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For over 30 years, we have existed as a space for individuals to express their uniqueness and assert their right to deviate from the status quo. This year, we proudly continue this tradition by offering you a season of plays from some of the most important voices in queer theatre. These artists challenge the political, social, and cultural structures that fabricate oppressive and alienating notions of “difference”. They embrace the individual as a catalyst of growth and empathy. They offer new ways for us to imagine ourselves and engage with each other. Together, they reaffirm Buddies as an important source of solidarity and understanding in our city.

I hope that you will join us in the crucial transgression that is queer expression.

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is dedicated to the promotion of more liberated, compassionate, and multifaceted identities for all.

Brendan Healy, Artistic Director

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is dedicated to the promotion of more liberated, compassionate, and multifaceted identities for all.

Tawiah M’carthy, Creator/Performer – Obaaberima

CREATED AND PERFORMED BY TAWIAH M’CARTHY

DIRECTED BY EVALYN PARRY

LIVE MUSIC BY KOBENA AQUAA-HARRISON

SEPTEMBER 15 – OCTOBER 7Imprisoned in Canada for committing a violent crime, a young man from Ghana tells his cellmates a story on the eve of his release. Although there is great risk in sharing his tale, he must tell it to be truly free. Through storytelling, dance, and live music, Obaaberima chronicles a young African-Canadian’s journey across continents, genders, races, and sexualities.

BUDDIES IN BAD TIMES THEATRE PRESENTS

ObaaberimaWorld Premiere

Laura Nanni, Festival Director – The Rhubarb Festival

FESTIVAL DIRECTOR LAURA NANNI

FEBRUARY 20 – MARCH 3For two weeks, hundreds of local and international artists transform Buddies into a hotbed of creativity and experimentation, sharing new ideas in contemporary theatre, performance art, dance, and music with adventure-loving audiences.

“the city’s go-to event for thought-provoking, political, adventurous entertainment” –Toronto Life

BUDDIES IN BAD TIMES THEATRE PRESENTS

THE 34TH RHUBARB FESTIVALRaw. Radical. Performance.

Daniel MacIvor, Playwright & Tyson James, Actor – Arigato, Tokyo

BY DANIEL MACIVOR

DIRECTED BY

BRENDAN HEALY

STARRING MICHAEL DUFAYS CARA GEE TYSON JAMES DAVID STORCH

MARCH 16 – APRIL 14One of our country’s most distinct and celebrated writers pens a darkly poetic love letter to love itself. From the underground nightclubs of Tokyo to the hallowed stages of Noh Theatre, a visiting Canadian author is pulled into a world of obsession, sex, and longing. The award-winning creative team behind Blasted and The Maids brings to life this thoughtful meditation on the many meanings of love and our place in it.

“MacIvor is simply masterful” –Globe & Mail

BUDDIES IN BAD TIMES THEATRE PRESENTS

arigato,tokyoWorld Premiere

Edward Roy & Gavin Crawford, Actors – A Few Brittle Leaves

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY SKY GILBERT

STARRING GAVIN CRAWFORD EDWARD ROY

APRIL 24 – MAY 5Veteran actors Edward Roy and Gavin Crawford play a pair of spinster sisters who, through a series of touching and comedic disasters, are forced to deal with the question: how does one age gracefully? Perennial provocateur Sky Gilbert returns to Buddies with this gender-bending dramatic comedy.

“Sky Gilbert has more theatrical flair in his little finger than anybody else in the Toronto scene” –Globe & Mail

BUDDIES IN BAD TIMES THEATRE PROUDLY WELCOMES A CABARET COMPANY PRODUCTION

A fewBrittle leavesWorld Premiere

Kimberly Persona, Actor – Of a Monstrous Child: a gaga musical

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY ALISTAIR NEWTON

STARRING

BRUCE DOW AS LEIGH BOWERY

KIMBERLY PERSONA AS LADY GAGA TYSON JAMES CHY RYAN SPAIN

MAY 14 – 26Performance legend Leigh Bowery hosts an irreverent musical cabaret devoted to of one of our most enigmatic and polarizing pop stars, Lady Gaga. Featuring a collection of the art world’s greatest icons, this “dance floor dialectic” celebrates the place where high culture hooks up with low art. Brought to you by queer trailblazers Ecce Homo (Alistair Newton and Matt Jackson).

ECCE HOMO THEATRE IN ASSOCIATION WITH BUDDIES IN BAD TIMES THEATRE PRESENTS

of amonstrous child: a gaga musicalWorld Premiere

BUDDIES IN BAD TIMES THEATRE PROUDLY WELCOMES BACK A STUDIO 180 THEATRE PRODUCTION

THE NORMAL HEARTBY LARRY KRAMER

OCTOBER 19 – NOVEMBER 18

BUDDIES IN BAD TIMES THEATRE PROUDLY WELCOMES BACK A STUDIO 180 THEATRE PRODUCTION

THE NORMAL HEARTBY LARRY KRAMER

OCTOBER 19 – NOVEMBER 18

Phot

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: Joh

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aras

tam

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guest companyDIRECTED BY JOEL GREENBERG

STARRING JOHN BOURGEOIS MARK CRAWFORD PAUL ESSIEMBRE RYAN KELLY MARK MCGRINDER JEFF MILLER SARAH ORENSTEIN JONATHAN SEINEN JONATHAN WILSON

Larry Kramer’s landmark play chronicles the rise of the AIDS crisis in New York City as seen through the eyes of writer/activist Ned Weeks, the gay Jewish founder of a prominent HIV advocacy group. Buddies is pleased to welcome back Studio 180 Theatre with the return of their hit production of this important play.

“brilliant work from one of the most reliably interesting and challenging theatre companies in town“ H H H H (out of four) –Toronto Star

Ticket info at studio180theatre.com

SEASON PASSBuddies’ fully flexible Season Pass* is your all access ticket to our 2012/13 Mainstage Season. Come on your own, or bring along some friends and use your pass to see what you want, when you want.

All Season Pass holders get up to 30% savings on tickets and priority seating.

THE OPTIONS3 TICKET PASS $85 | 6 TICKET PASS $150

UNDER 30 / ARTS WORKER: 3 TICKET PASS $70 | 6 TICKET PASS $120

Each pass can exchanged for up to 3 or 6 tickets to any of the following shows:

*available while supplies last, all advertised prices are subject to HST.

TO ORDER YOUR SEASON PASS CALL

416-975-8555

EARLY BIRD SPECIALOrder your Season Pass before July 1, 2012 and receive an additional ticket voucher.

ObaaberimaThe Normal HeartThe 34th Rhubarb Festival

Arigato, TokyoA Few Brittle LeavesOf a Monstrous Child: a gaga musical

Design: Jonathan Kitchen, jakcreative.comPhotography: Tanja-Tiziana, doublecrossed.caArt Direction: Vanessa Fischer

P: Preview O: Opening Night

TO ORDER YOUR SEASON PASS CALL

416-975-8555

Arigato, TokyoA Few Brittle LeavesOf a Monstrous Child: a gaga musical

SCHEDULE

OF A MONSTROUS CHILD: A GAGA MUSICAL

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

P P OMAY

OBAABERIMA

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

P P P P OSEPT

OC

T 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

THE NORMAL HEART

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

P P OOC

T

NO

V 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

ARIGATO, TOKYO

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

P P P P OMA

R

APR

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

THE 34TH RHUBARB FESTIVAL

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

O OFEB

MA

R 1 2 3

A FEW BRITTLE LEAVES

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

P OAPR

MAY

1 2 3 4 5

SUPPORTINGCOMMUNITYEach season, Buddies in Bad Times challenges and inspires audiences by presenting innovative and cutting-edge queer artistic programming.

Your support is critical for us to carry on celebrating all that the queer community has to offer. Make a difference. Take a stand to empower queer youth and queer expression, and to ensure our ticket prices stay affordable so that great theatre is accessible to everyone.

To become part of the Buddies family, please call our Director of Development at 416.975.9130 x23 or go to www.buddiesinbadtimes.com/donate.

Jamie Ebbs & cassy walker, Young Creators Unit

OUR AMAZING PARTNERS

We are sincerely grateful to our corporate sponsors, foundations, and government agencies for believing in us and the work that we do.

LEADCORPORATE

SPONSOR

FESTIVALSPONSOR

QUEERMEDIA

PARTNER

MAINSTAGEMEDIA

SPONSOR

K.M.HUNTERCHARITABLE FOUNDATION

T H E

LAWRENCE FAMILYF O U N D A T I O N

CORPORATE SPONSORS

PUBLIC AGENCIES

FOUNDATIONS

Charitable Registration Number: 11882 0778 RR0001

LEGACY CIRCLEEd Cabell & Roy ForresterRussell Mathew & Scott Ferguson

BENEFACTORSBrendan HealyDean OdoricoDerek BillsmanEd Cabell & Roy ForresterGavin Crawford

Harold Wu & Lawrence BennettJim TennysonJoe Siegfried & Brad DoughertyJonas Giesen & Gregory KimLionel Tonalisaj lander & Ruthann Tucker

Mark A GermanMichael BoyukRussell Mathew

& Scott FergusonSafe Harbour MCCWilliam Hodge & Robert Wylie

VISIONARIESChristine Armstrong & Irfhan RawjiJim Lawrence & David SalakPaul Hains

MONTHLYBrendan HealyCathy GordonChris RowlinsonDavid Salak & Jim LawrenceDerek BillsmanDiana Khong

Ed Cabell & Roy ForresterJerry DoironJoe Siegfried & Brad DoughertyKen Aucoin & Gerald Crowelllisaj lander & Ruthann TuckerMary BreenMichel Beauvais

Mitsuko SadaPaul HalfertyRichard BinghamRichard McLellanSarah HunterWilliam Hodge & Robert Wylie

THE DIRECTORS CIRCLE

Buddies gratefully acknowledges the following members of the Buddies family for leading the way.