Dina
Martina
Sub-Standards
Don’t run — WALK! The inordinately hilarious Dina Martina barrels back to Toronto with her award-avoiding show: 75 minutes filled to the rim with the best intentions, yet tempered with inadvertently unfortunate songs, ill-fitting costumes, bewildering videos and pointless stories.
DINA MARTINA: SUB-STANDARDS is a hilarious 75-minute concoction of songs, stories, and video from Dina Martina, whose father died in childbirth. Dina Martina has performed in more than one state.
12 Alexander St · Toronto M4Y 1B4
Approx. 75 min
“Dina Martina goes way beyond drag into some new kind of twisted art.”John Waters
Tragic singer.
Horrible dancer.
Surreal raconteur.
Dina Martina debuted at Seattle’s Center on Contemporary Art in 1989 and instantly gleaned reviews calling her “magically warped,” “hilariously unfortunate” and “utter genius.” Since then she’s packed venues in New York, Los Angeles, London, Toronto and San Francisco, sharing bills with Margaret Cho, Alan Cumming, Chita Rivera and Nina Hagen.
Absolutely packed with ludicrous song, horrifying stories and overburdened costumes, her shows have become synonymous with jaw-dropping pathos and mind-blowing comedy — and have wowed sold-out venues across the U.S. and U.K. Since the Korean War she has garnered admirers including John Waters, Jennifer Coolidge, Graham Norton, Chloë Sevigny and Alan Cumming.
The Stranger’s Genius Award for Theater. Three Seattle Times Footlight Awards. Nominations for the Alpert Award in Theater, a SPIT Award for Best Solo Show, and two GLAAD Media Awards. She did not win those.
What people who are famous say
“Performance art never looked so good.”
“Dina Martina is hilarious like no one else I know.”
“Absolutely high-f**king-larious! GO, GO, GO!”
“The most original drag performer working in America today.”
One night.
Two shows.
Thu Feb 11, 2027 — 7PM & 9PM · Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Tallulah’s Cabaret · 12 Alexander St, Toronto