Eye-Catching Toronto Theatre for the Week of March 25th, 2013

Here is what’s going on in Toronto theatre this week. There are several great shows to catch for the week of March 25th, 2013. ** 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

And Slowly Beauty… by Michel Nadeau (Belfry Theatre/National Arts Centre English Theatre). An uninspired office worker wins tickets to a play and discovers the transformative power of art. Previews Feb 20-26. Opens Feb 27 and runs to Mar 31. $48-$53, srs $38-$43, stu $27, previews $21-$24, rush $13. Tarragon Theatre, 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.

**Arigato, Tokyo by Daniel MacIvor (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre). A visiting Canadian author is pulled into a world of obsession, sex and longing in this play that fuses Japan and the West. Previews Mar 16-20. Opens Mar 21 and runs to Apr 14. Pwyc-$37. 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, buddiesinbadtimes.com.

As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner (Theatre Smith-Gilmour). A family hauls their matriarch’s corpse across the Mississippi countryside to honour her dying wish. Previews Mar 8-12. Opens Mar 13 and runs to Mar 30. $25-$35, stu $20-$30, mats pwyc; opening night gala $45, stu $22. Theatre Passe Muraille, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, theatresmithgilmour.com.

Ching Chong Chinaman by Lauren Yee (fu-GEN Theatre Company). A teen from a highly assimilated Chinese-American family acquires a Chinese indentured servant in this play about the Asian American Dream. Previews Mar 12-13. Opens Mar 14 and runs to Mar 30. $15-$28, Sun pwyc. Daniels Spectrum, Aki Studio Theatre, 585 Dundas E. 1-800-204-0855, fu-gen.org.

Gwen Powers by Michael Goldlist (WORKhouse Theatre). A smart, sexy high school student and her teacher push the boundaries of their relationship. Opens Mar 22 and runs to Apr 6. $25, stu $15, mat pwyc. Theatre Passe Muraille, Backspace, 16 Ryerson. workhousetheatre.com.

Rent by Jonathan Larson (Lower Ossington Theatre). Artists of NYC’s Lower East Side struggle to make ends meet in the shadow of the AIDS epidemic in this musical. Opens Mar 28 and runs to May 5. $49-$60. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.

The Meme-Ing Of Life Second City presents its spring mainstage revue about the wins and epic fails of living on and off the digital highway. Opens Mar 5 and runs to May 29. $24-$29, stu $15. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.

**The Whipping Man by Matthew Lopez (Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company/Obsidian Theatre). A Jewish Confederate officer celebrates Passover with his former slaves in Civil War-era Virgina. Previews Mar 16-20. Opens Mar 21 and runs to Apr 14. $42.50-$62.50. Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge. 416-733-0545, hgjewishtheatre.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 film. Previews Dec 20-Jan 12. Opens Jan 13 and runs to Jun 2. $35-$130. Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

And the Rest…

¡Theatresports! Spring Tournament Bad Dog Theatre presents the 30th year of the improv comedy competition. Opens Mar 9 and runs to May 25. $12, stu $10. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. 647-898-5324, baddogtheatre.com.

A Hand Of Bridge/No Exit (Soup Can Theatre). Samuel Barber’s contemporary opera and Jean Paul Sartre’s existentialist classic are presented in a double bill. Opens Mar 27 and runs to Mar 30. $25, stu/srs $20; Fri mat $19, stu/srs $16. Ernest Balmer Studio, 9 Trinity, suite 316. totix.ca.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare (Theatre @ York). This adaptation adds dark themes and high-tech elements to the classic comedy. Previews Mar 22. Opens Mar 23 and runs to Mar 28. $17, stu/srs $12, preview $5. York University Accolade E Bldg, 4700 Keele. 416-736-5888.

Aluna Cafe (Aluna Theatre). Reading and interactive exploration of How Complex Being Is, Or, The Complex Of Being, a play by Teresa Hernández. Mar 25 at 7:30 pm. Free. 1 Wiltshire, unit 123. 416-203-2535, alunatheatre.ca.

Autorretrato (Self Portrait) Toronto International Flamenco Festival and Show One Productions present an autobiographical performance by María Pagés and company dancers blending traditional and modern flamenco. Mar 30 at 8 pm. $45-$125. Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, 1 Front E. 1-855-872-7669, sonycentre.ca.

Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story by Alan Janes (Lower Ossington Theatre). The life and music of the rock pioneer are celebrated in this jukebox musical. Opens Mar 28 and runs to Apr 21. $49-$60. Randolph Theatre, 736 Bathurst. lowerossingtontheatre.com.

Chile Con Carne by Carmen Aguirre (Alameda Theatre). A Chilean girl whose family fled the 1973 coup strives to save a tree in Vancouver in this dark comedy. Previews Mar 30-31. Opens Apr 2 and runs to Apr 14. $22-$29, stu/srs/previews $15-$17, Sun pwyc. Factory Theatre, Studio, 125 Bathurst. 416-504-9971, alamedatheatre.com.

Creators’ Lounge – Spirit Of Inquiry The Creators’ Lounge presents live dance, art and Japanese food featuring a performance by Sahara Morimoto and Takahiro Iwai. Mar 31 at 6 pm. $10-$15. Tranzac, 292 Brunswick. facebook.com/events/142278999272391.

Fresh Blood The Chimera Project and Harbourfront NextSteps present works by emerging choreographers including Daina Ashbee, Justin De Bernardi, Alysa Pires and others. Mar 27-28. $15-$36. Enwave Theatre, 231 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.

Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice (Curtain Call Players). This family musical reinvents the Biblical story of Joseph and his brothers. Opens Mar 21 and runs to Mar 30. $26. York Woods Library Theatre, 1785 Finch W. 416-703-6181, curtaincallplayers.com.

**La Ronde by Arthur Schnitzler (Soulpepper). This adaptation sets the vignettes about 10 interconnected sexual liaisons in Toronto and examines our obsession with sex and sexuality. Opens Mar 26 and runs to May 4. $51-$68, stu $32 (rush $22, stu $5). Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

Once Upon A Murder (Mysteriously Yours… Dinner Theatre). Preparations for a royal wedding are interrupted by a murder in this interactive dinner-theatre mystery. Opens Jan 25 and runs to May 31. $40-$71. 2026 Yonge. 416-486-7469, mysteriouslyyours.com.

Overruled/Romance by George Bernard Shaw/Neil Labute (Neoteny Theatre). This double bill features two very different plays about love, lust and infidelity. Previews Mar 27. Opens Mar 28 and runs to Apr 6. $10-$15. Red Sandcastle Theatre, 922 Queen E. 416-845-9411, neotenytheatre.eventbrite.ca.

Paprika Festival (Paprika Festival). Young and emerging artists offers 11 productions and six staged readings, with works by Britta Johnson, Rosamund Small, a Cabaret Series and more. Opens Mar 27 and runs to Apr 6. $5, Cabaret Series free. Tarragon Theatre, 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, paprikafestival.com.

Rhyme, Reason Or Otherwise by Rachel Ganz (Hart House Players). A young Jewish woman in a mixed-faith relationship struggles to respect her heritage while living her own life. Mar 28-30. $15, stu/srs $12, Wed stu $10. Hart House Theatre, 7 Hart House Circle. 416-978-8849, uofttix.ca.

Subway Stations Of The Cross by Ins Choi (Ins Choi/Sanctuary). A homeless man delivers a message from god through song and spoken word. Mar 29-31. $10. Sanctuary, 25 Charles E. inschoi.com.

Swan Lake Ballet Jörgen presents the classical Russian ballet choreographed by Bengt Jörgen. Opens Mar 27 and runs to Mar 30. $35-$75, stu/srs from $29. Betty Oliphant Theatre, 404 Jarvis. 416-978-8849, uofttix.ca.

The Calm Before… The Chimera Project and Harbourfront NextSteps present urban, contemporary choreography by Malgorzata Nowacka about the fear, inner strength and the human condition. Mar 28 at 7:30 pm. $15-$36. Enwave Theatre, 231 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.

The Drawer Boy by Michael Healey (The Village Players). An urban actor works on a farm to research a role and gets caught up in the lives of two elderly brothers. Opens Mar 8 and runs to Mar 30. $20, stu/srs $16. Bloor West Village Playhouse, 2190 Bloor W. 416-767-7702, villageplayers.net.

This by Melissa James Gibson (Canadian Stage). A group of 30-something friends navigate their way through death, parenthood and adultery in this unromantic comedy. Previews Mar 18-20. Opens Mar 21 and runs to Apr 13. $22-$49. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley. 416-368-3110, canadianstage.com.

True West by Sam Shepard (Soulpepper). Two recently reconciled brothers fight over art, freedom, family and human nature. Opens Mar 25 and runs to May 4. $51-$68, stu $32 (rush $22, stu $5). Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

Wake Of The Fallen Desiraeda Dance Theatre and DanceWorks CoWorks present choreography by Niki Wozniak about two people in the throes of addiction. Opens Mar 27 and runs to Mar 30. $28, stu/srs $25. Winchester Street Theatre, 80 Winchester. 416-204-1082, wakeofthefallen.eventbrite.com.

York Dances: Terpsichore-In-Progress (Apples & Oranges) York U Dept of Dance presents choreography by third-year dance majors, performed by students, based on Greek mythology. Mar 27-28. $12.50. York University Accolade East Bldg, McLean Studio, 4700 Keele. 416-736-5888, dance.finearts.yorku.ca.

*Listings based on NOW stage listings*