Living the Dream

A One Human Being, Potentially Comedic Performance of The Nightmare Before Christmas—Son of Warehouse

In this one-person comedic musical parody, local drama teacher Alli Perlov explores her favourite iconic stop-motion film from 1993.

Playing every character from the Pumpkin King to Oogie Boogie, this show includes gags, witty commentary & fun audience participation.

In the style of her 2018/2023 Les Mis parody, Perlov hustles harder than ever to make you laugh, so come out and celebrate Christmas AND Halloween in July!

Gregoire Entertainment

Supernatural—CCFM – Antoine Gaborieau Hall

What if I told you…
The future is already written — and I can prove it…

From the magician who brought you ‘Mindreader’ last year (★★★★ “Highly entertaining” – Winnipeg Free Press), ‘Supernatural’ is a brand new 60 minute psychological magic show that will take you on a rollercoaster ride of crazy coincidences, impossible predictions, and interactive fun.

Pitchin’in Productions

GO—Théâtre Cercle Molière

Somewhere along my 336km hike of the East Coast Trail in Newfoundland, I came across this quote:
“Remember that the minute you take your first step into the life of your dreams, the first to greet you there will be fear. Nod. Keep walking”.

So I did.

Cerridwen Productions

A Taste of Blood in the Mouth—The Output

A Taste of Blood in the Mouth is a story about love, power, violence, and the risks we take in order to really be “seen” by the object of our desire.

Eve is in prison for the brutal murder of her husband, which she maintains she did not commit. Lili, a journalist, schemes her way into an interview, hoping to talk her into a tell-all feature.

Rob Teszka Magic

Rob Teszka: Magic Dropout—PTE-Colin Jackson Theatre

Magic Dropout, the fun magic show about failure! SOLD OUT RUN Vancouver 2023

Rob Teszka researched the psychology of magic, burned out, and quit academia to become a real magician. Magic Dropout tells his story with hilarious magic that gets the audience sharing and laughing at their own personal failures.

“an emotional mixture of magic and memoir from a world built on illusions” – Capilano Courier

“audience participation absolutely makes the show” – Montreal Rampage

“a genuine eccentric” – Sean Covernton

Squid Eye Lens Productions

Racism from the Eyes of a Racist—Planetarium

Mother taught me that the Chinese were better than everyone else: “we invented gunpowder when they were still apes.” Then I went to school and kids called me names like Ching-chong, Flip, Jap, Nip, Slant-eyes, Chink, Commie, Chinaman and Gook. Did I have any choice but to grow up racist and hateful?

Come join me in my journey as I hated my way through life and somehow became a humanist and Ally. Or just come for the swag!

On the last night of the 2023 Winnipeg Fringe, we gathered at Across the Board Game Cafe for our 30th Jenny Awards. A huge thanks to Nick and the staff at Across the Board for hosting us again this year. Big thanks to Ray Yuen for MCing and taking pictures (those will be posted soon).

Our lovely Jenny Awards were created by hand by Michelle Cook, and were spectacular once again. The theme this year was “Banned Books” with each award having a different set of tiny books that had been banned somewhere in the world.

Below are the categories with the winners highlighted in bold:

1. So You Think You Can Prance: A Hoofin’ It Award

  1. Pull Yourself Together – hiljames movement
  2. The Murky Place – Subscatter Productions
  3. Twenty Four – Wind Flower Dance Company
  4. My Body of Work – Holly M Brinkman
  5. Adventure of the Little Rooster – the Grand Salto Theatre
  6. A Work in Progress – Crosswalk Productions
  7. Generic Male: Just What We Need Another Show About Men – PUSH Physical Theatre

2. Take It Up the Ass: An Award for Puppets Having All the Fun

  1. The Family Crow: A Murder Mystery – The Pucking Fuppet Co.
  2. Lia & Dor – Catun
  3. Everything is Super Wow – Spec Theatre
  4. Washed Up – Awkward Cheese Co.
  5. Break Time – Swingset
  6. Opera Mouse – Melanie Gall Presents for Kids
  7. African Folktales with Erik de Waal – YAP Theatre

3. The How to Include an Audience Award

  1. Muse: an experiment in storytelling and life drawing – Cameryn Moore
  2. The Smallest Stupid Improv Show – The Improv Company
  3. August Quarterly Report – Tattooed Egg
  4. Saplings – One Trunk Theatre
  5. The Barbarian Bombshells – The Barbarian Bombshells
  6. Bruce Ryan Costella’s: RAT MAN HAPPY PLACE – Bruce Ryan Costella
  7. Mail Ordered – Shanice Stanislaus
  8. indecision – Drawing Board Productions

4. School’s Out for Summer: An Award for Lessons Learned

  1. Staffroom – Scatter Minds Theatre
  2. All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten – Shoestring Players
  3. Field Zoology 101 – Shawn O’Hara
  4. Teaching Shakespeare – Dr Keir Co.
  5. A Masters Advanced Class To Beginners Improv – Sensible Chuckle Theatre
  6. Lessons They Won’t Let Us Teach in School – Joseph Herd Productions
  7. Laughing Yoga – The Musical – Laughing Lion Wellness Therapy
  8. FOR SCIENCE! – Small Matters Productions

5. History Lessons: An Award for Deep Dives into Obscure Topics

  1. The Life Henri – Still Your Friend
  2. World’s Fair 1876: The Centennial Exposition – JHG Creative
  3. Obsession: The Elizabeth Smart Musical – Goltsman–Ferris Productions
  4. Conquest of the Air – Conquest of the Air
  5. Countdown to Babylon – MaxQ Productions
  6. Sapphire Butterfly Blue – MTYP’s Summer Studio
  7. The American Songbook Experience – Melanie Gall Presents
  8. Eleanor’s Story: Life After War – Ingrid Garner

6. Crossing the Picket Line: An Award for Writers and Actors not in Hollywood

  1. A One Man Batman Parody – Rod Peter Jr
  2. Six Chick Flicks – PKF Productions*
  3. I Lost on Jeopardy – So Lonely Productions
  4. Matt & Ben – Hill Party Productions
  5. The Tempest – Indifferently Reformed
  6. The Dungeons ‘n’ Dragons Improv Show XIV – Miki Media
  7. Pramkicker – An Seanchai

Editors Note: Six Chick Flicks was the winner but was not present, so the award went to The Dungeons ‘n’ Dragons Improv Show XIV

7. The Truth Is Out Here: An Award for Aliens & Unidentifiable Fringe Objects

  1. Specimen Sherman – Dark Horse Theatre
  2. Okie Dokie – Physically Speaking
  3. Aliens of Extraordinary Ability – Crosseyed Rascals
  4. The Dreams of Nebuchadnezzar – Gerauschbiest
  5. Epidermis Circus – Ingrid Hansen’s Spicy Puppet Show – SNAFU
  6. Stacey–Jean At Your Side! – SJeanS Productions
  7. Little Shop of Horrors – The Dramatic Theatre Company

8. Mind and Body: The Health and Wellness Award

  1. A is for Anxiety Apples – B12 Theatre Productions
  2. The Comaback Kid – Lykos Theatre
  3. ANATOMICA – Ragmop Theatre
  4. Good Grief – Gangland Productions
  5. Neurohilarity – Neurohilarity
  6. How I Met My Neurodivergent Friend – Autistic Productions
  7. ONE NIGHT ONLY – duh dum duh dum productions
  8. Keeping The Moon – It’s all relative productions
  9. friendzone – Megan Phillips
  10. Fake ‘n’ Bake – Oh Hello Productions!

9. A Can Full of Earworms: An Award for the Musically Inclined

  1. Broadway at the Blue Elephant – 7 Ages Productions
  2. Midnight – Meraki Theatre Productions
  3. Hooked? – All about Theatre Kids
  4. Creating Rem Lezar – Rem Lezar Theatre
  5. The Last Five Years – Hot Reject Productions
  6. Grease, Too! – Tyson Comedy
  7. Ma–Buhay! The Road To Rainbow Stage – Ma–Buhay! A New Musical
  8. Sad Girl Songs: A Comedy Show – Gwen Coburn
  9. A One Human Being, Potentially Comedic Performance of Les Mis – Living the Dream

10. The Abracapocus, Pocuscadabra Award

  1. At The Table with Keith Brown – Keith Brown
  2. The Magician’s Apprentices – Comedy Illusions of Greg Wood
  3. An Evening of Magic & Illusion – Horus Eye Productions
  4. A Series of Card Tricks Done in a Row – Brad Micholson Magician
  5. Barry Potter and the Magic of Wizardry – Dirk Darrow Investigations
  6. The Magic of Chanelle Munroe Presents: 5 Ways to Kill a Magician – Magician and the Muse Inc
  7. Mindreader – Gregoire Entertainment

11. Pennywise Knows: An Wward for Clowning Around

  1. Tree – Natasha Mercado
  2. The FOOL – Monster Theatre
  3. Old God – Splash Time
  4. The Perfect Pants – Blanket Fort Theatre
  5. Influenced – Theatre Enthused
  6. James & Jamesy: Easy as Pie – James & Jamesy
  7. Stroke of Luck – Gravity Still Works

12. Fringe of the Fringe: An Award for the Far-out Venues

  1. The Elephant in the Room – Priyanka Shetty
  2. Bookmarks – Local Rascal Productions
  3. Neechies – Broken Record Productions
  4. Pool – No Water – 10…9…8..Productions
  5. World’s Greatest* Dad – Morgan Cranny
  6. Private Parts: The Secrets We Keep – Gravity Theatre
  7. Let’s Talk about Your Death – Allspice Theatre
  8. Women – The Sexy Snakes
  9. Everybody – Actors Studio

13. Friends of Dorothy Award

  1. LESBIHONEST – Pitchin’in Productions
  2. The Seat Next to the King – Root Sky Productions
  3. God Is A Scottish Drag Queen – Mike Delamont
  4. Drag Me to the Opera – Aida Cupcake Presents
  5. Always Because: The Adventures of Maggie and Meghan – Us<3
  6. me: roar – Alembic Theatre Creations
  7. Flourish – Yours Queerly, Arts Collective

Editors Note: Drag Me to the Opera was the winner but was not present, so the award went to God Is A Scottish Drag Queen.

Congratulations to all the winners. Thanks to all the nominees and all the great shows out there. Sorry we could not nominate everyone.

Murray Hunter

Sapphire Butterfly Blue

MTYP’s Summer Studio—MTYP – Mainstage

Sapphire Butterfly Blue is a powerful production which plays at and is produced by Manitoba Theatre for Young People. It is set in 1692 at the onset of the Salem witch trials. With a cast of 16 talented young adults, the audience is taken on a journey of movement, music, chant, monologues, song and dance. The key role of Bridget Bishop, the first young woman being accused of being a witch, is portrayed by 12 women who weave the moments of questioning, angst, sadness and fear as she comes to terms with the accusation and sentence of being considered a witch. Moments where the women reflect on the various emotions she experiences are felt by the theatregoers through both soft spoken words and intense anger and fright. The women reach the heart of the viewer through introspection, dance and the inspiration of the butterfly. The 4 men who embodied the judges express their fervour with intensity in their voice, movement and faces. One moment in particular gives you chills with the combination of ferocity of the judges and the terror felt by Bishop. Sapphire Butterfly Blue is best described as a visual and auditory explosion of moments which represent how witchery may have manifested in this time period and the resulting repercussion of the assertion imposed on the women of this era. It keeps you engaged as you follow the story and perceive the mirage of sensory images performed by this collection of dramatic artists.

Shayla Patterson

The Barbarian Bombshells

The Barbarian Bombshells—Tom Hendry Warehouse

Ahh, the Fringe Festival. There’s nothing else like it. Amongst all of the traumatic tales of personal struggle, one-person journeys of exploration, deeply-ingrained stories of angst and anguish, one can always find something like The Barbarian Bombshells to relieve the tension. And what a relief this show is! Would you see anything like this as part of the MTC regular season? Hell, no! And thank the gods of the theatre for that! The Barbarian Bombshells deliver exactly what one would expect; a fun-filled rowdy hour of cavorting, chaos, and carnage, delivered with rowdy enthusiasm and loads of gleeful audience participation. The bombshells radiate charisma, and seem to be having at least as much fun onstage as their audience. There’s no plot to speak of, nor is one needed. The whole point of crazy shows like this is to dive in and have fun, drink in hand, and be prepared to make lots of noise and sing (or scream) along with the women. So sharpen your sword, put on your best leather jerkin, tug on your horned helmet and catch their remaining shows before it’s too late! By Crom, this is a good time!

Mike Seccombe

Stacey-Jean At Your Side!

SJeanS Productions—The Cinematheque

This was such a sweet show. We are welcomed by Stacey Jean, who works in a call center and loves crafts. She receives letters from folks who are reaching out to her for some guidance with a variety of difficult life circumstances. I felt quite moved by her sincere compassion and heartfelt advice as she does her best to respond to each concern. I feel like we all have moments we need to reach out when we’re struggling. This show is a reminder that some genuine human compassion and care can be all it takes for someone to feel seen. The world needs it. She also provided the contact information for a few help hotlines. 

Calantha Jensen