NANA SCHEWITZ COMES TO BUDDIES IN TORONTO ON MAY 28!

Tickets $18 at https://buddiesinbadtimes.com/event/florida-ya-kill-me/

Florida! Ya Kill Me! is a one-woman theater show, following Berlin-based 96-year-old drag queen Nana Schewitz on the journey back to her ancestral home of South Florida to find a slice of retirement paradise. As Nana retells her true experiences touring South and Central Florida’s most eclectic and glamorous retirement abodes, she begins to uncover the equally glamorous stories and lives that reside in these purpose-built palaces of paradises. The 90-minute theatrical production in addition to the post-show discussion, will begin and expand a dialogue throughout Canada about the nuances and challenges of aging and its effects on Jewish and Senior communities.

Part documentary, part travelog and part drag show - Nana takes her guests on a tour around the various retirement homes throughout Florida. As she meets fellow retirees, she encounters the joys, challenges, and struggles of these folks as they search for the best way to live out their days in Paradise. From purpose-built golf cart towns to the most active swinger community in the USA, these varied neighborhoods redefine what aging looks like. Can this fantasy last forever, or will the walls of paradise eventually crumble under their own weight?

This production is graciously sponsored by the Goethe-Institut Toronto and is a co-production with JQT Vancouver.

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SCHEDULE
7:00PM - Doors open (alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available at bar)
7:30PM - Performance begins (no intermission)
9:00PM - Performance concludes (followed by 15 minute break)
9:15PM - Gather for artist talkback (schmooze with J-Cuties until closing at 10PM)

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PERFORMER BIOS
Nana Schewitz (she/her) is Berlin’s premiere 96-year old Jewish Drag Queen Grandmother. She is the product of artist Bryan Schall, who also works as an independent lighting designer for performance in Berlin. Some of Nana’s favorite productions include her one-woman show titled The Nana Schewitz Pass-Me-Over Party, a one-woman rehearsal of Nana’s funeral. Nana went on to perform this piece at the Prague Fringe Festival as well as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Nana also performed with Taylor Mac at Taylor Mac's A 24-Decade History of Popular Music, at the Berliner Festspiele. She’s performed in venues such as the Maxim Gorki Theater of Berlin, Volksbühne Berlin, Institut für Zukunft Leipzig, Kampnagel Hamburg, and numerous others. One of Nana’s favorite events to co-produce is her Minori-tease Cabaret titled Jews! Jews! Jews! alongside co-producer Lolita Vavoom. Jews! Jews! Jews! prides itself on highlighting the queer and active Jewish cultural scene that Berlin has to offer. They aim to present Judiasim in Berlin as being alive and complicated, bringing in Jewish and minority talent from around the globe. Aside from their many productions in Berlin revolving around the different Jewish holidays, Jews! Jews! Jews! has performed at the FestivALT in Krakow, Poland, the LABA Institute of Berlin, as well as the Jüdischen Gemeinde in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Instagram: @dontfuckyournana

Josh Walker (josh/he/him) is a producer, filmmaker and craftsperson based in Philadelphia. Josh is driven to cultivate empathy through radical imagination, storytelling, and silliness. He is a longtime partner and collaborator of Nana’s. They have developed several pieces around Berlin together including the Nana Schewitz Pass Me Over Party and Florida! Ya Kill Me! Together, they headlined Berlin’s Maxim Gorki Theater’s In Exile festival. Recent works include: jawbone: an animated film (Director/Producer), Florida! You Kill me! (Director and Co-Creator), Ellsworth (Producer), The Spirit God Gave Us (Associate Producer), “We’re So In Tune” - Kississippi Music Video (Puppet Designer), Pass Me Over Party (Prague Fringe and Edinburgh Fringe), Edison (Edinburgh Fringe), Clouds in the Kitchen (Painted Bride), lemons (United Solo & NYC Summerfest).
Instagram: @howareyoubud

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WHO ARE WE?
JQT Vancouver (pronounced J-Cutie) is a volunteer-run Jewish Queer and Trans non-profit dedicated to "queering" Jewish spaces and "Jew-ifying" Queer spaces through education, dialogue, art, cultural celebration and partnerships in Vancouver, BC, on the traditional and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sə̓lílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples.
www.jqtvancouver.ca

The Goethe-Institut (Toronto) is the Federal Republic of Germany’s cultural institute, active worldwide. We promote the study of German abroad and encourage international cultural exchange.
www.goethe.de/ins/ca/en/sta/tor

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MORE INFO
This is the fourth event in the JQT Mental Health Support Series, which was developed in partnership with JFS Vancouver, following the Twice Blessed 2.0: The Jewish LGBTQ2SIA+ Initiative's community needs assessment, which identified a critical service gap: Call to Action #6 - Develop and provide funding for LGBTQ2SIA+ friendly Jewish mental health support. This gathering also addresses: Call to Action #9 - Amplify and hire Jewish LGBTQ2SIA+ artists, performers, activists, etc. For the most up-to-date details on this series, please visit: https://www.jqtvancouver.ca/jqt-mental-health

Donation - If you are in a position to make a financial contribution towards the JQT Mental Health Support Series, visit the JFS Vancouver donation page (https://www.jfsvancouver.ca/donate/) and select the "JQT Mental Health" as your designated program. Your tax receipt will be sent to the provided email address.

Covid policy - JQT strictly follows the recommendations of Toronto Public Health, and makes decisions accordingly. Mask wearing is optional, but encouraged in group settings and to protect those in our circles who are immunocompromised.

Accessibility info - The performance will take place at Buddies InBad Times, located at 12 Alexander Street in Toronto. Here is a detailed page dedicated to accessibility information at Buddies: https://buddiesinbadtimes.com/accessibility/ For more info, please email aidan@buddiesinbadtimes.com or call 416-975-9130.

Tickets - Presale for the show will end 2 hours before doors open. Guests will still be able to purchase at the door provided there is space available. Buddies takes cash, credit and debit, but cannot take American Express at this time. Patrons who purchase online will not receive an e-ticket with their confirmation email, rather simply give your name at the box office when you arrive to receive your physical tickets. Please note that there are shows in Vancouver too, please make sure that you are purchasing tickets for the Toronto show from Buddies directly (otherwise you may be purchasing tickets from JQT in Vancouver!!!)