THIS AINT THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD Set for Toronto Fringe, Opens Today

Jake Steele has led one hell of a life. Well, actually, he's led several, though not entirely by choice. HIV positive from a blood transfusion in his teens, Jake refused to take his diagnosis - and the terrible stigma associated with it in those days - lying down. Told he would never work again, near death three times (so far!), Jake's spirit is irrepressible, and his life an adventure that will take you down a path few will ever walk. THIS AINT THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD, plays July 2-13 at the Theatre Passe Muraille ExtraSpace as part of the 2014 Toronto Fringe Festival. Tickets are available via www.fringetoronto.com or 416-966-1062 ext.1, or at the door.

THIS AINT THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD is an evening of fascinating stories that span Jake's incredible life and his unique way of looking at the world. He's been a dancer/singer, a hospitality industry executive, a network marketing expert and training specialist, and an LGBT/AIDS activist who helped fund and support the AIDS Committee of Toronto, Toronto People With AIDS Foundation, and Casey House (Canada's first stand-alone treatment facility for people with HIV/AIDS). THIS AINT THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD developed after Jake's most recent brush with death in 2010-a brain tumour that left him without his memories, paralyzed for over a year, and not expected to recover. But Jake fought back, regained his health against near-impossible odds, and wrote a book about his life using a series of memoir recordings he made before the tumour laid him low

Jake knows his story could be seen as horrific by many standards, but his way through it all is to poke fun at it-poke back at it-and never let himself lose his sense of humour. THIS AINT THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD is a darkly quirky comedic review of his challenges, crazy antics, and the fact that after all this, as he puts it, "All I want to do is provide hope, and a smile...Fourth time's a charm, right? I'm still here." Jake Steele and THIS AINT THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD truly is a storytelling experience not to be missed!

Dates & Times:
Wed, July 2 @ 8:15pm
Fri, July 4 @ 6:30pm
Sun, July 6 @ 1:15pm
Mon, July 7 @ 4:30pm
Wed, July 9 @ 7:00pm
Fri, July 11 @ 1:45pm
Sat, July 12 @ 11:00pm

Tickets:$10 at the door (cash only) or $12 in advance (Visa or MasterCard, service charge included)
Beginning June 12 via www.fringetoronto.com, by telephone at 416-966-1062 (ext.1), or at the door.
Show running time is 82 minutes.