Stage scenes

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Buddies bash

It’s going to be a very queer year at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre – even more than usual. Buddies, celebrating its 25th anniversary next season, kicks things off Saturday (May 3) with Cheers Queers, a combination show, party and announcement of goodies for the upcoming year. The evening’s performers include Ellen-Ray Hennessy, Keith Cole, Jane Ford, Shoshana Sperling, Nova Bhattacharya, Damien Atkins, Glyph, Theresa Tova, David Gale and Sonja Mills. The joint then moves to party mode, with K-Tel and Will Munro spinning the discs. See listings for details.

Rock solid

Didja get turned on by the AfriCanadian Playwrights Festival last week? There’s more work in development by black theatre artists – specifically, black women – in the second annual rock.paper.sistahs series running to May 18 in the Passe Muraille Backspace. Sponsored by b current, the original one-acts include shows by Raven Dauda and Ngozi Paul, Carol Anderson, nicole stamp, Rhoma Spencer and Mercedes Baines. See listings for details.