Eye-catching Toronto live theatre for the week of July 26, 2010

Here are all of the shows we wish we could get out and see this week!  Take your pick from our list of great theatre escapes for the week of July 26, 2010:

**  Shows marked with the double asterisks and in red are the ones that make Megan, our editor, wish she could clone herself so she could check them all out.

**Drama & Desire: Artists And Theatre (Art Gallery of Ontario). CanStage Dream in High Park actors and Atelier Ballet dancers perform alongside an exhibit of Stratford Festival props, stage machines and interactive content. Opens Jun 19 and runs to Sep 26, performances on select Saturdays and Sundays. Free w/ admission. 317 Dundas W. ago.net.

Imbalance by Michael Clarke (Pandemic Theatre). A man’s mental illness takes over his life after his daughter goes missing. Previews Jul 20. Opens Jul 21 and runs to Jul 31, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $15, stu/srs $12. Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse, 79A St. George. pandemictheatre.com.

Kafka And Son adapted by Mark Cassidy and Alon Nashman (Theaturtle/Threshold). This play is based on a letter from Franz Kafka to his overbearing father. Opens Jul 28 and runs to Jul 29, Wed-Thu 8 pm. $16. Tarragon Theatre, Near Studio, 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.

Legally Blonde The Musical by Laurence O’Keefe, Nell Benjamin and Heather Hach (Mirvish). A sorority girl makes it to law school in this musical based on the 2001 film. Opens Jul 7 and runs to Aug 8, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mats Sat-Sun and Wed 2 pm. $28-$124. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

**Love, Loss, And What I Wore by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron (Michael Rubinoff/Daryl Roth). Mary Walsh, Margot Kidder, Sharron Matthews, Andrea Martin and others perform stories about women. Previews Jul 16-20. Opens Jul 21 and runs to Sep 4, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mats Wed and Sat 2 pm. $35-$65. Panasonic Theatre, 651 Yonge. 416-872-1212, lovelossonstage.ca.

Miss Saigon by Claude-Michel Schönberg, Richard Maltby Jr and Alain Boublil (Dancap/Pittsburgh CLO). A Vietnamese girl and an American GI have a doomed romance during the Vietnam War. Previews Jul 9-11. Opens Jul 13 and runs to Aug 1, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mats Sat-Sun and Wed 2 pm. $28-$175. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-644-3665, dancaptickets.com.

My Favorite year by Joseph Dougherty, Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens (Randolph Centre for the Arts). A young TV writer must keep an aging actor out of trouble in 50s Hollywood. Opens Jul 27 and runs to Jul 31, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $22. Bathurst Street Theatre, 736 Bathurst. 416-872-1111, randolphacademy.com.

Oh, The Humanity (And Other Good Intentions) by Will Eno (Outside the March). Eno performs his show about surreal moments of unexpected honesty. Opens Jul 27 and runs to Jul 31, Tue-Sat 8 pm. $10-$15. Abrams Studio Theatre, 46 Gerrard E. 416-432-0057, outsidethemarch.ca.

One For Sorrow, Two For Joy (Magpie Theatre). Popular songs are used to reveal the romantic lives of six characters. Opens Jul 15 and runs to Aug 1, Thu and Sat-Sun 7 pm. $10-$15. Midpoint, 1180 Queen W. magpietheatrecompany.com.

Pinkalicious, The Musical by Elizabeth Kann, Victoria Kann and John Gregor (Vital Theatre). A girl turns pink after eating too many cupcakes in this family musical. Opens Jul 3 and runs to Sep 19, Sat-Sun 1 pm. $29.50, family 4-pack $100. Al Green Theatre, 750 Spadina. 416-642-8973, vitaltheatre.ca.

**Sing For Your Supper – Cold Reading Series (Red One Theatre). New scripts will be read at this monthly series. Jul 26 at 8 pm. Free. Charlie’s Gallery, 112 Harbord. singforyoursuppertoronto@gmail.com.

**The Bad Dog Short Play Festival (Bad Dog Theatre). Comedic short plays by Serena Williamson, Jeff Cottrill, Paul Kingston, Toni Maggio, Adam Collier, Simon Pond and others are presented. Opens Jul 26 and runs to Jul 31, Mon-Sat 7, 8, 9 and 10 pm. $12. 138 Danforth. 416-491-3115, baddogtheatre.com.

**The Best Of The Fringe Uptown (Fringe Toronto). Encore performances of Short Story Long, Joe White And The 7 Divorcees, A Freudian Slip Of The Jung, Fairy Tale Ending, Almost Again, Love Is A Poverty You Can Sell, Craplicker, Act Now! and Wanted If Not Wed. Opens Jul 14 and runs to Jul 31, see website for schedule. $15. Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge. 416-733-9388, tocentre.com.

**The Circus Of Dark & Light by David Anderson and Krista Dalby (Clay & Paper Theatre). A circus crew discovers how community can change the world in this outdoor show featuring puppets, music, a human cannonball and more. Opens Jul 16 and runs to Aug 15, Wed-Sun 2 and 7 pm. $10 or pwyc. Dufferin Grove Park, Dufferin S of Bloor. clayandpapertheatre.org.

The Taming Of The Shrew by William Shakespeare (Humber River Shakespeare Co). The touring company presents the battle-of-the-sexes comedy. Opens Jul 6 and runs to Aug 1, Tue-Sat 7 pm, Sun and holiday Mon 2 pm. Pwyc ($15 sugg). Various outdoor venues, see website for details. 416-209-2026, humberrivershakespeare.ca.

Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare (Driftwood Theatre). The classic comedy about love and hidden identities is presented in this touring production. Jul 27-29 at 7:30 pm. More shows at various outdoor locations around Ontario, see website for details (tour runs to Aug 15). Pwyc. Trinity Bellwoods Park, Queen West at Strachan. 905-576-2396, driftwoodtheatre.com.

Our Picks from the Bad Dog Short Play Festival:

Grouch on a Couch by Jeff Cottrill (Bad Dog Theatre). This one-man show is a dark comedy and social critique as he plays an un-named TV grouch. Opens July 26 and runs til July 30. Mon 10pm, Thu 7pm, and Fri 8pm. $12/$10 for Bad Dog Members. 138 Danforth. 416-491-3115, baddogtheatre.com.
Starting Over by Adam Hunter Collier (Bad Dog Theatre). Richard walks into a psychiatrists office. He can’t get a quick fix but can’t just walk out. Opens July 26 and runs til July 31. Mon 9pm, Wed 7pm, and Sat 10pm. $12/$10 for Bad Dog Members. 138 Danforth. 416-491-3115, baddogtheatre.com.

Shows still playing that were already reviewed by Mooney on Theatre:

A Month In The Country by Ivan Turgenev (Soulpepper). A bored wife’s roving eye leads to trouble in this romantic comedy. Previews Jul 6-10. Opens Jul 12 and runs to Aug 7, Mon-Sat 8 pm, see website for mats. $32-$76. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

**I, Claudia by Kristen Thomson (Crows Theatre). Thomson performs her solo show about a girl who struggles with her parents’ divorce to raise funds for its run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Opens Jul 28 and runs to Jul 29, Wed-Thu 8 pm. $60. Theatre Centre, 1087 Queen W. 416-538-0988, crowstheatre.com.

**Jitters by David French (Soulpepper). This play-within-a-play looks at the comedic catastrophes of opening night. Previews Jun 24-29. Opens Jun 30 and runs to Jul 31, Mon-Sat 7:30 pm, see website for mats. $40-$76, stu $31.20, rush $5-$22. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

Rock Of Ages by Chris D’Arienzo (Mirvish). This arena-rock love story takes place LA’s Sunset Strip and features hits from the 80s. Previews Apr 20-May 9. Opens May 11 and runs to Oct 31, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 7 pm, mats Sat-Sun 2 pm. $28-$99. Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

**Romeo And Juliet by William Shakespeare (Canadian Stage Dream in High Park). This year’s outdoor production features the classic tale of ill-fated lovers. Previews Jun 25-27. Opens Jun 29 and runs to Sep 5, Tue-Sun 8 pm. Pwyc ($20 sugg); under 14 free. High Park Amphitheatre, Bloor W and Parkside. 416-367-1652, canstage.com.

*Listings based on NOW stage listings*