Spicy Day

We just had the opportunity to work with the brilliant Avery-Jean Brennan as Director for our workshop of 'The Brotherhood'. 🔥

Avery-Jean Brennan (They/She) is an award winning Transfeminine director, music director, playwright, and dramaturg born in Kjipuktuk, now based in Tkaronto. They are committed to platforming stories that build community through absurdity, and fostering emerging trans voices in the industry. 

For nearly two decades, she has worked professionally as a multi-hyphenate arts worker with organizations such as Neptune Theatre, The Thousand Islands Playhouse, Theatre Sheridan, The Musical Stage Company, Factory Theatre, Bad Dog Comedy Theatre, and more. 

Their artistic mandate is to explore what is extraordinary within the mundane to remove the charge from difficult yet necessary conversations for our society, and make those conversations feel like a fulfilling chat over a warm cup of tea. She has over ten years of experience as a writer & dramaturg of both plays and musicals, including her original musicals 'The Pansy Craze' (winner of Gay Theatre Toronto’s 2018 LGBTQ Fringe Award), 'Nobody Asked to Be Here' (co-written with Camila Diaz-Varela), and 'No Country for They/Thems'.

📷 Photos of Avery-Jean in 'The Brotherhood' rehearsals by 📷

What a great week of 'A Period Piece' rehearsals with ! ❤️🩸 We can't wait to present the new tween show in Toronto this April.

New jokes! New stories! New songs!! Coming in this exciting new version of the play. 👀

A PERIOD PIECE
A Theatre Direct production
Created by Lauren Welchner and Monica Bradford-Lea
Directed by Lisa Marie DiLiberto
Performances at this April 🌹

📷 First photo featuring the *award-winning* giant tampon designed for our adult version of the play, created by 🙏🏻🔥

🩸 In rehearsals for 'A Period Piece' with our director, Lisa Marie DiLiberto!🩸

We're so stoked to be in the studio at this week, working on our tween version of the play!

Through sketch comedy, honest stories, and a whole lot of heart, 'A Period Piece' opens the conversation about periods and the stigmas that come with them.

Full of off-the-wall humour and down to earth truths, ‘A Period Piece’ is a show that is for everyone.

A PERIOD PIECE
A Theatre Direct production
Created by Lauren Welchner and Monica Bradford-Lea
Directed by Lisa Marie DiLiberto
Performances at this April 🌹

And onto the NEXT show! ❤️🫨🙏🏻 This week we're in the studio at , working on our teen audiences adaptation of 'A Period Piece'! 🩸 Our run is coming up soon at this.

We're so excited to be creating a version of this show for young people. Let's talk about periods!

A PERIOD PIECE (teen version)
A Theatre Direct production
Created by Lauren Welchner and Monica Bradford-Lea
Directed by Lisa Marie DiLiberto

❤️❤️❤️

Our hearts are filled with immense gratitude:

♥️ to our 'The Brotherhood' team.

♥️ to , for inviting us in to your Buzz In-Development Series.

♥️ and to our packed audience who came out to our workshop performance yesterday.

We feel SO MUCH gratitude for your support as we bring this daring new play to life. Thank you. Thank you. 🖤 We can't wait to bring this play to full production.

OUR TEAM:
🪄 Lauren Welchner - Playwright, Actor, Producer
🪄 Monica Bradford-Lea - Playwright, Actor, Producer
🪄 Avery-Jean Brennan - Director
🪄 Frank/ie - Stage Manager
🪄 Keith Brown - Magic Consultant
🪄 Sabrina Gomes - Props Support
🪄 Will Carr - Workshop Support
🪄 Daniel Williston - Workshop Support
🪄 Matt Hertendy - Archival video

📸 Team photo by

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What does it take to become a Brother? 🎩🪄 In 'The Brotherhood', two magicians seek to become the first women members of the prestigious Worldwide Brotherhood of Wizardry, which promises to catapult them into success. You’re attending the performance that is their audition to join the boy’s club.

Presented as a live-in-real-time magic show, 'The Brotherhood' provides a feminist commentary on the performance industry, and the expectations placed upon performers and audiences alike.

✨️ 'The Brotherhood' rehearsals continue at ✨️

TEAM:
🪄 Lauren Welchner - Playwright, Actor, Producer
🪄 Monica Bradford-Lea - Playwright, Actor, Producer
🪄 Avery-Jean Brennan - Director
🪄 Frank/ie Mulder - Stage Manager
🪄 Keith Brown - Magic Consultant
🪄 Sabrina Gomes - Props Support
🪄 Will Carr - Workshop Support
🪄 Daniel Williston - Workshop Support

'The Brotherhood' is currently in development rehearsals, as part of Theatre Passe Muraille's Buzz In-Development Series.

📸 Rehearsal photos by .hertendy 🔥

What does it take to become a Brother? 🎩🪄 In 'The Brotherhood', two magicians seek to become the first women members of the prestigious Worldwide Brotherhood of Wizardry, which promises to catapult them into success. You’re attending the performance that is their audition to join the boy’s club.

Presented as a live-in-real-time magic show, 'The Brotherhood' provides a feminist commentary on the performance industry, and the expectations placed upon performers and audiences alike.

🪄 Lauren Welchner - Playwright, Actor, Producer
🪄 Monica Bradford-Lea - Playwright, Actor, Producer
🪄 Avery-Jean Brennan - Director
🪄 Frank/ie Mulder - Stage Manager
🪄 Keith Brown - Magic Consultant
🪄 Sabrina Gomes - Props Support
🪄 Will Carr - Workshop Support
🪄 Daniel Williston - Workshop Support

'The Brotherhood' is currently in development rehearsals, as part of Theatre Passe Muraille's Buzz In-Development Series.

📸 Rehearsal photos by .hertendy 🔥

'The Brotherhood' workshop at - week 1 continues!! ✨️🪄🎩

Our Team:
🪄 Lauren Welchner - Playwright, Actor, Producer
🪄 Monica Bradford-Lea - Playwright, Actor, Producer
🪄 Avery-Jean Brennan - Director
🪄 Frank/ie Mulder - Stage Manager
🪄 Keith Brown - Magic Consultant
🪄 Sabrina Gomes - Props Support
🪄 Will Carr - Workshop Support

Thid workshop for 'The Brotherhood' is part of Theatre Passe Muraille's Buzz In-Development Series.

Today we started development rehearsals for our play 'The Brotherhood' as part of 's Buzz In-Development Series!

We're so excited to be back working on this meaningful project. Thank you TPM for this support ❤️

✨️ OUR TEAM ✨️
🪄 Lauren Welchner - Playwright, Actor, Producer
🪄 Monica Bradford-Lea - Playwright, Actor, Producer
🪄 Avery-Jean Brennan - Director
🪄 Frank/ie Mulder - Stage Manager
🪄 Keith Brown - Magic Consultant
🪄 Sabrina Gomes - Props support
🪄 Will Carr - Workshop support

♠️ today's meeting ♠️

The Synsk Sisters have seen the future, and they say 2026 is going to be great. 🔮 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣ 🔮

They are never wrong. Swipe for proof.

Lately!