Program
Ah, the Spring.
What a time to be alive! And being alive means getting out there and doing things.
And seeing things.
That’s why SPRING THING exists, to honor this season of renewal and celebrate the amazing, strange-making artists in T.O.
We hope you enjoy THING ONE & THING TWO and thanks for joining us at WTF!
— Alicia & Byron
SPECIAL THANKS
There is no way we could have done anything without the kindness and support of a wide range of people, groups & organizations.
We give a special WTF thanks to:
Dave McKay/Sketchy The Clown
Gord Neill/Josh Bonnici/Sweet Action Theatre
Sonia Vaillant
Alison Deon/Zak Annette
The Legacy Cabaret
Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts
Toronto Fringe Festival
Puppet Mongers Theatre
Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival
SPRING THING CREW
SEANN MURRAY (he/him) is a technician and improvisor originally from Fredericton, NB where he got his start with Theatre Free Radical. He's the interim technical director of Bad Dog Theatre, a Stage Manager at Second City Toronto and a member of award winning comedy troupe Sex T-Rex. He did not choose the font this was written in.
SEANN MURRAY [TECH]
THING ONE: 3PM
Ken Hall is a Dora Mavor Moore Award nominee, award winning public speaker and keynote speaker and a Canadian Comedy Award winner (Best Breakout Artist) and multiple CCA award nominee, including most recently, Comedic Artist of the Year. Ken plays the lovable Herb and provides motion capture as the body of Pogo in Netflix's THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY and has appeared in numerous film and television roles including two seasons as, Jeff The Grey, on TBS’s hit series PEOPLE OF EARTH and has appeared as a guest on CONAN.
KEN HALL [HOST]
Spicy Day is an award-winning theatre company, known for our interactive and playful shows that provoke conversation about society and identity. You’re about to meet The Synsk Sister Psychics, from our Best of Toronto Fringe award-winning comedy, ‘In Waking Life’.
SPICY DAY THEATRE [CLOWN]
Is that a telephone in your pocket, or are you just happy to see him? It’s Archie Called! This drag king takes pride in being a cartoonish fool. He’s refreshingly retro. He’s campy and bizarre. His name is Archie Called, but you can call him... anytime.
ARCHIE CALLED [DRAG]
Emilia White is an interdisciplinary artist specializing in object-based performance, soft sculpture, and video art. She draws inspiration from early avant-garde movements such as Dada, Fluxus, and the Bauhaus Theatre, crafting humorous participatory performances designed to remove social barriers and foster inclusivity. Her projects use absurdity and autobiography to uphold feminist values and challenge patriarchal expectations.
EMILIA WHITE [PUPPETRY]
Nash Stamenkovic is hailed as a bouffon, clown, and improviser, and an evil manipulating piece of S*** that stirs souls. Inspired by the work of Marina Abramovic, over the years, Nash has cultivated a unique clowning style under guidance of some of the best master practitioners. With an unrelenting passion for delving into the depths of the human psyche, he crafts performances that are impactful, mesmerize audiences and ignite introspection.
NASH STAMENKOVIC [BOUFFON]
ANDY FETAMEAN [DRAG/CLOWN/PUPPETRY]
Andy Fetamean is a gender-fucking clown creature from the swamps of Scarborough. He emerged from a puddle of dubious slime and has been mystifying and unsettling drag bar audiences in Torontos Gay Village ever since.
This act also features The Fetamean Puppet Theatre Company (Sebastian Reimer, Archie Called, The IT Guy and Stefan Fetamean)
Keith Brown is a World-Class Magician, Speaker, and VIP Entertainer that has inspired wonder in over 22 countries and counting! Most recently performing for the President and First Lady of Iceland. He was chosen Toronto’s BEST magician… and he’s not even from Toronto!
“You’re INCREDIBLE!” – Dave Grohl
KEITH BROWN [MAGIC]
The Grand Salto Theatre, led by Zita Nyarady and Myque Franz, creates performances through the physical and spectacle arts. Known for their award winning duo work (Philip & Lucinda and BeeBo & Bop) they create unique all-ages entertainment for theatres, street, cabarets, festivals and events and have been presented nationally and internationally.
GRAND SALTO THEATRE [CLOWN]
THING TWO: 8PM
Isaac Kessler has been “in” comedy for over 18 years. He’s a multiple Canadian Comedy Award nominee (2012/14/15/19), one half of the award-winning ClownProv juggernaut 2-MAN NO-SHOW alongside Ken Hall, and his solo show, 1-MAN NO-SHOW, won the Artists Pick Award at the 2022 Edmonton Fringe Festival.
ISAAC KESSLER [HOST]
Leslie Cserepy is an actor, improviser, and now, BOUFFON from Yellowknife NWT. He's done a bunch of theatre you didn't see, but was great, he swears! Every month at Comedy Bar he does the show Unhinged with the Soft Ruffians and RUN IT with his duo CaféAuLait! Also Great!! He Swears!!!
LESLIE CSEREPY [BOUFFON]
@lesliecserepy
Alexander Mantia is a puppeteer and creator from Toronto. Since the age of eleven, Alexander knew he wanted to be a puppeteer when he grew up. Currently, Alexander is developing a solo hand-puppet show titled "The Zucchini Club." He would like to thank his dear mentor, Ronnie Burkett tonight.
ALEXANDER MANTIA [PUPPETRY]
With a clearly real afro so you can see him from the Gods, Blemmy Whorlem is here to deliver a live drag and performance art experience loosely based on cultural icon, Benny Harlem. Blemmy is a proud Black capitalist, Black entrepreneur, and Black father and husband to Obsidian and his wife. Full disclosure, there is this silly little rumour going around that Blemmy’s hair isn’t real and that his daughter isn’t his. Are you telling me the Guiness Book of World Records, Blue Peter, Forbes 30 under 30, Governor General’s Award all got scammed?
BLEMMY WHORLEM [DRAG]
Kenneth Cheung is the poster child of misery in comedy. His style blends physicality and satire to present a surrealist view on his Asian experience. He has displayed his multiple talents on stages throughout Canada and across the pond. He's one half of the infamous comedy duo, West 2 West.
KENNETH CHEUNG [BOUFFON]
Stefan Fetamean is Toronto's most hypermobile dancing goofball. This king's groovy moves and devotion to "the bit" will keep you thoroughly entertained. Get ready to experience the theatrical charm, versatility, and gender bending of this wildly weird dragged out dude!
STEFAN FETAMEAN [DRAG]
Magdalena (aka Blarnska) is a Toronto-based comedian, clown, and writer. She wrote/ produced 3 full-length Fringe shows under MWB Productions including ‘Death and Dating’ (Hamilton Fringe 2015), the ensemble period piece ‘Game 7’ (Toronto Fringe 2016) and ‘Why Am I Single?’ (Hamilton Fringe 2018).
MAGDALENA [CLOWN]
Juggle between laughter and gasps as two curious Bouffons take you through the circus of colonization. Witness the fire-act of religion, the taming of spices, and the contortion of languages in this dark yet colorful tummy-tickling comedy show. As if Alejandro Jodorowsky crafted this seriously funny absurdity... but it’s from the very co-founders of HINPROV.
TWO2MANGO [BOUFFON]
