The Centre for Drama, Theatre & Performance Studies(CDTPS) at the University of Toronto will launch its 2023 DRM402 Directors’ Showcase featuring three short plays presented over two evenings and one matinee performance in a Fringe Festival style theatrical event from December 1 to 3. The titles of the three productions and play descriptions are below. A talkback session will be held following the Sunday matinee.

Admission is free! To reserve your free ticket, visit 2023DirectorsShowcase.eventbrite.ca.

Shows will run at the following times:

Friday Dec 1, 7:30 PM

Saturday Dec 2, 7:30 PM

Sunday Dec 3, 2:00 PM

The shows will run in the following order: The Sound of a Voice, The Most Massive Woman Wins, Sure Thing. Each show is approximately 20 to 30 minutes with a total run time of approximately 1 hour 30 minutes.

The Sound of A Voice directed by Xinxian Xu, is a ghost story inspired by Japanese folklore written by David Henry Hwang. Set in Edo period Japan, the play explores the relationship between a wandering samurai and a mystical woman. A fable full of mysteries and visions, this production aims to take the audience on a thrilling, breathtaking visual journey.

The Most Massive Woman Wins directed by Lisha Zhao employs a surrealistic setting to tell realistic stories. This play delves into the complex issues of body image and self-acceptance. Situated in the waiting area of a liposuction clinic, the story unfolds as four women share their experiences with weight and societal expectations through a series of monologues, short scenes, and rhymes.

Sure Thing (1993) directed by Miriam Sossin is a short play written by David Ives. It tells the story of Betty and Bill, who meet in a cafe one night. The two strangers fall in love, though not on their first try, over the course of a conversation. Through the structuring presence of a bell that gives Betty and Bill infinite chances to say the ‘right’ thing, the play presents a satire of the American rom-com through a comedic exploration of our need to control and perfect people, conversations, and perceptions. Does something magical happen when we give up on achieving perfection? Is The Sound and the Fury a good book? Is this chair taken?? Find out at Sure Thing!

To learn more, visit uoft.me/2023DirectorsShowcase