Eye-Catching Toronto Theatre for the Week of December 17th, 2012

Here is what’s going on in Toronto theatre this week. There are several great shows to catch for the week of December 17th, 2012: ** Shows marked with the double asterisks and in red are the ones that make Wayne, our Managing Editor, wish he could exist in multiple parallel universes so he could check them all out.

Already Covered by MoT

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (Soulpepper). Michael Shamata’s adaptation of the classic holiday ghost story gets a staging. Previews Dec 3. Opens Dec 4 and runs to Dec 29. $51-$68, stu $32, rush $5-$22. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

Christmas With Hi And Lo by Jim Millan, Alice Moran and Colin Munch (John Alcorn/Kyra Millan). This scripted cabaret features a glimpse into the married life of the performers, seasonal songs and comedy. Opens Dec 3 and runs to Dec 17. $30-$50. Gallery 345, 345 Sorauren. christmas-with-hi-and-lo.ticketleap.com.

Cinderella (A RATical Retelling) by Mike Kenny and Jason Jestadt (Young People’s Theatre). Five rats retell the classic fairy tale in this musical story for ages 4 and up. Previews Nov 12-14. Opens Nov 15 and runs to Dec 30. $15-$20. 165 Front E. 416-862-2222, youngpeoplestheatre.ca.

Dairy-Free Love: The Play by Victoria Murdoch (Savory Entertainment/Winchester Kitchen). Murdoch performs her solo comedy about the seemingly perfect home life of an internet cooking show host. Opens Dec 14 and runs to Dec 23. $15.Winchester Kitchen & Bar, 51A Winchester. dairyfreelove.com.

Escape From Happiness by George F Walker (Who Beat up Junior Equity Co-op). A dysfunctional family finds itself caught up in a criminal plot in this dramatic comedy. Opens Dec 4 and runs to Dec 17. $20, stu/srs $15. Red Sandcastle Theatre, 922 Queen E. 416-845-9411, redsandcastletheatre.com.

Miracle On Mercer St. Second City presents all-ages seasonal comedy mixing live-action sketches with puppetry and songs. Dec 22-26, Dec 27-Jan 1. $14, family 4-pack $45. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.

Mozart’s Magical Castle (Opera Atelier). Interactive activities and performances showcase the music, dance and story of Mozart’s most famous opera, The Magic Flute. Opens Dec 1 and runs to Dec 30. Included w/ admission. Casa Loma, 1 Austin Terrace. 416-923-1171, casaloma.org.

Snow White: The Deliciously Dopey Family Musical by Rick Miller (Ross Petty Productions). Pop culture references permeate this holiday pantomime version of the classic fairy tale. Previews Nov 23-28. Opens Nov 29 and runs to Jan 5. $27-$85. Elgin Theatre, 189 Yonge. 1-855-599-9090, rosspetty.com.

**The Story by Martha Ross (Theatre Columbus). The ensemble performs an unconventional telling of the Nativity in an outdoor walk-about show. Previews Dec 4-5. Opens Dec 6 and runs to Dec 30. $30, stu/srs $22.50, child/previews $12.50. Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview. 416-504-7529, theatrecolumbus.ca.

This Lime Tree Bower by Conor McPherson (Cart/Horse Theatre). Three men use crime, booze and sex to escape their mundane lives in the suburbs of Dublin in this dark comedy. Previews Dec 6. Opens Dec 7 and runs to Dec 22. $25, preview/Mon $10. Berkeley Street Theatre, Upstairs, 26 Berkeley. 416-368-3110, canadianstage.com.

War Horse based on a novel by Michael Morpurgo, adapted by Nick Stafford (National Theatre of Great Britain/Mirvish). An English boy sets out to find his horse after it’s sold to the cavalry and shipped off to France during WWI. Previews Feb 10-27. Opens Feb 28 and runs to Jan 6. $35-$130, rush $29. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

We’ve Totally (Probably) Got This! Second City presents its fall 2012 revue featuring new sketches, songs and improv about stress and juggling priorities. Wed-Thu 8 pm, Fri-Sun 7:30 pm (plus Fri-Sat 10 pm). $24-$29, stu $15. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.

And the rest…

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (Humber River Shakespeare Co). Five actors perform the timeless tale of greed, ghosts, salvation and hope. Dec 13-14 at 7 pm. Dec 22 at 2 pm. $15, child $10. Montgomery’s Inn, 4709 Dundas W. 416-209-2026, humberrivershakespeare.ca.

**An Especially Maude-Lynne Xmas: A Reluctant Wassail For Yuletide Misfits by Morgan Norwich and Johnnie Walker (Nobody’s Business Theatre). A Victorian literature-obsessed internet junkie organizes a Christmas shindig with her long-suffering boyfriend. Dec 20-22. $15. Videofag, 187 Augusta. maudelynnexmas-eorg.eventbrite.ca.

An Intimate XXXmas! (Skin Tight Outta Sight Rebel Burlesque). This holiday-themed revue features Foxy Finale, Honey B Hind, Coco La Crème, SMB, live music and more. Dec 18 at 9 pm. $12. The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington. intimatexxxmasburlesque.eventbrite.com.

Christmas Again?! (Jill Leger). This holiday musical revue features sketches and original music. Dec 20-22. $12. Red Sandcastle Theatre, 922 Queen E. 416-845-9411, facebook.com/events/346486628759521.

City Voices Book Launch (City Voices). Readings from City Voices: A Book Of Monologues By Toronto Artists, followed by a DJ party. Dec 19 at 7 pm. Free. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander. cityvoices.ca.

**It’s A Wonderful Toronto: The Rob Ford Holiday Spectacular! The National Theatre of the World presents a musical sketch comedy revue by Matt Baram in which the mayor learns a valuable lesson about the holidays and civic duty. Opens Dec 11 and runs to Dec 22. $25-$30. Theatre Passe Muraille, Backspace, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, thenationaltheatreoftheworld.com.

Nonna’s Party by Ashley Burton (Gladstone Hotel). Burton brings stories of her feisty Sicilian family to life in this solo comedy. Opens Nov 7 and runs to Dec 19. $35-$55 (ticketweb.ca). 1214 Queen W. 416-531-4635, gladstonehotel.com.

Rave Revue Breakaway Dance presents a cabaret showcase featuring Silhouettes Dance Company, Ben Agro, Sapphire Dance Productions and others. Dec 19 at 9 pm. $15. Rivoli, 332 Queen W. raverevue.eventbrite.ca.

Sama-e Rast Sashar Zarif Dance Theatre presents integrated dance, music and poetry inspired by the art of Mugham, a devotional practice connected to the Sufi and Shamanic cultures. Dec 21 at 8 pm (gallery exhibit from 7 pm). $35-$100. Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge. 416-250-3708, sashardance.com.

Sharron And George’s Super Fun Christmas Sing-A-Long (Sharron Matthews). Cabaret diva Matthews and George Masswohl perform a holiday-themed variety show. Dec 20 at 8 pm. $20. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555. buddiesinbadtimes.com

The Fine Art Of Murder (Mysteriously Yours… Dinner Theatre). This dinner-theatre whodunit features a Sherlock Holmes mystery. Opens Sep 21 and runs to Dec 29. $66-$71. 2026 Yonge. 416-486-7469, mysteriouslyyours.com.

The Green Door Cabaret Series (Lower Ossington Theatre). Performances by cabaret/musical theatre artists including Scott Walker, Sam Broverman, Bicycle Opera and others (see website for schedule details). Opens Nov 28 and runs to Dec 22. $20-$30. 100A Ossington. lowerossingtontheatre.com.

The Nutcracker Pia Bouman School for Ballet and Creative Movement presents the holiday classic performed by youth ages 7 through 18. Opens Dec 20 and runs to Dec 23. $15-$40. Humberside Collegiate Institute, Lismer Hall, 280 Quebec. 416-533-8705, piaboumanschool.org/tickets.

The Nutcracker The National Ballet of Canada presents the traditional holiday ballet. Opens Dec 19 and runs to Jan 5. $52-$136. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-345-9595, national.ballet.ca.

The Second City’s Nut-Cracking Holiday Revue Second City presents sketches, songs and improv inspired by the season of merriment, mirth and last-minute shopping. Opens Nov 30 and runs to Dec 21. $22, stu $15. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.

The Wizard Of Oz adapted by Andrew Lloyd Webber (The Really Useful Group/Mirvish/Troika Entertainment/Warner Bros/Bill Kenwright). A twister sends Dorothy over the rainbow in this musical based on the classic film. Previews Dec 20-Jan 12. Opens Jan 13 and runs to Mar 31. $35-$130. Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

Without You by Anthony Rapp (Mirvish). Rapp performs his solo show about being a part of the inaugural production of RENT. Previews Dec 13-15. Opens Dec 16 and runs to Jan 6. $45-$69, rush $29. Panasonic Theatre, 651 Yonge. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.