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 October 10, 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.

Abilities Arts Festival (Abilities Arts Festival). The multi-arts festival celebrating diversity, inclusion and accessibility features visual art, installation, dance, theatre and storytelling for kids, installation art, film and more. Opens Sep 24 and runs to Oct 24, see website for venues, dates and times. Various prices, many events free. abilitiesartsfestival.org.

Aida by Giuseppe Verdi (Canadian Opera Company). The tragic opera is performed in Italian. Opens Oct 2 and runs to Nov 5, Oct 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 27, 30, Nov 2 and 5 at 7:30 pm, mats Oct 2 at 4:30 pm, Oct 24 at 2 pm. $62-$281. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-363-8231, coc.ca.

Death Of A Salesman by Arthur Miller (Soulpepper). Having lost his job in his twilight years, a man confronts his failure to achieve the American Dream. Previews Oct 16-20. Opens Oct 21 and runs to Nov 13, Mon-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat 1:30 pm (see website for other times). $31.20-$75.33. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

**Hard Times based on the novel by Charles Dickens (Puppetmongers/the night kitchen). Mask and puppetry are used in this satire of capitalism and Utilitarian philosophy. Previews Sep 30-Oct 2. Opens Oct 5 and runs to Oct 16, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $30-$35, preview $15, mat pwyc. Theatre Passe Muraille, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, passemuraille.on.ca.

**Imprints – The Ancestry Project by Michael Spence (Theatre Gargantua). This multimedia performance explores the life of a woman and the ghosts in her genetic memory. Previews Oct 12. Opens Oct 15 and runs to Oct 16, Fri-Sat and Tue 8 pm. $20, stu/srs $15. Theatre Centre, 1087 Queen W. 416-538-0988, theatregargantua.ca.

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 Oct 9 and runs to Dec 26, Sat 11 am and 1 pm, Sun 1 pm. $29.50-$39.50; family 4-pack $100 (till Oct 8). Lower Ossington Theatre, 100A Ossington. 416-642-8973, vitaltheatre.ca.

Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott (Mirvish). Three friends take a battered bus across the Australian outback, looking for love and friendship. Previews Oct 12-24. Opens Oct 26 and runs to Jan 2, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sat-Sun and Wed 2 pm. $20-$130. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

**Radiance by Louis Nowra (bcurrent). Three half sisters reunite in northern Australia for their mother’s funeral and wade through the past. Opens Oct 12 and runs to Oct 15, Tue-Fri 8 pm. $10. Wychwood Theatre, 601 Christie. 416-533-1500, bcurrent.ca.

Romeo And Juliet by William Shakespeare (Shakespeare in Action). This adaptation for young audiences sets the story in a modern, culturally diverse city. Opens Oct 15 and runs to Nov 6, see website for schedule. $15, stu/srs $12. Central Commerce CI, 570 Shaw. 416-703-4881, shakespeareinaction.org.

Shakespeare In Hollywood by Ken Ludwig (Scarborough Players). Oberon and Puck find themselves on a 1930s Hollywood film set in this comedy. Opens Oct 7 and runs to Oct 23, Thu-Sat 8 pm (except Oct 23), mats Oct 17 and 23 at 2 pm. $17. Scarborough Village Theatre, 3600 Kingston. 416-267-9292, theatrescarborough.com.

The Girl Who Saw Everything by Sean Dixon (Ryerson Theatre School). A book club explores life and death, love, identity and belonging through an ancient epic. Previews Oct 13 at 8 pm. Opens Oct 14 and runs to Nov 12, see website for schedule. $18, stu/srs $14. Abrams Studio Theatre, 46 Gerrard E. 416-979-5118, ryersontheatre.ca.

**The Invisible Girl by Michele Riml (Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People). A girl learns about perceptions of fashion and beauty after being shunned by her popular friends. Previews Oct 12. Opens Oct 13 and runs to Oct 23, see website for schedule. $10-$20. 165 Front E. 416-862-2222, lktyp.ca.

**The List by Jennifer Tremblay (Nightwood Theatre). A busy woman neglects a friend’s request and inadvertently causes her death. Previews Oct 11-13. Opens Oct 14 and runs to Nov 6, Mon-Sat 8 pm, mats Wed 1:30 pm, Sat 2 pm. $22-$49. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley. 416-368-3110, nightwoodtheatre.net.

The New Electric Ballroom by Enda Walsh (MacKenzieRo). Three sisters in a remote fishing village in Ireland are obsessed by dark memories. Opens Oct 8 and runs to Oct 24, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. $26, Sun pwyc. Tarragon Theatre, Extra Space, 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, mackenziero.com.

The Opera Exchange: Death In Venice (Canadian Opera Company). This in-depth look at Benjamin Britten’s opera features lectures and a panel discussion with academics and others. Opens Oct 16 from 9:30 am to 1 pm. $20. Edward Johnson Building, Walter Hall, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-363-8231, coc.ca.

Already covered by MoT

**[Title Of Show] by Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell (Angelwalk Theatre). Two writers struggle to write and produce a musical in only three weeks for a theatre festival. Previews Sep 22-23. Opens Sep 24 and runs to Oct 10, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $25-$45. Toronto Centre for the Arts, Studio Theatre, 5040 Yonge. 416-872-1111, angelwalk.ca.

**Ali & Ali: The Deportation Hearings by Camyar Chai, Guillermo Verdecchia and Marcus Youssef (Cahoots Theatre Company). Five Arab/Muslim men are held without charges in Canada in this satire. Previews Sep 28-29. Opens Sep 30 and runs to Oct 17. $15-$32, Sun pwyc. Factory Theatre, Studio, 125 Bathurst. 416-504-9971, factorytheatre.ca.

**Billy Twinkle: Requiem For A Golden Boy by Ronnie Burkett (Factory Theatre). A puppeteer evaluates his life and rekindles his passion after losing his job. Previews Sep 24-26. Opens Sep 28 and runs to Oct 24, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $25-$48, previews $15-$25, Sun pwyc. 125 Bathurst. 416-504-9971, factorytheatre.ca.

Fernando Krapp Wrote Me This Letter: An Attempt At The Truth by Tankred Dorst (Canadian Stage Company). A millionaire uses deceit and manipulation to get his betrothed to love him in this metaphysical fable. Previews Sep 18-22. Opens Sep 23 and runs to Oct 16, Mon-Sat 8 pm, mats Wed 1:30 pm, Sat 2 pm. $22-$99. Bluma Appel Theatre, 27 Front E. 416-368-3110, canadianstage.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. Opens Sep 10 and runs to Oct 30, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mats Wed and Sat 2 pm. $35-$65. Panasonic Theatre, 651 Yonge. 416-872-1212, lovelossonstage.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 Dec 19, 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.

SoulSeek (Birdland Theatre). Music, video and theatre help tell the story of a woman’s journey to find love and reinvent her destiny. Opens Oct 7 and runs to Oct 23, Mon-Sat 8 pm. $30, stu/srs $20. Walmer Centre Theatre, 188 Lowther. 416-504-7529, birdlandtheatre.com.

**The Clockmaker by Stephen Massicotte (Tarragon Theatre). A man is intrigued by a married woman who brings a broken clock to his shop. Previews Sep 14-21. Opens Sep 22 and runs to Oct 24, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mats Sat-Sun 2:30 pm. $23-$44, Fri & Sun rush $10. 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.

Toyer by Gardner McKay (The Sugar Company/Lyric East Studios). A psychiatrist helps victims of a bizarre psychopath in this thriller. Previews Oct 6. Opens Oct 7 and runs to Oct 16, Tue-Sun 8 pm. $20-$25, 2-for-1 Tue, preview pwyc. Lower Ossington Theatre, 100A Ossington. toyer.ca.