The Rocky Horror Picture Show
[Image Description: The Rocky Horror Picture Show ASL-Interpreted Screening graphic, featuring a dark red background mimicking theatre curtains. There is a curtain at the top and theatre seats at the bottom. In the middle are the words "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" inside of a white marquee in black capital letters which appear to be dripping. The marquee is bordered with lights. At the top of the marquee are red lips that are slightly open to reveal teeth. Above the marquee are the words "The Disability Collective presents", and below the marquee are the words "featuring an all-Deaf shadow cast", "Sunday, October 27 - 7 PM", and "Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. At the bottom left corner are the symbols for ASL interpretation, audio description, and open captions and the Next Stage Theatre Festival logo in white, and at the bottom right corner are the Ontario Arts Council and Province of Ontario logos in white]
Sunday, October 27
7 PM EDT
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
12 Alexander Street, Toronto
Open
Captions
Audio
Description
Deaf
Interpretation
SOLD OUT!
Tickets are pay what you can.
Patrons purchasing tickets at a higher price point can do so with the understanding that their ticket price is helping to subsidize the lower ticket prices, and in doing so, are making this show more accessible for others.
Complimentary tickets for support persons are available. Please include this request in the Notes section when purchasing tickets online. You can also call the Toronto Fringe box office at 416-966-1062, or visit the in-person box office at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre during Next Stage Theatre Festival starting October 16.
Let's do the time warp again! Back by popular demand, don't miss a screening of the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show featuring an all-Deaf shadow cast for the first time in history! Come sing, dance, and sign along to kick off your Halloweekend.
Damnit, Janet! Let's make this spooky season accessible!
We would like to acknowledge funding support from the Ontario Arts Council, and the Government of Ontario for their support.
ASL Vlog
Access Measures:
An all-Deaf shadow cast will perform alongside the film.
Audio Description will be available.
The film will feature open captions.
COVID-19 Policies:
The safety of our audience, artists, volunteers, and staff is our number one priority.
Masks are required for all audience members but may be removed temporarily for drinking and eating. Masks are required in any shared spaces in the venue, including the lobby and washrooms.
Masks should fit snugly against the face without gaps; cloth masks should have at least two layers of fabric. Neck gaiters and bandanas are not permitted. We thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Exemptions are always made for access or medical reasons.
ALESSIO CONVITO
Costume & Set Designer
Alessio is a Deaf and queer artist from Italy, currently based in Toronto. With a degree in Illustration, he thrives as a freelance illustrator, collaborating with individuals and businesses both within and beyond the Deaf community. His artistic expertise spans a wide range of projects, from theatre set design to event posters and museum artworks. Additionally, his passion for fashion has led him to explore costume styling, which is his role in this show!
IG: @alessioconvito
COURAGE BACCHUS
Magenta
Natasha “Courage” Bacchus is a very active multidisciplinary artist, former three times gold medallist Deaf Olympian Sprinter. Her theatre/TV and Film performances include Shaw Host Talk (2014), ‘The Black Drum’ with Soulpepper Theatre (2019) in Toronto and France, ‘The Two Natashas’ (2020) comedy performed in art festivals, ‘21 Black Futures’ produced by Obsidian Theatre and CBC Arts, (2021), mini-TV series ‘The Coroner’ season four on Netflix (2022). She has participated in cabaret events including the 2019/2024 ASL Deaf Drag Performance, Rainbow Senior Showcase, and CRIPtonite (The Disability Collective) at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre in Toronto, Ontario.
Her areas of expertise include interdisciplinary visual artist, art accessibility consultation, Deaf LGBTQ/racialized/marginalized Indigenous, Black, People of Colour consultation, Sign Language Translation for theatre, Interpretation and Promotional vlogs, panelist and presenter for workshops, emerging art curator, and activist for Indigenous and Black Deaf art community to expand representation for Indigenous and Black Deaf artists.
Courage has participated as an art collaborator with numerous theatre and film productions focusing on breaking down barriers for Indigenous and Black Deaf Artists in Canada.
She has participated in Leelee Oluwatoyosi Eko Davis and Donna Michelle Bernard's method of social justice community. Natasha was one of the winners of Canada’s Top 100 Black Women to Watch by the Canada International Black Women Event (CIBWE) 2019.
She continues her journey of self-discovery in her art.
GAITRIE PERSAUD-KILLINGS
Director & Columbia
Gaitrie Persaud-Killings is a Tkaronto-Guyanese-raised Deaf actor, activist, and mother of three based in Tkaronto. An ASL coach and ASL music performer, she is also the founder of Phoenix the Fire, a theatre and film community hub for BIPOC Deaf artists, where she is building the support structure she finds lacking in Canada. She splits her time between Tkaranto, Ontario with her family and Atlanta, Georgia where her husband resides.
Gaitrie is currently a news presenter on Sign 1news in Atlanta, Georgia as well as a regular on Nickelodeon Jr. Blues Clues & You and CBC Gem’s Silly Paws, she is also on Squeaky Wheel Canada as Arianna and her documentary film, Breaking Characters on AMI.
JAIDEEP GORAY
Brad Majors
Growing up as a Deaf Indian/Canadian, Jaideep Goray always has a passion for acting & performance. He believes you don’t have to be hearing to enjoy the surroundings of dialogue theater – acting is already within you, it is the natural facial expression, body language and rhythm of our being.
His family often encouraged him from childhood to act and he was introduced to theatre by his school principal.
As an artist, he has worked with some hearing performers creating accessible performance, recently alongside Christopher Corsini of MDL CHLD and done stage performance under Deaf Spectrum and Buddies in Bad Time Theatre, Indian Folk tales in ASL, narrator and performed as Indian folk dance culture festival with Mona Jean of ASL Carabert LA, and has been involved with different theaters for 3 years including Monsieur Richard Firmin as actor for Phantom of the Opera with well-known Deaf director Jules Dameron from LA. He joined the artist of Gaitrie Persaud’s experimental project “Spitting the Lens” with two other Deaf actors and three hearing actors, was the Deaf Interpreter for Lilies; Or the Revival of a Romantic Drama, and an ASL drag performer at Buddies In Bad Time Theatre.
He has worked as the Deaf Interpreter for the events with Soulpepper, Sketch, Bentway, the AGO, Deaf Consulate for Deaf Interpretation for Faith of Act, Factory Theatre, and interpreted for hearing main role actor of Ladies and Gentlemen and Boys and Girls at Roseneath Theatre. He also acted as CP for Sivert Das`s play. Recently, he narrated the ASL story of the life of Lord Ganesh as part Hindu culture festival with the Luminato Festival Toronto.
He has joined a team with Gaitrie Persaud, a founder of Phoenix The Fire - a theatre hub for QTIBPOC Deaf artists. Jaideep advocates for the QTIBPOC Deaf community with Phoenix the Fire to bridge the gap between Deaf actors and hearing actors in the artistic world.
JUAN JARAMILLO
Dr. Everett V. Scott, Eddie & Narrator
Juan Jaramillo, a Deaf artist originally from Colombia, has made a name for himself in Deaf Theatre Interpretation (DTI). Now based in Toronto, he works as a director, writer, actor, and ASL interpreter, creating inclusive theatre for both Deaf and hearing audiences. His first play, inspired by his life between Colombia and Canada, received international acclaim and a 2023 Dora Mavor Moore Award nomination. Juan recently completed his last showcase in the UK, Scotland, and Colombia’s festivals, continuing to push the boundaries of accessibility in the arts.
JUANPABLO ARMANI
Rocky Horror
Juanpablo “JP” Armani is a male actor who loves to put his heart into acting, where they can be inspired and laugh.
ROBERT HAUGHTON
Dr. Frank-N-Furter
Proud dad of 4 (plus one mischievous dog), Robert has taken his performances across the globe, from Scotland to Medellín, Colombia! His passion for theatre started in elementary school, and now he’s thrilled to bring Frank-N-Furter to life! Get ready—things are about to get wild. Enter if you dare!
SAGE LOVELL
Riff Raff
Sage Lovell (they/she) is an artist, writer, educator, and entrepreneur. Being Deaf, Queer, Disabled, and Neurodivergent, they are an artist who likes to work their magic, using different art mediums to shift perspective and spaces. Over the past decade, Sage has worked with different communities in multiple capacities to develop meaningful work that continues to evolve. With their multitude of talents, they are able to incorporate their passion for interweaving media, language, performance, and accessibility into works of art.
In 2020, Sage won an award from ArtEquity for their advocacy in the arts community. In 2019, Sage was a finalist for the Community Arts Award (Toronto Arts Foundation). In 2018, Sage won the 2nd place Defty Award (Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf) for their ASL poetry production of “The Four Elements.”
TALIA WALL-DI GIUSEPPE
Janet Weiss
Talia Wall-Di Giuseppe is a Canadian Deaf, neurodivergent, non-binary performer, born to a 3rd generation Deaf family. In high school, Talia was involved in the Specialist High School Major in the theatre program with E.C. Drury school for the Deaf. Talia enjoys being on the stage and performing different roles and getting involved in theatre as a part of Deaf roles. Xe hopes to continue in theatre and film to gain more experience of acting. Talia was part of Dancing Hands and 258 Production's Fernando and His Friend Llama as a Llama. Talia also appeared in a Deaf short film as Rachel in Misconceptions.
Generously Supported by:
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