calendar
Camp
The Premiere production of CAMP written and composed by Naomi Tessler, dramaturgy by Alysse Rich
CAMP, juxtaposes two 15 year old girls' experiences—Lila at Jewish sleepover camp in Canada and Greta- in Auschwitz- a concentration camp. This research and me-search informed play explores themes of womanhood, intergenerational trauma, sisterhood and resilience. Though separated through time, space and absolutely different life circumstances, both girls share stories of love, shame, sexual violence, overcoming oppression and singing as a form of resistance- leaving the audience with greater appreciation for the triumphs of young women and the importance of healing intergenerational wounds.
The play draws from playwright Naomi Tessler’s own lived experiences, along with channeled information from her ancestors, from other young women killed in the Holocaust, and the insight from memoirs of other young women who survived. Amongst all of these memoirs, there were two things that threaded them together: each author had experienced sexual violence, and held too much shame to share with their families for fear of further ostracization. Each author also used singing as a coping strategy.
*Camp won third place in the 2021 National Jewish Playwriting Competition
Written and Composed by: Naomi Tessler
Directed by: Alice Fox Lundy
Starring: Jada Rifkin and Naomi Tessler
Dramaturgy by: Alysse Rich
Stage Manager: Lisa Sciannella
Set Builder: Rin Abedi
Technician: Victoria Watson Sepejak
Production Team: Alice Fox Lundy, Hailey Gardiner and Wayne Burns
Camp
The Premiere production of CAMP written and composed by Naomi Tessler, dramaturgy by Alysse Rich
CAMP, juxtaposes two 15 year old girls' experiences—Lila at Jewish sleepover camp in Canada and Greta- in Auschwitz- a concentration camp. This research and me-search informed play explores themes of womanhood, intergenerational trauma, sisterhood and resilience. Though separated through time, space and absolutely different life circumstances, both girls share stories of love, shame, sexual violence, overcoming oppression and singing as a form of resistance- leaving the audience with greater appreciation for the triumphs of young women and the importance of healing intergenerational wounds.
The play draws from playwright Naomi Tessler’s own lived experiences, along with channeled information from her ancestors, from other young women killed in the Holocaust, and the insight from memoirs of other young women who survived. Amongst all of these memoirs, there were two things that threaded them together: each author had experienced sexual violence, and held too much shame to share with their families for fear of further ostracization. Each author also used singing as a coping strategy.
*Camp won third place in the 2021 National Jewish Playwriting Competition
Written and Composed by: Naomi Tessler
Directed by: Alice Fox Lundy
Starring: Jada Rifkin and Naomi Tessler
Dramaturgy by: Alysse Rich
Stage Manager: Lisa Sciannella
Set Builder: Rin Abedi
Technician: Victoria Watson Sepejak
Production Team: Alice Fox Lundy, Hailey Gardiner and Wayne Burns
Professor Eff's Movie Night
The most renowned and feared chef in the world loses his title of God of Cookery because of his pompous attitude. Humbled, he sets out to reclaim his title."
From the director of Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle. Another fine example of Clown logic in cinema. Come round for a discussion and screening at Sweet Action on June 16th.
Popcorn provided......
FREE
Riff Reps - Clown Drop-In
RIFF REPS: A Practice In Contemporary Clowning
One performer. One audience. One goal: make us laugh.
This class is about getting on your feet and doing the thing.
No red nose required. The mask is already there—it’s you. Your instincts, timing, habits, impulses, charm, awkwardness, confidence, doubt. All of it.
Clown isn’t about jokes or punchlines. It’s about being real in front of people, listening to the audience, and responding honestly in the moment. Sometimes that response gets a big laugh. Sometimes it doesn’t. Both are useful.
In this drop-in, Chase throws you into games and improvs that force you to play, riff, and adjust in real time. When something works, we slow down and look at why. When it doesn’t, you learn how to change course instead of pushing harder.
You’ll practice chasing the laugh—and just as importantly, learning what to do when it doesn’t come.
What’s Your Funny?
Everyone has something that makes them uniquely funny. The audience will tell you.
The work is standing in front of them, trying things, missing, missing again—and then landing something that only you could land.
Whether you’re brand new to clown or already performing, this class gives you real reps in front of an audience, with live direction from Chase Jeffels to help you identify what’s working and do more of it.
Who This Is For
This drop-in is for people who want to:
Try a new approach to comedy, performing, and writing
Add specificity and individuality to their improv
Be more spontaneous on stage or on camera
Build confidence by doing, not overthinking
Discover what actually works for them
Get more comfortable failing in front of people
In my stand-up sets after the workshop, I’ve noticed that I feel more playful and comfortable on stage. I trust myself more to be funny without planning or material, and I feel much more tapped into my creative instincts.
— Bita Joudaki, Comedian & TV Writer (JFL Toronto, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Children Ruin Everything) · Goofing Workshop
You feel like an idiot and it’s super vulnerable, but also funny. The audience lets you know pretty quickly what they like and don’t like, and Chase does a great job of summing it up at the end so you walk away with genuinely useful information, even while kind of feeling insane. It’s enlivening and worth it, especially if practicing failure is useful to you. For me, it is.
— Rakhee Morzaria, Actor, Comedian & Writer (Run the Burbs, What We Do in the Shadows, Mr. D, Second City) · Riff Reps
He’s a warm, sensitive, and rigorous teacher who cares deeply not only about his students’ learning journeys, but about the state of clown pedagogy itself. He’s constantly experimenting with new exercises, innovating within the form and pushing it beyond a strictly clown-centric box, opening the work to new expressive comedic forms. He’s simply one of the best clown teachers and performers in the city. Highly recommend watching him perform and taking his classes.
— Adam Paolozza, Actor, Director, Teacher & Artistic Director, Bad New Days Theatre
What I love most about Chase’s approach is that he encourages you to find what works for you. He’s deeply empathetic and clearly cares about every person in the room, while also bringing a level of organization and consistency that’s rare. I don’t think I could have found a better teacher than Chase to dive into the clown world. Through the work, I’m slowly finding the confidence to be weird on stage.
— Ankur Kaushal, Performer, Goofing Student
With warmth, care, and real skill, Chase creates a welcoming and stimulating space to explore beyond our habits and reconnect with spontaneity. It feels less like an invitation and more like a permission to be. The workshop supported me in finding my way back to a childlike, playful exploration, allowing me to take risks with spontaneity and with others.
— Isabelle Meline, Gestalt Therapist & Workshop Participant
Class Details
Time: 6:00 – 9:00 PM
Length: 3 hours
Fee: $35 + HST = $39. 55
I’ve had to turn people away at the door. Registration helps make sure everyone gets time in the room.
Max participants is 12 people
To secure your spot, register and send an e-transfer to:
jeffels.chase@gmail.com
Include your name and the date of the drop-in in the transfer notes.
About Chase:
Chase Jeffels is an actor, comedian, and teacher whose work bridges clown, improv, and the art of playful failure. He is a graduate of École Jacques Lecoq and the Laboratoire d'Étude du Mouvement (Laboratory of Movement Study) in Paris, France, and trained under renowned clown master Philippe Gaulier (teacher of Sacha Baron Cohen, Helena Bonham Carter, and Emma Thompson). Gaulier once said of Chase’s work (imagine it in a thick French accent):
“I do not like very much Canada, but I like what you do.”
Chase has also studied with a host of notable teachers in clown, bouffon, and idiot work, including Aitor Basauri, John Gilkey, Chad Damiani, Kevin Krieger, Deanna Fleysher, Jaime Mears, Ken Hall, Isaac Kessler, and Gordon Neill. He is a graduate of the George Brown Theatre School classical conservatory program.
As a performer, Chase’s work spans film, television, and theatre. He is a member of the improv and sketch collective $20 Sandwich, where he performs UCB-style longform improv infused with his own clown sensibility — bringing a spirit of risk, play, and discovery to structured comedic form.
He is also one half of West 2 West, a duo known for their innovative blend of clown sketch and clown improv, merging physical comedy, audience connection, and absurd play.
In his solo work, Chase continues to push the boundaries of comedy through Goofing — a punk-inspired mix of clown, riffing, and improvisation that explores connection, risk, and laughter through failure. His work merges improv, sketch, and clown to create performances that are as vulnerable as they are hilarious, uniting mainstream comedy with the spirit of live play.
Learn more about The Goof Method.
Sweet Action Kleaning Kidz
A fabulous offer from Sweet Action Theatre to all Sweet Action Sweeties!
Toronto Fringe is coming and we need to get Sweet Action into shape!
We are looking for a Kleaning Kidz Krew - as our beloved space is in need of a deep clean and organization.
* Kleaning Kidz Krew members will receive an hour of FREE rehearsal time in the space for each hour of volunteer time
To that end, we have set aside Friday, June 19 from 9 am - 3:00 pm to do said deep clean.
You do not need to be able to come for the entire duration.
You’ll receive 1 rehearsal hour credit for each hour you are helping out.
We need some able bodied folks to:
move the chairs and risers
do a sweep and mop of that area under the risers
mop and sweep the risers
put back the chairs and risers
Then - the amazing Kleaning Kidz Krew (that is you) will move to the other end of the space to:
move out the chair storage system
move out the shelves in that area
clean and sweep said area
do other extremely cool organizational things there
There will be available tasks for anyone that has any limitations.
Sign up now, all you cool people.
Love to you all.
Goofing - Clown Intensive with Chase Jeffels
Goofing: A Weekend Intensive in Clown, Solo Improv & The Art of Riffing
Dates: June 20 & 21
Time: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM (one-hour lunch break each day)
Location: Sweet Action Theatre, 180 Shaw St, Unit 106, Toronto
Capacity: 12 students
Ever wanted to walk onstage with nothing planned — and still make people laugh?
Goofing is a weekend intensive in clown and solo improvisation built on The Goof Method — a pedagogy rooted in the teachings of Jacques Lecoq and Philippe Gaulier, sharpened through years of teaching, riffing, and flopping in front of live audiences. It draws on Idiot Work and contemporary solo improv, and carries those traditions forward with a modern, present-tense energy.
At its core, Goofing is about presence over performance — riffing live with an audience, with nothing planned, reading the room, responding in real time, and letting laughter come from honesty and play rather than preparation.
And central to all of it is the art of the flop.
We fail — often, and publicly. But we make a distinction here that matters: there's honest failure, the kind that happens when you genuinely don't know what's coming next, and there's performed failure — the preemptive apology, the self-deprecating armour, the safety of acting like you don't care. The work is to dismantle the second one so the first one can do its job. Honest failure is where the laugh lives.
This is also where the work extends beyond the stage. Most of us spend our lives avoiding looking foolish — performing competence, dodging risk, staying safe. Goofing is a controlled environment to practice the opposite. Think of it as rejection therapy with laughs: you walk in afraid of looking stupid, and over the weekend you discover that looking stupid is survivable, freeing, and often the funniest thing in the room. People leave with a different relationship to failure — and that shows up everywhere, not just on a stage.
Whether you're an actor sharpening instincts, a writer hunting material, a comedian testing premises, or someone who's never performed in their life and just wants to get out of their own way — there's a way in. You'll leave with more freedom in your impulses, more trust in your instincts, and more confidence in the unknown.
Through exercises, improvisations, and live coaching, we'll work on:
Building character through physical instinct
Physical comedy — using the body as your first comedic tool
Being fully present on stage and filling the space you're in
Finding your genuine pleasure on stage — and sharing it with an audience
Reading an audience in real time
Tools for generating material on the spot
Finding the comedic voice that's actually yours
Rewiring your relationship with failure and rejection
Building confidence in the unknown — useful far beyond the stage
No script. No safety net. Just you, your impulses, and a room of people willing to find out what happens.
About Your Teacher
Chase Jeffels is an actor, comedian, and teacher whose work bridges clown, improv, and the art of playful failure. He is a graduate of École Jacques Lecoq and the Laboratoire d'Étude du Mouvement in Paris, and trained under renowned clown master Philippe Gaulier — teacher of Sacha Baron Cohen, Helena Bonham Carter, and Emma Thompson. Gaulier once said of Chase's work (imagine it in a thick French accent):
"I do not like very much Canada, but I like what you do."
Chase has also studied clown, bouffon, and idiot work with Aitor Basauri, John Gilkey, Chad Damiani, Kevin Krieger, Deanna Fleysher, Jaime Mears, Ken Hall, Isaac Kessler, and Gordon Neill. He is a graduate of the George Brown Theatre School classical conservatory program.
As a performer, his work spans film, television, and theatre. He is a member of the longform improv and sketch collective $20 Sandwich, and one half of West 2 West, a clown duo known for blending physical comedy, audience connection, and absurd play.
Pricing
Tier Base + HST (13%) = Total
Regular
$250.00 + $32.50 = $282.50
Early Bird(first 3 spots)
$215.00 + $27.95 = $242.95
Returning Intensive Student(10% off)
$225.00 + $29.25 = $254.25
Scholarship / Low-Income(2 spots)
$175.00 + $22.75 = $197.75
Deposit & Payment: A 50% non-refundable deposit secures your spot. Spots are reserved on a first-paid basis only — submitting the form does not hold your spot. This applies to all tiers, including Early Bird and Scholarship spots. Balance due before the first session. Payment by e-transfer to jeffels.chase@gmail.com.
The Returning Student rate is for past Goofing Intensive participants ONLY. Riff Reps drop-ins and other class participants are not eligible.
Scholarship rate is available for students experiencing financial hardship — please use it honestly so we can keep offering it.
Learn more about The Goof Method.
Lover Girl
The messy, the funny, the ugly, the heartbreaking, and sometimes embarrassing parts of love.
From her bold beginnings as a street outreach crisis worker to the battlegrounds of couples therapy, Tamara Lynn Robert has spent three decades trying to make better lovers of us all …while struggling in her own disastrous love life. Professionally, she’s unstoppable. Personally, she’s a lover-girl train wreck. Lover is a funny, heroic and tender tale about what it really takes to love.
Goofing - Clown Intensive with Chase Jeffels
Goofing: A Weekend Intensive in Clown, Solo Improv & The Art of Riffing
Dates: June 20 & 21
Time: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM (one-hour lunch break each day)
Location: Sweet Action Theatre, 180 Shaw St, Unit 106, Toronto
Capacity: 12 students
Ever wanted to walk onstage with nothing planned — and still make people laugh?
Goofing is a weekend intensive in clown and solo improvisation built on The Goof Method — a pedagogy rooted in the teachings of Jacques Lecoq and Philippe Gaulier, sharpened through years of teaching, riffing, and flopping in front of live audiences. It draws on Idiot Work and contemporary solo improv, and carries those traditions forward with a modern, present-tense energy.
At its core, Goofing is about presence over performance — riffing live with an audience, with nothing planned, reading the room, responding in real time, and letting laughter come from honesty and play rather than preparation.
And central to all of it is the art of the flop.
We fail — often, and publicly. But we make a distinction here that matters: there's honest failure, the kind that happens when you genuinely don't know what's coming next, and there's performed failure — the preemptive apology, the self-deprecating armour, the safety of acting like you don't care. The work is to dismantle the second one so the first one can do its job. Honest failure is where the laugh lives.
This is also where the work extends beyond the stage. Most of us spend our lives avoiding looking foolish — performing competence, dodging risk, staying safe. Goofing is a controlled environment to practice the opposite. Think of it as rejection therapy with laughs: you walk in afraid of looking stupid, and over the weekend you discover that looking stupid is survivable, freeing, and often the funniest thing in the room. People leave with a different relationship to failure — and that shows up everywhere, not just on a stage.
Whether you're an actor sharpening instincts, a writer hunting material, a comedian testing premises, or someone who's never performed in their life and just wants to get out of their own way — there's a way in. You'll leave with more freedom in your impulses, more trust in your instincts, and more confidence in the unknown.
Through exercises, improvisations, and live coaching, we'll work on:
Building character through physical instinct
Physical comedy — using the body as your first comedic tool
Being fully present on stage and filling the space you're in
Finding your genuine pleasure on stage — and sharing it with an audience
Reading an audience in real time
Tools for generating material on the spot
Finding the comedic voice that's actually yours
Rewiring your relationship with failure and rejection
Building confidence in the unknown — useful far beyond the stage
No script. No safety net. Just you, your impulses, and a room of people willing to find out what happens.
About Your Teacher
Chase Jeffels is an actor, comedian, and teacher whose work bridges clown, improv, and the art of playful failure. He is a graduate of École Jacques Lecoq and the Laboratoire d'Étude du Mouvement in Paris, and trained under renowned clown master Philippe Gaulier — teacher of Sacha Baron Cohen, Helena Bonham Carter, and Emma Thompson. Gaulier once said of Chase's work (imagine it in a thick French accent):
"I do not like very much Canada, but I like what you do."
Chase has also studied clown, bouffon, and idiot work with Aitor Basauri, John Gilkey, Chad Damiani, Kevin Krieger, Deanna Fleysher, Jaime Mears, Ken Hall, Isaac Kessler, and Gordon Neill. He is a graduate of the George Brown Theatre School classical conservatory program.
As a performer, his work spans film, television, and theatre. He is a member of the longform improv and sketch collective $20 Sandwich, and one half of West 2 West, a clown duo known for blending physical comedy, audience connection, and absurd play.
Pricing
Tier Base + HST (13%) = Total
Regular
$250.00 + $32.50 = $282.50
Early Bird(first 3 spots)
$215.00 + $27.95 = $242.95
Returning Intensive Student(10% off)
$225.00 + $29.25 = $254.25
Scholarship / Low-Income(2 spots)
$175.00 + $22.75 = $197.75
Deposit & Payment: A 50% non-refundable deposit secures your spot. Spots are reserved on a first-paid basis only — submitting the form does not hold your spot. This applies to all tiers, including Early Bird and Scholarship spots. Balance due before the first session. Payment by e-transfer to jeffels.chase@gmail.com.
The Returning Student rate is for past Goofing Intensive participants ONLY. Riff Reps drop-ins and other class participants are not eligible.
Scholarship rate is available for students experiencing financial hardship — please use it honestly so we can keep offering it.
Learn more about The Goof Method.
Riff Reps - Clown Drop-In
RIFF REPS: A Practice In Contemporary Clowning
One performer. One audience. One goal: make us laugh.
This class is about getting on your feet and doing the thing.
No red nose required. The mask is already there—it’s you. Your instincts, timing, habits, impulses, charm, awkwardness, confidence, doubt. All of it.
Clown isn’t about jokes or punchlines. It’s about being real in front of people, listening to the audience, and responding honestly in the moment. Sometimes that response gets a big laugh. Sometimes it doesn’t. Both are useful.
In this drop-in, Chase throws you into games and improvs that force you to play, riff, and adjust in real time. When something works, we slow down and look at why. When it doesn’t, you learn how to change course instead of pushing harder.
You’ll practice chasing the laugh—and just as importantly, learning what to do when it doesn’t come.
What’s Your Funny?
Everyone has something that makes them uniquely funny. The audience will tell you.
The work is standing in front of them, trying things, missing, missing again—and then landing something that only you could land.
Whether you’re brand new to clown or already performing, this class gives you real reps in front of an audience, with live direction from Chase Jeffels to help you identify what’s working and do more of it.
Who This Is For
This drop-in is for people who want to:
Try a new approach to comedy, performing, and writing
Add specificity and individuality to their improv
Be more spontaneous on stage or on camera
Build confidence by doing, not overthinking
Discover what actually works for them
Get more comfortable failing in front of people
In my stand-up sets after the workshop, I’ve noticed that I feel more playful and comfortable on stage. I trust myself more to be funny without planning or material, and I feel much more tapped into my creative instincts.
— Bita Joudaki, Comedian & TV Writer (JFL Toronto, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Children Ruin Everything) · Goofing Workshop
You feel like an idiot and it’s super vulnerable, but also funny. The audience lets you know pretty quickly what they like and don’t like, and Chase does a great job of summing it up at the end so you walk away with genuinely useful information, even while kind of feeling insane. It’s enlivening and worth it, especially if practicing failure is useful to you. For me, it is.
— Rakhee Morzaria, Actor, Comedian & Writer (Run the Burbs, What We Do in the Shadows, Mr. D, Second City) · Riff Reps
He’s a warm, sensitive, and rigorous teacher who cares deeply not only about his students’ learning journeys, but about the state of clown pedagogy itself. He’s constantly experimenting with new exercises, innovating within the form and pushing it beyond a strictly clown-centric box, opening the work to new expressive comedic forms. He’s simply one of the best clown teachers and performers in the city. Highly recommend watching him perform and taking his classes.
— Adam Paolozza, Actor, Director, Teacher & Artistic Director, Bad New Days Theatre
What I love most about Chase’s approach is that he encourages you to find what works for you. He’s deeply empathetic and clearly cares about every person in the room, while also bringing a level of organization and consistency that’s rare. I don’t think I could have found a better teacher than Chase to dive into the clown world. Through the work, I’m slowly finding the confidence to be weird on stage.
— Ankur Kaushal, Performer, Goofing Student
With warmth, care, and real skill, Chase creates a welcoming and stimulating space to explore beyond our habits and reconnect with spontaneity. It feels less like an invitation and more like a permission to be. The workshop supported me in finding my way back to a childlike, playful exploration, allowing me to take risks with spontaneity and with others.
— Isabelle Meline, Gestalt Therapist & Workshop Participant
Class Details
Time: 6:00 – 9:00 PM
Length: 3 hours
Fee: $35 + HST = $39. 55
I’ve had to turn people away at the door. Registration helps make sure everyone gets time in the room.
Max participants is 12 people
To secure your spot, register and send an e-transfer to:
jeffels.chase@gmail.com
Include your name and the date of the drop-in in the transfer notes.
About Chase:
Chase Jeffels is an actor, comedian, and teacher whose work bridges clown, improv, and the art of playful failure. He is a graduate of École Jacques Lecoq and the Laboratoire d'Étude du Mouvement (Laboratory of Movement Study) in Paris, France, and trained under renowned clown master Philippe Gaulier (teacher of Sacha Baron Cohen, Helena Bonham Carter, and Emma Thompson). Gaulier once said of Chase’s work (imagine it in a thick French accent):
“I do not like very much Canada, but I like what you do.”
Chase has also studied with a host of notable teachers in clown, bouffon, and idiot work, including Aitor Basauri, John Gilkey, Chad Damiani, Kevin Krieger, Deanna Fleysher, Jaime Mears, Ken Hall, Isaac Kessler, and Gordon Neill. He is a graduate of the George Brown Theatre School classical conservatory program.
As a performer, Chase’s work spans film, television, and theatre. He is a member of the improv and sketch collective $20 Sandwich, where he performs UCB-style longform improv infused with his own clown sensibility — bringing a spirit of risk, play, and discovery to structured comedic form.
He is also one half of West 2 West, a duo known for their innovative blend of clown sketch and clown improv, merging physical comedy, audience connection, and absurd play.
In his solo work, Chase continues to push the boundaries of comedy through Goofing — a punk-inspired mix of clown, riffing, and improvisation that explores connection, risk, and laughter through failure. His work merges improv, sketch, and clown to create performances that are as vulnerable as they are hilarious, uniting mainstream comedy with the spirit of live play.
Learn more about The Goof Method.
Dr. Loulou’s WIP
PWYC
Dr. LouLou is a clown scientist attempting to solve the most important question in human history: What is funny, and why? With a clipboard, a lab coat, and absolutely no emotional resilience, she conducts experiments in comedy, failure, and control. Join Dr. LouLou for a work-in-progress show exploring the concepts of humour, and why trying to control it is an exercise in idiocy.
Page to Stage Motion & Emotion
The next round of 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞: 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 is starting July 13th. If you are interested in taking a class, please register by etransfer ($339 before March Jul1 st, $395 after – Includes HST).
𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒
Perhaps you love the Moth, or Risk, or This American Life or any of the hundreds of storytelling podcasts out there. Perhaps you’ve read every David Sedaris book in the library and captivated by tales that speak to the quirkiness of humanity. Perhaps you’ve seen a dozen solo shows and thought, “Goddammit, I’d love to do that!” This is the class where YOU do THAT.
Each class, you’ll bring in a story you’ve been working on, and together, we’ll explore the richness of your work for story threads to expand upon. We’ll peel back layers to find the hidden complexity and nuance. We’ll use your strengths and unique abilities to tell the story in a way only you could tell it. Finally, we’ll get your story show-ready for a class showcase.
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧?· CLASSES: Mondays, 6 – 9PM | July 13th – August 17th (There is a Class August 4th)· SHOWCASE: Thursday August 20th, 7PM
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞?· The Sweet Action Theatre Company (180 Shaw Street, Unit 106)
𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 --> https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/XCZJWTE6NQY4S
Page to Stage Motion & Emotion
The next round of 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞: 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 is starting July 13th. If you are interested in taking a class, please register by etransfer ($339 before March Jul1 st, $395 after – Includes HST).
𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒
Perhaps you love the Moth, or Risk, or This American Life or any of the hundreds of storytelling podcasts out there. Perhaps you’ve read every David Sedaris book in the library and captivated by tales that speak to the quirkiness of humanity. Perhaps you’ve seen a dozen solo shows and thought, “Goddammit, I’d love to do that!” This is the class where YOU do THAT.
Each class, you’ll bring in a story you’ve been working on, and together, we’ll explore the richness of your work for story threads to expand upon. We’ll peel back layers to find the hidden complexity and nuance. We’ll use your strengths and unique abilities to tell the story in a way only you could tell it. Finally, we’ll get your story show-ready for a class showcase.
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧?· CLASSES: Mondays, 6 – 9PM | July 13th – August 17th (There is a Class August 4th)· SHOWCASE: Thursday August 20th, 7PM
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞?· The Sweet Action Theatre Company (180 Shaw Street, Unit 106)
𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 --> https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/XCZJWTE6NQY4S
Page to Stage Motion & Emotion
The next round of 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞: 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 is starting July 13th. If you are interested in taking a class, please register by etransfer ($339 before March Jul1 st, $395 after – Includes HST).
𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒
Perhaps you love the Moth, or Risk, or This American Life or any of the hundreds of storytelling podcasts out there. Perhaps you’ve read every David Sedaris book in the library and captivated by tales that speak to the quirkiness of humanity. Perhaps you’ve seen a dozen solo shows and thought, “Goddammit, I’d love to do that!” This is the class where YOU do THAT.
Each class, you’ll bring in a story you’ve been working on, and together, we’ll explore the richness of your work for story threads to expand upon. We’ll peel back layers to find the hidden complexity and nuance. We’ll use your strengths and unique abilities to tell the story in a way only you could tell it. Finally, we’ll get your story show-ready for a class showcase.
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧?· CLASSES: Mondays, 6 – 9PM | July 13th – August 17th (There is a Class August 4th)· SHOWCASE: Thursday August 20th, 7PM
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞?· The Sweet Action Theatre Company (180 Shaw Street, Unit 106)
𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 --> https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/XCZJWTE6NQY4S
Page to Stage Motion & Emotion
The next round of 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞: 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 is starting July 13th. If you are interested in taking a class, please register by etransfer ($339 before March Jul1 st, $395 after – Includes HST).
𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒
Perhaps you love the Moth, or Risk, or This American Life or any of the hundreds of storytelling podcasts out there. Perhaps you’ve read every David Sedaris book in the library and captivated by tales that speak to the quirkiness of humanity. Perhaps you’ve seen a dozen solo shows and thought, “Goddammit, I’d love to do that!” This is the class where YOU do THAT.
Each class, you’ll bring in a story you’ve been working on, and together, we’ll explore the richness of your work for story threads to expand upon. We’ll peel back layers to find the hidden complexity and nuance. We’ll use your strengths and unique abilities to tell the story in a way only you could tell it. Finally, we’ll get your story show-ready for a class showcase.
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧?· CLASSES: Mondays, 6 – 9PM | July 13th – August 17th (There is a Class August 4th)· SHOWCASE: Thursday August 20th, 7PM
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞?· The Sweet Action Theatre Company (180 Shaw Street, Unit 106)
𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 --> https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/XCZJWTE6NQY4S
Page to Stage Motion & Emotion
The next round of 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞: 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 is starting July 13th. If you are interested in taking a class, please register by etransfer ($339 before March Jul1 st, $395 after – Includes HST).
𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒
Perhaps you love the Moth, or Risk, or This American Life or any of the hundreds of storytelling podcasts out there. Perhaps you’ve read every David Sedaris book in the library and captivated by tales that speak to the quirkiness of humanity. Perhaps you’ve seen a dozen solo shows and thought, “Goddammit, I’d love to do that!” This is the class where YOU do THAT.
Each class, you’ll bring in a story you’ve been working on, and together, we’ll explore the richness of your work for story threads to expand upon. We’ll peel back layers to find the hidden complexity and nuance. We’ll use your strengths and unique abilities to tell the story in a way only you could tell it. Finally, we’ll get your story show-ready for a class showcase.
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧?· CLASSES: Mondays, 6 – 9PM | July 13th – August 17th (There is a Class August 4th)· SHOWCASE: Thursday August 20th, 7PM
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞?· The Sweet Action Theatre Company (180 Shaw Street, Unit 106)
𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 --> https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/XCZJWTE6NQY4S
Page to Stage Motion & Emotion
The next round of 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞: 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 is starting July 13th. If you are interested in taking a class, please register by etransfer ($339 before March Jul1 st, $395 after – Includes HST).
𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒
Perhaps you love the Moth, or Risk, or This American Life or any of the hundreds of storytelling podcasts out there. Perhaps you’ve read every David Sedaris book in the library and captivated by tales that speak to the quirkiness of humanity. Perhaps you’ve seen a dozen solo shows and thought, “Goddammit, I’d love to do that!” This is the class where YOU do THAT.
Each class, you’ll bring in a story you’ve been working on, and together, we’ll explore the richness of your work for story threads to expand upon. We’ll peel back layers to find the hidden complexity and nuance. We’ll use your strengths and unique abilities to tell the story in a way only you could tell it. Finally, we’ll get your story show-ready for a class showcase.
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧?· CLASSES: Mondays, 6 – 9PM | July 13th – August 17th (There is a Class August 4th)· SHOWCASE: Thursday August 20th, 7PM
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞?· The Sweet Action Theatre Company (180 Shaw Street, Unit 106)
𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 --> https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/XCZJWTE6NQY4S
Camp
The Premiere production of CAMP written and composed by Naomi Tessler, dramaturgy by Alysse Rich
CAMP, juxtaposes two 15 year old girls' experiences—Lila at Jewish sleepover camp in Canada and Greta- in Auschwitz- a concentration camp. This research and me-search informed play explores themes of womanhood, intergenerational trauma, sisterhood and resilience. Though separated through time, space and absolutely different life circumstances, both girls share stories of love, shame, sexual violence, overcoming oppression and singing as a form of resistance- leaving the audience with greater appreciation for the triumphs of young women and the importance of healing intergenerational wounds.
The play draws from playwright Naomi Tessler’s own lived experiences, along with channeled information from her ancestors, from other young women killed in the Holocaust, and the insight from memoirs of other young women who survived. Amongst all of these memoirs, there were two things that threaded them together: each author had experienced sexual violence, and held too much shame to share with their families for fear of further ostracization. Each author also used singing as a coping strategy.
*Camp won third place in the 2021 National Jewish Playwriting Competition
Written and Composed by: Naomi Tessler
Directed by: Alice Fox Lundy
Starring: Jada Rifkin and Naomi Tessler
Dramaturgy by: Alysse Rich
Stage Manager: Lisa Sciannella
Set Builder: Rin Abedi
Technician: Victoria Watson Sepejak
Production Team: Alice Fox Lundy, Hailey Gardiner and Wayne Burns
Camp
The Premiere production of CAMP written and composed by Naomi Tessler, dramaturgy by Alysse Rich
CAMP, juxtaposes two 15 year old girls' experiences—Lila at Jewish sleepover camp in Canada and Greta- in Auschwitz- a concentration camp. This research and me-search informed play explores themes of womanhood, intergenerational trauma, sisterhood and resilience. Though separated through time, space and absolutely different life circumstances, both girls share stories of love, shame, sexual violence, overcoming oppression and singing as a form of resistance- leaving the audience with greater appreciation for the triumphs of young women and the importance of healing intergenerational wounds.
The play draws from playwright Naomi Tessler’s own lived experiences, along with channeled information from her ancestors, from other young women killed in the Holocaust, and the insight from memoirs of other young women who survived. Amongst all of these memoirs, there were two things that threaded them together: each author had experienced sexual violence, and held too much shame to share with their families for fear of further ostracization. Each author also used singing as a coping strategy.
*Camp won third place in the 2021 National Jewish Playwriting Competition
Written and Composed by: Naomi Tessler
Directed by: Alice Fox Lundy
Starring: Jada Rifkin and Naomi Tessler
Dramaturgy by: Alysse Rich
Stage Manager: Lisa Sciannella
Set Builder: Rin Abedi
Technician: Victoria Watson Sepejak
Production Team: Alice Fox Lundy, Hailey Gardiner and Wayne Burns
Thing Two: A YOUNG MAN DRESSED AS A GORILLA DRESSED AS ON OLD MAN SITS ROCKING IN A ROCKING CHAIR FOR FIFTY-SIX MINUTES AND THEN LEAVES
A YOUNG MAN DRESSED AS A GORILLA DRESSED AS ON OLD MAN SITS ROCKING IN A ROCKING CHAIR FOR FIFTY-SIX MINUTES AND THEN LEAVES
Don't miss the Toronto premiere of this legendary performance art piece and Fringe festival tradition!
THIS WILL SELL OUT - ONE NIGHT ONLY
9:30PM - 10:30PM
Sweet Action Theatre
FREE - with request of a PWYC donation to WHAT THE FESTIVAL
*Proceeds will support WTF's STRANGE MAKER AWARD at the 2026 Toronto Fringe Festival. Please help us recognize and support strange-making artists!!
Thing One: Sweet Idiot Showdown
Who is Toronto's most-adored Clown? Come find out!
What The Festival invites you to witness our first-ever SWEET IDIOT SHOWDOWN - an annual competition to celebrate Toronto's most foolish and adored clowns.
Audience members will enjoy performances from a variety of local clown-artists as they aim to impress our guest judges and win over your heart. Vote for your favourite act to help us crown Toronto's Sweetest Idiot 2026!
Hosted By Eff (Jesse Buck)
Judges: Dave McKay, Gordon Neill, Kendall Savage
Featuring Performances By:
Christopher Bugg
Dani-Du (Daniela Galaviz)
Desolita (Nicole Ascroft)
Dr. Lou Lou (Kayla Burch)
Emily Jeffers
Ethel (Christine Moynihan)
Hillary Yaas
Madame Clafouty (Agnes Salmon)
Marina Brin
Michael Higginson
Piccolo (Leo Dragonieri)
Shishitzu (Tiffany Kwan)
Stanley Manly-Hopkins (Anna Tierney)
Sue Carroll with Siva Babu
Teeter Todd & Jungle Jim (Camryn Ferguson & Jasmine Brough)
The Smokin' Jays (Amy J Lester & Jenna Shows)
Toot Toot (Julia Middleton)
Audience members will enjoy performances from these local clown-artists as they aim to impress the judges and win over your heart.
Vote for your favourite act to help us crown Toronto's Sweetest Idiot 2026!
Proceeds support the operational costs of What The Festival.
Questions? toronto.wtfest@gmail.com
Open Stage Night
Open Stage Night is Here!
Free, no tickets.
Join us for an evening of laughter, creativity, and surprise at the Open Stage Night! It’s like an open mic for comics, just instead of a microphone we’re opening up the entire stage for ridiculousness to occur. Whether you're a seasoned performer or a curious newcomer, this is your chance to step into the spotlight and share your silliest, most whimsical acts. From playful antics to heartwarming stories, clown, bouffon, improv, and all other performance artists, we want to see what you're working on!
Up to 10 minutes of stage time for each performer. List will be posted at 9:00 pm, show starts at 9:15pm.
Not just for performers! Come out to watch the show, see some fresh acts, and laugh at the hilarity that will ensue. Ridiculousness is almost guaranteed to occur!
Funny Bone
Toronto's alternative comedy cabaret, featuring clowns, sketch, improv, and other variety acts. Funny Bone features clown, sketch, stand-up, music, burlesque, and a variety of other acts. Each month features a fresh lineup of the city's funniest performers.
This month's lineup:
TBA
Hosted by Amy Lester
Stick around after the show for Open Stage, a free open-mic for all types of comedy acts! Sweet Action Theatre is located at 180 Shaw Street in Toronto, unit 106. The theatre is located in Youngplace, a fully accessible hub for all genres and mediums of art.
Want to perform on a future Funny Bone show? Visit iclown.ca to register your interest. Funny Bone is an uncensored comedy show that may be offensive to some. Viewer discretion is advised.
Riff Reps - Clown Drop-In
RIFF REPS: A Practice In Contemporary Clowning
One performer. One audience. One goal: make us laugh.
This class is about getting on your feet and doing the thing.
No red nose required. The mask is already there—it’s you. Your instincts, timing, habits, impulses, charm, awkwardness, confidence, doubt. All of it.
Clown isn’t about jokes or punchlines. It’s about being real in front of people, listening to the audience, and responding honestly in the moment. Sometimes that response gets a big laugh. Sometimes it doesn’t. Both are useful.
In this drop-in, Chase throws you into games and improvs that force you to play, riff, and adjust in real time. When something works, we slow down and look at why. When it doesn’t, you learn how to change course instead of pushing harder.
You’ll practice chasing the laugh—and just as importantly, learning what to do when it doesn’t come.
What’s Your Funny?
Everyone has something that makes them uniquely funny. The audience will tell you.
The work is standing in front of them, trying things, missing, missing again—and then landing something that only you could land.
Whether you’re brand new to clown or already performing, this class gives you real reps in front of an audience, with live direction from Chase Jeffels to help you identify what’s working and do more of it.
Who This Is For
This drop-in is for people who want to:
Try a new approach to comedy, performing, and writing
Add specificity and individuality to their improv
Be more spontaneous on stage or on camera
Build confidence by doing, not overthinking
Discover what actually works for them
Get more comfortable failing in front of people
In my stand-up sets after the workshop, I’ve noticed that I feel more playful and comfortable on stage. I trust myself more to be funny without planning or material, and I feel much more tapped into my creative instincts.
— Bita Joudaki, Comedian & TV Writer (JFL Toronto, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Children Ruin Everything) · Goofing Workshop
You feel like an idiot and it’s super vulnerable, but also funny. The audience lets you know pretty quickly what they like and don’t like, and Chase does a great job of summing it up at the end so you walk away with genuinely useful information, even while kind of feeling insane. It’s enlivening and worth it, especially if practicing failure is useful to you. For me, it is.
— Rakhee Morzaria, Actor, Comedian & Writer (Run the Burbs, What We Do in the Shadows, Mr. D, Second City) · Riff Reps
He’s a warm, sensitive, and rigorous teacher who cares deeply not only about his students’ learning journeys, but about the state of clown pedagogy itself. He’s constantly experimenting with new exercises, innovating within the form and pushing it beyond a strictly clown-centric box, opening the work to new expressive comedic forms. He’s simply one of the best clown teachers and performers in the city. Highly recommend watching him perform and taking his classes.
— Adam Paolozza, Actor, Director, Teacher & Artistic Director, Bad New Days Theatre
What I love most about Chase’s approach is that he encourages you to find what works for you. He’s deeply empathetic and clearly cares about every person in the room, while also bringing a level of organization and consistency that’s rare. I don’t think I could have found a better teacher than Chase to dive into the clown world. Through the work, I’m slowly finding the confidence to be weird on stage.
— Ankur Kaushal, Performer, Goofing Student
With warmth, care, and real skill, Chase creates a welcoming and stimulating space to explore beyond our habits and reconnect with spontaneity. It feels less like an invitation and more like a permission to be. The workshop supported me in finding my way back to a childlike, playful exploration, allowing me to take risks with spontaneity and with others.
— Isabelle Meline, Gestalt Therapist & Workshop Participant
Class Details
Time: 6:00 – 9:00 PM
Length: 3 hours
Fee: $35 + HST = $39. 55
I’ve had to turn people away at the door. Registration helps make sure everyone gets time in the room.
Max participants is 12 people
To secure your spot, register and send an e-transfer to:
jeffels.chase@gmail.com
Include your name and the date of the drop-in in the transfer notes.
About Chase:
Chase Jeffels is an actor, comedian, and teacher whose work bridges clown, improv, and the art of playful failure. He is a graduate of École Jacques Lecoq and the Laboratoire d'Étude du Mouvement (Laboratory of Movement Study) in Paris, France, and trained under renowned clown master Philippe Gaulier (teacher of Sacha Baron Cohen, Helena Bonham Carter, and Emma Thompson). Gaulier once said of Chase’s work (imagine it in a thick French accent):
“I do not like very much Canada, but I like what you do.”
Chase has also studied with a host of notable teachers in clown, bouffon, and idiot work, including Aitor Basauri, John Gilkey, Chad Damiani, Kevin Krieger, Deanna Fleysher, Jaime Mears, Ken Hall, Isaac Kessler, and Gordon Neill. He is a graduate of the George Brown Theatre School classical conservatory program.
As a performer, Chase’s work spans film, television, and theatre. He is a member of the improv and sketch collective $20 Sandwich, where he performs UCB-style longform improv infused with his own clown sensibility — bringing a spirit of risk, play, and discovery to structured comedic form.
He is also one half of West 2 West, a duo known for their innovative blend of clown sketch and clown improv, merging physical comedy, audience connection, and absurd play.
In his solo work, Chase continues to push the boundaries of comedy through Goofing — a punk-inspired mix of clown, riffing, and improvisation that explores connection, risk, and laughter through failure. His work merges improv, sketch, and clown to create performances that are as vulnerable as they are hilarious, uniting mainstream comedy with the spirit of live play.