac...
I plan to see 6+ more shows by Sunday. If a #FringeTO show is sold out, Patron's Picks (w/ 1 extra show Sunday) will be announced @ 6:30pm today.
5 Trinidadian BIPOC boys in blue shirt and grey slacks dance with abandon around their classroom tables, with a purple lit blank stage backdrop, in a scene from ALPHA at Toronto Fringe Festival 2025. Photo by Kajay Ramkarran.
July 11, 2025 at 4:31 PM
gracingthestage.bsky.social
Here's a possible solution, for next year's @toronto-fringe.bsky.social Patio... #FringeTO
Detail of a map showing Cherry Street in Toronto, from Mill Street to the Lower Don River Trail. The map includes the Young Centre and Cluny Bistro, West of Cherry Street in the Distillery District, and the TTC streetcar loop, East of Cherry Street, East of the streetcar loop, a vacant lot has been highlighted with orange lines. Inside the rhombus shaped area is a tag, "2026 Fringe Patio?"
July 10, 2025 at 12:52 PM
gracingthestage.bsky.social
18 #FringeTO shows in. Favs incl. IRIS (SAYS GOODBYE)[still the only SO!], DAVID LYNCH'S SEINFELD, EMILIO'S A MILLION CHAMELEONS, BITTY-BAT & FRIENDS, SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO, THE ADDING MACHINE, ADAM BAILEY'S THREE DEATHS, SONGS BY A WANNABE, & SWEET & SULTRY BURLESQUE. 5 more booked Tues/Wed!
Bitty-Bat, a five-foot-ten bat played by Emily Jeffers, expands her wings to a full wingspan infant of a brick backroom lit by purple lighting. Photo by Lyon Smith.
July 8, 2025 at 3:35 AM
gracingthestage.bsky.social
I commented on @glennsumi.bsky.social's #FringeTO mid-fest report. In particular, he mentioned (& I agree) that the Young Centre courtyard patio seems inadequate for festival crowds to gether, compared to previous @toronto-fringe.bsky.social patio locations. I've got a suggestion, though...
Detail of a map showing Cherry Street in Toronto, from Mill Street to the Lower Don River Trail. The map includes the Young Centre and Cluny Bistro, West of Cherry Street in the Distillery District, and the TTC streetcar loop, East of Cherry Street, East of the streetcar loop, a vacant lot has been highlighted with orange lines. Inside the rhombus shaped area is a tag, "2026 Fringe Patio?"
July 8, 2025 at 3:10 AM
gracingthestage.bsky.social
Taking this eve off from #FringeTO shows to go to @toronto-fringe.bsky.social's Live Band Karaoke @ Old Flame Brewing, feat. Good Enough Karaoke. Will I sing Talking Heads, Jonathan Richman, both? Come see! 8pm onwards... #TheaTO #ComedyTO
A woman sings into a microphone, with a tie-dyed filter superimposed. Text reads, "Good Enough Live Karaoke, we play, you sing!"
July 5, 2025 at 11:41 PM
gracingthestage.bsky.social
12 @toronto-fringe.bsky.social shows in. More threaded micro reviews soon! Favs so far include IRIS SAYS GOODBYE, DAVID LYNCH'S SEINFELD, EMILIO'S A MILLION CHAMELEONS, THE ADDING MACHINE, SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO, and ADAM BAILEY'S 3 DEATHS. Photo by Stefi Kopp. #FringeTO #TheaTO #ComedyTO
Actors Justan Myers-Chapman, Luca McPhee, & Nick Dolan in a scene from IRIS (SAYS GOODBYE), playing July 2nd-12th at the 2025 Toronto Fringe Festival. Photo by Stefi Kopp.
July 5, 2025 at 6:08 AM
gracingthestage.bsky.social
Sold out opening for CONFESSIONS OF A REDHEADED COFFEESHOP GIRL! #FringeTO
A line of Fringe Festival patrons wraps around 3 sides of the Alumnae Theatre building.
July 3, 2025 at 8:35 PM
gracingthestage.bsky.social
Here begins my @toronto-fringe.bsky.social '25 thread! Hopefully as the fest continues, all the #TheaTO & #ComedyTO folx I know on Meta & X will have figured out BSky's the only SM platform that 1. easily shares links & news, & 2. isn't overrun by toxicity. So yes, here (only here!) we go! #FringeTO
On an orange background, a copy of the program guide for the 2025 Toronto Fringe Festival, with a page of the schedule highlighting some shows on the first 2 days.
July 3, 2025 at 4:10 PM
gracingthestage.bsky.social
Just walked by this guy @ Isabella & Huntley!
A wild rabbit sits in a patch of grass by a apartment building @ Isabella & Huntley Sts, at midnight on July 3rd, 2025, in Toronto.
July 3, 2025 at 4:04 AM
gracingthestage.bsky.social
Finally got my #FringeTO schedule sorted for the first 5 days of the festival! #TheaTO #ComedyTO
Monday 30 June 2025 Fringe Is Funny showcase @ 7:30-9:30pm Comedy Bar Canadian Beef, feat. @ 8-10pm Comedy Bar Wednesday 02 July 2025 Songs By a Wannabe @ 5:30pm, Young Centre Iris Says Goodbye @ 7:30-8:50pm Young Centre Judge Mintz @ 10pm, Tarragon Theatre Thursday 03 July 2025 David Lynch's Seinfeld @ 12pm, Helen Gardiner Phelan Theatre Have Fun Kids @ 2pm, Young Centre Confessions of a Redheaded Coffeeshop Girl, @ 4:45pm, Alumnae Theatre Adam Bailey: My Three Deaths, @ 6:15pm, Native Earth Performing Arts, Aki Studio The Adding Machine @ 9-10:20pm, 639 Queen St W Friday 04 July 2025 Emilio's A Million Chameleons, @ 2:15pm, Young Centre Something To Look Forward To, @ 4:45pm, VideoCabaret Sweet Action Theatre Presents..., @ 7:30pm, Sweet Action Theatre People Suck..., @ 9:30- 11pm, Theatre Passe Muraille Saturday 05 July 2025 A Play We Wrote Just Now, @ 11:30am, Tarragon Theatre RPF VS. Bad Dog, @ 2:30 - 4pm, MacGregor Playground Apothecary, @ 6 - 7:30pm, Theatre Passe Muraille Fringe Karaoke, @ 9pm - 11pm, 43 Tank House Lane Sunday 06 July 2025 Sweet & Sultry Burlesque, @ 3pm, Helen Gardiner Phelan Theatre Quiz Icarus, @ 4:45pm, Helen Gardiner Phelan Theatre Bitty-Bat & Friends, @ 7:45pm - 8:45pm, Young Centre Bitty-Bat & Friends 7:45pm, Young Centre f
June 25, 2025 at 7:20 PM
gracingthestage.bsky.social
Oof. Had to nix docs (sorry JIRO..., or GRIZZLY MAN), animated fare (no WALL-E, SPIRITED AWAY, or even HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS), musicals or Marvel flicks (no CHICAGO or CA: WINTER SOLDIER). That said, re-watchability was the deciding factor (which ranked, say, MONEYBALL ahead of MOONLIGHT).
The New York Times' THE 100 BEST MOVIES OF THE 21ST CENTURY; Reader's Choice: My Ballot Stranger Than Fiction (2006); Casino Royale (2006); Paddington 2 (2018); Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007); Let the Right One In (2008); The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001); Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003); Parasite (2019); Children of Men (2006); Mad Max: Fury Road (2015). Your ballot has not been submitted yet. When you're ready, click the button below.
June 24, 2025 at 6:02 PM
gracingthestage.bsky.social
AfTER THE RAIN closes this wknd @ Tarragon Theatre. Highly recommended. Annika Tupper is a real find, and it's gr8 to see Andrew Penner as a rock star (again). #TheaTO
On a orange table sits a theatre program for AFTER THE RAIN, a new Cdn musical, closing this wknd at Tarragon Theatre in Toronto.
June 21, 2025 at 5:43 PM
gracingthestage.bsky.social
(I'm in overalls, my dad's in jorts.)
A 6ft white man in his late 20's, with short dark hair, stands barefoot and bare chested on a Nova Scotia beach, wearing cut off jean shorts, holding his arms high above his head. 3ft above his hands is a laughing airloft toddler, in jean overalls and a white shirt.
June 15, 2025 at 4:28 PM
gracingthestage.bsky.social
Yep. 16 years ago now, door prize from a parked taxi on Jarvis St.
A caucasian man in his late 20's, with close cropped brown hair and wearing a green T-shirt, holds up a bicycle helmet. The helmet is cracked at the right temple, all the way through to the rear. He was wearing the helmet when a taxi driver opened his driver's side door into traffic with looking, flipping the cyclist over the door. The helmet almost certainly prevented a concussion and potential brain damage.
May 10, 2025 at 3:25 AM
gracingthestage.bsky.social
Back in #Toronto after a week+ outta town, & hoping to see some #TheaTO (& #TOMusicCity?) pals @ tonight's THE SHAPE OF HOME cast album release party!
THE SHAPE OF HOME: SONGS IN SEARCH OF AL PURDY ALBUM RELEASE Monday, May 5th Live @ The Monarch Tavern 12 Clinton Street | Doors open @ 7:30 p.m Admission $10 or $35 with vinyl purchase Featuring: Frank Cox-O'Connell Beau Dixon Hailey Gillis Raha Javanfar & Andrew Penner.
May 5, 2025 at 8:24 PM