Fringe 2008: Shameless Plugs

Let's start in chronological order... from there, who knows where we'll go?


Do you know Jeff Kubik? If you don't, you should... or, at least, you soon will. Fresh from his first year of the playwrights program at Montreal's Concordia University, Jeff has already seen two of his comedic works produced this summer (Unsolicited Mail at Edmonton’s NextFest and Die, Mrs. Veenstra, Because You Are Old at Calgary’s Ignite! Festival).

Next stop: Use Me: An Undead Musical at Calgary's evolving Fringe Festival, running from August 1 to 9. Check out the website--it's got photos and music clips too.

I'm stoked. Music, the undead, romance... how cool is that? I've been fortunate to have been a small part of this project by playing the role of PR/marketing strategy and support, which seems to be paying off with a TV spot, CBC radio exposure and a couple of previews (so far). As part of my involvement, I've had the chance to read the script, visit a couple of rehearsals and be involved in discussing the show as it evolves. From what I've seen, heard and chatted about, I'm looking forward to the show. Our plan is to go opening night.

Go to the Calgary Fringe website to get tickets. (Don't worry if they say it's sold out... 15 per cent of tickets are sold at the door.)


Next up: from the people who brought you one of the best and critically acclaimed shows of Edmonton's 2006 International Fringe Festival is the original show: Occupied by Arone Le Bray (otherwise affectionately known as my taller, younger brother).

Here's the blurb from Basic Acid Theatre's website:

Public washrooms are a necessary evil. They're smelly, kinda drab, always dirty, and the people inside them are complete and total strangers. But we use them every day. Everyone does, from the high-powered lawyer on her way to a business meeting, all the way down to the penniless homeless man, covered in filth. "Occupied" is a snapshot of the downtown LRT washroom on any typical weekday morning, and asks the question that has plagued mankind for centuries: out of margarine and cream cheese, which is the healthier bagel topping?

While I haven't been as involved (i.e.: at all) with this as the show, I'm equally stoked about this one. Arone has always been a solid writer and creative story-teller and I'm excited to see what he's cooked up with Occupied. Likewise, his production partners (Patrick Pilarski and Joel Bazin) are ridiculously talented and both friends from high school. (I might even be so crass as to say they were my friends first before Arone decided to become grand usurper.

So, if you're in Edmonton between Thursday, August 14 and Saturday, August 23, go see this show. You can only get your tickets online at Edmonton International Fringe Festival. We already have our tickets (along with tix for the parents and grandparents... we're assured from Arone that there will be no nudity this time) for Saturday 16 at 8:15 pm.