'Potato Potato' Toronto Fringe 2025

‘It’s The Totally Cannon Historical Famine! (just don’t check yer hist’ry books)’

Hi!! My name is Emma Golden, I'm a 22 year old performing artist based in Oakville, Ontario (sailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia) and I've been offered the exciting opportunity to take part in Toronto's Fringe Festival this Summer as part of the Alliance For Canadian Musicals (TPM) section!

This is such an exciting opportunity to develop my new work right after wrapping up my degree in Music Theatre Performance at Sheridan College, and is an incredible opportunity not only for myself but for my fellow peers and young upcoming performers to enter the theatre industry.

As a college student, I am both neck deep in student loans, and bigbigbig dreams. There are a few upfront fees that must be paid to enrol my show in the festival. The first of which being $1200 being due by January 31st. A second fee will be paid to our theatre venue, a total of $1400 (two payments of $700) also due within the next month. The goal amount I have set will cover the first two payments for this process, however every donation can help toward the big payments as well as other fees to help bring the story to life.

INCENTIVES:

If you donate more money, but prefer something thats tied to a lower donation cost, we can always swapsies.

(all incentives will be contacted and then sent out after February 1st, please send screenshots of your donation to @potatopotatothemusical on Instagram so we can send out your items)

$15+

Personalized Potato Prop We will print your name (or. phrase of your choosing) onto a potato and use it as a prop on stage during the show. You will also get a special shoutout in the program and advertising as a donor.

$30+

- Stud Spud 'Potato Power' Badge (wearable or digital merch)

-Personalized potato prop

-Access to full length demo's

$60+

-'Potato Potato' Poster

-Stud Spud 'Potato Power' Badge

-Listed in program as premium donor

-Access to full length demo's

$100+

-Ensemble character will be named after you (aaand you will forever be a cannon character in the script, even when it goes to #broadway)

-Potato Potato T-shirt/ or Poster

-'Stud Spud' Potato Power Badge

-Listed in program as premium donor

-Access to full length demo's, and scripts

Printing fees, advertising, costumes, travelling accommodations, rehearsal spaces ect. are all needed during this process. $20 can help purchase shoes for cast members, $50 rents out a truck for set transportation to our venue, $100 helps to pay music transcribers to develop the sheet music/scoring. Anything helps, and even just sharing this fundraiser would be

AH-MAY-ZING.

Soooo WHAT IS Potato Potato (puh-tay-toh puh-tah-toh)?

Potato Potato follows the story of a second politically induced potato famine in Halifax, Nova Scotia . The story presents as a comedic satire, all the while embedded with a darkly politically driven heartbeat. Thiiiink East Coast fisherman farmers, think famine on the streets… but then add SOOOO much glitter sparkle, with a pop influenced musical theatre score.

As the title of the show 'Potato Potato' implies, it strives to examine the illusion of difference where there is none, the destructive values in which our modern-day political structures thrive and prosper, are the very roots in which history had built them with.

I have had the opportunity to develop this project as part of writing/composition for music theatre stream at Sheridan College this year, and have grown deeply connected to the messages audiences will hopefully be able to get from its performance. Now more than ever I believe this material has incredibly topical subject matter. I also believe there is a direct tie between art and activism, and as history has shown, theatre has the ability to create deeply influential socio-economic and political shifts, therefore the way we can help each other to listen, and for true shifts to be ignited, we must welcome our audience in, open their minds through entertainment, and only when we are willing, can we let ourselves learn.

I have attached a link to some snippets of songs to check out! (these are very DIY demo's I made, if you're interested in seeing it come to life please consider making a donation, one dollar is one closer to it being real <3)

Demo Snippets:

https://youtu.be/7qvicgDgNSw?si=PD-_wIeYmhdw2dUo

If you have any more interest in this shows production, you can reach me through my personal socials @emmagoldenxo on The Instagram, and make sure to follow @potatopotatothemusical as well for more updates!!!!