Remember back in January – though it wasn’t as cold as in previous years – when you were waiting around in the tent at the Next Stage Festival, looking forward to the warmth of the summer Toronto Fringe?
Now the 151-production, 31-venue fest, in its 28th year, is just weeks away – it starts early this year, June 29 – and today’s the first time you can buy value passes for the festival. On sale are a five-show pass for $45, which saves you $15 (1 ticket per show), and a 10-show pass for $85, a savings of $35 (one or two tickets per show).
The passes are for at-the-door tickets, but you can book advance tickets for an additional $2.
This year the pass is in the form of a plastic card. Passes ordered before June 15 will be mailed those purchased after that date must be picked up at the festival box office at the Fringe Club. Passes will no longer be sold at individual venues.
Individual tickets go on sale June 9 for $12 (which includes a $2 service charge for those ordered online or by phone). Once the festival begins, you can buy advance tickets at the festival box office or at-the-door for each venue an hour before show time (cash only for the latter).
It’s even cheaper for FringeKids tickets: $5 for viewers 12 and under.
And where’s the Fringe Club (with its always busy beer tent) and box office? In its usual spot, 581 Bloor West, behind Honest Ed’s.
But this is the last year it’ll be there, since Honest Ed’s will disappear to make way for another downtown development in 2017.
How’s the Fringe celebrating and saying goodbye?
Notice this year’s festival logo, at the top of this article…resemble some Bloor/Bathurst signage you recognize?
For more information on the Fringe and details about tickets, see fringetoronto.com. The entire festival program is there, too.
NOW has more on this year’s Fringe here, and we’ll be offering a festival preview in our June 23 issue, followed by reviews and other coverage all through the fest.
