Steve Fisher, BFA, CD (he/him)
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gracingthestage.bsky.social
Steve Fisher, BFA, CD (he/him)
@gracingthestage.bsky.social
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
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
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
July 23, 2025 at 9:35 PM
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.
July 18, 2025 at 10:19 PM
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?
July 18, 2025 at 10:19 PM
#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.
July 18, 2025 at 10:19 PM
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.
July 18, 2025 at 10:19 PM
… 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?
July 18, 2025 at 10:19 PM
#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…
July 18, 2025 at 10:19 PM
— 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.
July 18, 2025 at 10:19 PM
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
July 13, 2025 at 12:13 AM
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.
July 11, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Here's a possible solution, for next year's @toronto-fringe.bsky.social Patio... #FringeTO
July 10, 2025 at 12:52 PM
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!
July 8, 2025 at 3:35 AM
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...
July 8, 2025 at 3:10 AM
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
July 5, 2025 at 11:41 PM
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
July 5, 2025 at 6:08 AM
Sold out opening for CONFESSIONS OF A REDHEADED COFFEESHOP GIRL! #FringeTO
July 3, 2025 at 8:35 PM
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
July 3, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Just walked by this guy @ Isabella & Huntley!
July 3, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Finally got my #FringeTO schedule sorted for the first 5 days of the festival! #TheaTO #ComedyTO
June 25, 2025 at 7:20 PM
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).
June 24, 2025 at 6:02 PM
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
June 21, 2025 at 5:43 PM
(I'm in overalls, my dad's in jorts.)
June 15, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Yep. 16 years ago now, door prize from a parked taxi on Jarvis St.
May 10, 2025 at 3:25 AM
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!
May 5, 2025 at 8:24 PM