TORONTO, May 6, 2008 – What do gangster Al Capone, jazz diva Billie Holliday and a burlesque swing have in common with Cabbagetown Theatre's 14th Slaw Festival of Short Original Works?

On May 29, 30 and 31, and June 4, 5 and 7* at 8 p.m., the Cabbagetown Theatre Company is LIVE AND SWINGING at our new venue, fifty-one (formerly The Laurentian Room) at the historic Winchester Hotel, 51A Winchester Street. Tickets to the Slaw Festival of Short Original Works are $15 (with a $10 Opening Night special on May 29th) and can be reserved by calling 416.653.5870. Dinner theatre packages are also available. *NOTE: no show on June 6

Once frequented by the likes of Al Capone and Billie Holliday, the Art Deco-styled Laurentian Room was abandoned for 39 years (if you don't count squatters) until it underwent a full restoration in 2004. Now this former 'ladies and escorts' watering hole has been re-branded as fifty-one and is being managed by the Stonegrill On Winchester and becomes the Slaw Festival's new home.

It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing! To celebrate our new venue, and to ensure those burlesque swing hooks don't go to waste, the Slaw Festival welcomes a first – singing aerialist Lindsay Stephens, who will set the Laurentian Room stage alight with her breathtaking vocal-aerial combinations. Lindsay trains at Toronto's Centre of Gravity Circus and performs both at home and abroad.

This year's Slaw Festival also features the world premiere of Michael Ralph's new Canadian comedy, Not A'Mused, in which a desperate writer is brought face-to-face with his worst nightmare - a Muse more interested in tabloid gossip than inspiring his next book. Not A'Mused features comedic virtuosos Greg Corkum, MC Thompson and Dave McKay.

Two Fringe-favourite playwrights, Allison McWood and Matt Toner, also get into the swing of things at the 2008 Slaw. Allison McWood's Shakespeare's Brain is a cutting academic satire featuring Shakespeare, a scientist, and two Literary Professors armed with scalpels! Directed by Slaw Festival veteran Bell, this wacky comedy features the talents of Rob Candy, Chris Irving, Michael Posthumus and Jane Hunter.

Matt Toner's We Unhappy Few reunites two old enemies (played with dexterity by Michael Halkusis and Blake Thorne) who decide to confess to old wrongs and apologize for their roles in the "whole darn thing". Toner was a winner of the 2003 Fringe 24 Hour Playwriting Contest.

Finally, Cathy McKim presents her much-lauded one-woman comedy, Being Cecil Graham. A lesbian actor tells the story of how she took on a role in Oscar Wilde's Lady Windermere's Fan and got way more than she bargained for….but in a good way! Being Cecil Graham was originally performed at the Alumnae Theatre's New Ideas Festival.

Last but not least, singer Michael Posthumus adds his own brand of lyrical humour and comedy impress-ario Liam Doherty keeps things in full swing as our Master of Ceremonies.

Slaw Festival patrons are invited to swing on over to the Stonegrill On Winchester (www.stonegrillonwinchester.com), 51B Winchester Street, before the show. Call 416.967.6565 for dinner reservations or to book the 3 Course Dinner Theatre Package.

- 30 –

Media to call Kim Sprenger at 647.291.2571 for further information.