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{{Short description|Canadian playwright (born 1959)}}

'''Brad Fraser''' (born [[June 28]], [[1959]] in [[Edmonton, Alberta]]) is a [[Canada|Canadian]] [[playwright]] and [[screenwriter]]. He is one of the most widely produced Canadian playwrights both in Canada and internationally, although his [[gay]]-themed plays are sometimes controversial.

{{Use Canadian English|date=July 2023}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}

[[File:Brad Fraser CTM Interview 2017.jpg|thumb|Brad Fraser in 2017]]

'''Brad Fraser''' (born June 28, 1959) is a Canadian [[playwright]]. He is one of the most widely produced Canadian playwrights both in Canada and internationally. His plays typically feature a harsh yet comical view of contemporary life in Canada, including frank depictions of sexuality, drug use and violence.<ref name="cte">Gaetan Charlebois and Anne Nothof, [http://www.canadiantheatre.com/dict.pl?term=Fraser%2C%20Brad "Fraser, Brad"]. ''Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia'', June 2, 2019.</ref>

==Career==

In addition to his theatre work, Fraser has written two films, ''[[Love and Human Remains]]'' and ''[[Leaving Metropolis]]'', both adaptations of his plays. He has also written for the television series ''[[Queer as Folk (US)|Queer as Folk]]'', and currently writes a biweekly column for the Canadian gay magazine ''[[Fab (magazine)|fab]]''.

[[File:012-13. 89-90 Unidentified Human Remains.jpg|thumb|''Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love'', produced by Workshop West Theatre]]

Fraser was born in [[Edmonton]], [[Alberta]]. His most noted early play was ''Wolf Boy'';<ref name=howler>Ray Conlogue, "Wolfboy proves a real howler". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', April 5, 1984.</ref> first staged in Edmonton in 1981, its 1984 production in Toronto by [[Theatre Passe Muraille]] was later noted as one of the first significant acting roles for [[Keanu Reeves]].<ref>Jamie Portman, "Wolfboy bites into British theatre scene: Canadian playwright Brad Fraser is a hot, young dramatist in Britain these days, and directors are rediscovering the power of his early work". ''[[Edmonton Journal]]'', October 6, 1999.</ref>

Fraser first came to national and international prominence as a playwright with ''[[Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love]]'', an episodically structured play about a group of thirtysomethings trying to find their way through life in Edmonton, while the city is haunted by a [[serial killer]]. Written while Fraser was playwright in residence with [[Alberta Theatre Projects]],<ref name=morrow>Martin Morrow, "Playwright braced for controversy". ''[[Calgary Herald]]'', January 11, 1989.</ref> it was a hit at ATP's {{Proper name|playRites}} '89, and became his national and international breakthrough.

[[Keanu Reeves]] had his first acting role in the [[Toronto, Ontario|Toronto]] production of Fraser's play ''Wolfboy''.

Coming three years after the 1991 [[Robert Mapplethorpe]] controversy in Cincinnati, ''Poor Super Man'' inspired international headlines when the board of directors of [[Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati]] temporarily cancelled the production because of its anticipated obscenity.<ref>{{Cite news | author=Chris Jones| url=https://variety.com/1994/film/reviews/poor-superman-1200437158/ |title = Poor Superman|newspaper=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date = May 16, 1994}}</ref> After a public outcry, the production was reinstated. ''Poor Super Man'' opened without incident.

==Plays and performances==

Fraser also has written two films, ''[[Love and Human Remains]]'' and ''[[Leaving Metropolis]]'', which were both adaptations of his plays; [[Denys Arcand]] directed ''Love and Human Remains'', while ''Leaving Metropolis'' was Fraser's debut as a film director.<ref name=rogue>Valerie Fortney, "Playwright undergoes rogue reversal: Brad Fraser's Bad Boy vitriol makes way for seasoned artistry". ''[[Calgary Herald]]'', October 3, 2002.</ref> He has also written for the television series ''[[Queer as Folk (US)|Queer as Folk]]'';<ref name=rogue/> was host of his own television talk show, ''[[Jawbreaker (TV series)|Jawbreaker]]'', for [[OutTV (Canada)|PrideVision]];<ref name=rogue/> and for a period of time wrote a biweekly column for the Canadian gay magazine ''[[Fab (magazine)|fab]]''.

* ''Wolfboy'' ([[1981]])

* ''[[Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love]]'' ([[1989]])

** New Theatre, Sydney ([[1994]]) directed by Stuart Katzen

* ''The Ugly Man'' ([[1990]])

** [[Darlinghurst Theatre]] Company, Sydney ([[1997]]) directed by [[Michael Darragh]]

* ''Poor Super Man'' ([[1994]])

** [[Sydney Theatre Company]] ([[1995]])

** New Theatre, Sydney ([[1999]]) directed by Stuart Katzen

* ''Martin Yesterday'' ([[1998]])

* ''Snake in Fridge'' ([[2001]])

* ''Cold Meat Party'' ([[2003]])

His most recent play, ''Kill Me Now'', premiered in 2014.<ref name=killmenow>{{Cite web|url=https://www.straight.com/arts/1148711/brad-frasers-play-kill-me-now-wrestles-love-laughs-and-agony|author=Janet Smith|title=Brad Fraser's play Kill Me Now wrestles with love, laughs, and agony|date=October 10, 2018|website=[[The Georgia Straight]]|language=en|access-date=September 25, 2019}}</ref> As of 2021, two film adaptations of ''Kill Me Now'' were in development in Canada and South Korea.<ref name=burnett>[[Richard Burnett]], [https://www.fugues.com/2021/05/04/the-rage-of-brad-fraser/ "The rage of Brad Fraser"]. ''[[Fugues (magazine)|Fugues]]'', May 4, 2021.</ref>

==External links==

A memoir by Brad Fraser, ''All the Rage,'' was published by Doubleday Canada in May 2021.<ref name=burnett/>

* [http://www.bradfraser.net/ Brad Fraser]

==Awards==

Fraser won the Alberta Culture award for best full-length play in 1989, for ''Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love''.<ref>"Alberta playwrights share award". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', March 4, 1989.</ref>

He is a two-time winner of the [[Floyd S. Chalmers Canadian Play Award]], in 1991 for ''Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love'' and in 1996 for ''Poor Super Man''.<ref name=new>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mkh2vJ_9GpEC&pg=PA63 |title=Encyclopedia of Literature in Canada |author=William H. New |pages=63–64 |publisher=University of Toronto Press |year=2002|isbn=9780387201092 }}</ref> He won the [[Genie Award]] for [[Canadian Screen Award for Best Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]] at the [[15th Genie Awards]] for ''Love and Human Remains''.<ref>Jane Stevenson, "They dreamed of Genies: And for a lucky few the dreams came true last night". ''[[Hamilton Spectator]]'', December 8, 1994.</ref>

Fraser won [[London]]'s ''Evening Standard Award'' for ''Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love'' in 1993.<ref>"'Arcadia' and 'City of Angels' earn top theater awards". ''[[Oshkosh Northwestern]]'', December 1, 1993.</ref>

He is a two-time nominee for the [[Governor General's Award for English-language drama]], receiving nods at the [[1995 Governor General's Awards]] for ''Poor Super Man''<ref>Alan Hustak, "5 locals up for literary prizes". ''[[Montreal Gazette]]'', October 27, 1995.</ref> and at the [[2016 Governor General's Awards]] for ''Kill Me Now''.<ref>Mark Medley, "Short list for G-Gs is a serious case of déjà vu". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', October 5, 2016.</ref>

==Personal life==

Fraser is openly gay, and his plays often focus on [[LGBTQ]] storylines.<ref name=":0" /> In 2003 he became the [[Story editor|executive story editor]] on [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime's]] ''[[Queer as Folk (American TV series)|Queer As Folk]]''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinemaqueer.com/review%20pages/interviewbradfraser.html|title=Tugging On Superman's Cape: An Interview With Brad Fraser|last=Klemm|first=Michael D.|date=April 2004|website=Cinemaqueer, reprinted from Outcome|access-date=September 25, 2019}}</ref>

==Plays==

* ''Wolfboy'' ([[- 1981]])<ref name=howler/>

* ''Mutants'' - 1981

* ''Rude Noises (for a Blank Generation)'' - 1982<ref>Ray Conlogue, "Rude Noises flunks out". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', March 19, 1982.</ref>

* ''Chainsaw Love'' - 1985

* ''Young Art'' - 1987<ref>John Fitzgerald, "Young writer explores time-honored themes". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', January 17, 1987.</ref>

* ''[[Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love]]'' ([[- 1989]])<ref name=morrow/>

* ''Return of the Bride'' - 1989

* ''The Ugly Man'' - 1990<ref>Bob Clark, "The ugly truth about Fraser's Ugly Man". ''[[Calgary Herald]]'', March 31, 2004.</ref>

* ''Prom Night of the Living Dead'' - 1991, with Darrin Hagen<ref>Liz Nicholls, "Youthful exuberance in abundance". ''[[Edmonton Journal]]'', April 28, 1991.</ref>

* ''Poor Super Man'' ([[- 1994]])<ref name=cte/>

* ''Martin Yesterday'' - 1997<ref>Stewart Brown, "Provocative gay play lays bares emotions and much more". ''[[Hamilton Spectator]]'', October 25, 1997.</ref>

* ''[[Outrageous (musical)|Outrageous]]'' - 2000, musical with composer Joey Miller<ref>Gord McLaughlin, "Outrageous-ly funny as a musical: It began as a book, then became a film. Now Brad Fraser's stage adaptation adds lyrics and music". ''[[National Post]]'', September 16, 2000.</ref>

* ''Snake in Fridge'' - 2000<ref>"Snake eyes for Brad Fraser?". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', November 23, 2000.</ref>

* ''Cold Meat Party'' - 2003<ref>J. Kelly Nestruck, "Poet of profanity cleans up his act: But Brad Fraser swears he has not lost his edge". ''[[National Post]]'', September 25, 2004.</ref>

* ''True Love Lies'' - 2009<ref>Liz Nicholls, "Brad Fraser's funniest play comes home; Acclaimed playwright realizes a dream at Citadel". ''[[Edmonton Journal]]'', April 3, 2011.</ref>

* ''5 @ 50'' - 2011<ref name=cte/>

* ''Kill Me Now'' - 2014<ref name=killmenow/>

==References==

{{reflist}}

==External links==

*{{official [website|http://www.bradfraser.net/ Brad Fraser]}}

{{Authority control}}

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