Caught our Eye Playlistings for the Week of March 28th

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 March 28, 2011:

** 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.Already Covered by MoT…

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM by William Shakespeare (Soulpepper). Lovers and actors meet and mingle in an enchanted forest. Previews Feb 17-22. Opens Feb 23 and runs to Apr 23, see website for schedule. $45-$60, stu $28; rush $5-$22. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

**BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL by Lee Hall and Elton John (Mirvish). A boy leaves boxing for ballet while his family struggles with economic troubles in small-town England. Previews Feb 1-28. Opens Mar 1 and runs to Jul 10, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mats Sat-Sun and Wed 1:30 pm. $36-$130. Canon Theatre, 244 Victoria. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com

**MONTPARNASSE by Maev Beaty and Erin Shields (Groundwater Productions). Art, voyeurism, nudity and ego are explored in this look at artist models of 20s Paris. Previews Mar 17-20. Opens Mar 22 and runs to Apr 2, 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.

**MORE FINE GIRLS by Jennifer Brewin, Leah Cherniak, Ann-Marie MacDonald, Alisa Palmer and Martha Ross (Theatre Columbus). Three sisters reunite over a family crisis ten years after a party drove them apart. Previews Feb 22-Mar 10. Opens Mar 11 and runs to Apr 3, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mats Sat-Sun 2:30 pm. $23-$46, rush $10. Tarragon Theatre, 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.

**THIS PARTY’S A RIOT! Second City presents a new show poking fun at the ever-changing world we live in. Tue-Sat 8 pm (plus Sat late show 10:30 pm), Sun 7 pm. $24-$29, stu $15. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.

**THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE by William Saroyan (Soulpepper). Various characters speak of their dreams in a Depression-era San Francisco bar. Previews Mar 16-17. Opens Mar 18 and runs to Apr 16, see website for schedule. $45-$60, stu $28; rush $5-$22. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

**WIT’S END III: LOVE LIFE (Sandra Shamas). Shamas performs the third instalment of her solo show about her life in rural Ontario. Previews Feb 16-18. Opens Feb 19 and runs to Apr 3, Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $25-$65. Winter Garden Theatre, 189 Yonge. 416-872-5555, ticketmaster.ca.

… and the rest

AFTER AKHMATOVA by Kate Cayley (Tarragon Theatre). An American interviews the son of a Soviet dissident and poet. Previews Mar 22-29. Opens Mar 30 and runs to May 1, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mats Sat-Sun 2:30 pm (no mats during previews). $23-$46, rush $10. Extra Space, 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.

I (Cassy Walker). Walker performs her solo show about identity and the labels we use. Opens Mar 30 and runs to Apr 2, Wed-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $10, Wed free, mat pwyc.Theatre Passe Muraille, Backspace, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, artsboxoffice.ca.

**LOST VOICES by Ed Roy (Topological Theatre). This drama looks at the growing phenomenon of unaccompanied minors arriving at airports with no set future plan. Opens Apr 1 and runs to Apr 17, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. $15-$20. Theatre Centre, 1087 Queen W. 416-538-0988, topologicaltheatre.com.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING by William Shakespeare (Scarborough Players). The classic romantic comedy gets a staging. Opens Mar 31 and runs to Apr 16, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mats Apr 10 and 16 at 2 pm. $17, stu/srs $14, stu rush $10. Scarborough Village Theatre, 3600 Kingston. 416-267-9292, theatrescarborough.com.

**NEW VOICES 2011 (Ryerson Theatre School). This festival features new works by students. Opens Mar 28 and runs to Apr 1, Mon-Fri 7 pm, Sun 2 pm. $18, stu/srs $14. Ryerson Theatre, 43 Gerrard E. 416-979-5118, ryersontheatre.ca.

SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD by Jason Robert Brown (Angelwalk Theatre). Characters from a variety of eras live through defining moments in this series of vignettes. Previews Mar 30-31. Opens Apr 1 and runs to Apr 23, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mats Sat-Sun 2 pm. $25-$45. Toronto Centre for the Arts, Studio Theatre, 5040 Yonge. 416-872-1111, angelwalk.ca.

SWEENEY TODD, THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler (Curtain Call Players). The wrath of a wrongfully convicted barber has brutal consequences. Opens Mar 24 and runs to Apr 2, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mats Mar 27 and Apr 2 at 2 pm. $24. Fairview Library Theatre, 35 Fairview Mall. 416-703-6181, curtaincallplayers.com.

**THE WAR OF THE WORLDS by Orson Welles (Harbourfront World Stage/Art of Time Ensemble). The 1938 radio drama about a Martian invasion is staged with music by Bernard Herrmann. Mar 31-Apr 3, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mats Sat 2 pm, Sun 4 pm. $25-$59. Enwave Theatre, 231 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.

**PAPER SERIES by David Yee (Cahoots Theatre Company). Various situations examine how we use paper to create, amuse, define and communicate. Previews Mar 18-19. Opens Mar 21 and runs to Apr 9, Mon-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $10-$30. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, cahoots.ca.

THE PERFECT WEDDING by Robin Wedding (Theatre Etobicoke). A groom wakes up next to a woman he doesn’t know in this bedroom farce. Opens Mar 24 and runs to Apr 2, Thu-Sat 8 pm (no show Mar 31), mat Apr 3 at 2 pm. $20, stu/srs $18. The Assembly Hall, 1 Colonel Samuel Smith Park. 416-246-1889, theatre-etobicoke.com.

VIVA EL TEATRO! (Crisalida). This festival features plays performed in Spanish with English translation, including Aqui No Paga Nadie by Dario Fo, Yerma by Federico Garcia Lorca, Luz Negra by Alvaro Menéndez Leal and the Noche de Teatro III series (at George Ignatieff Theatre). Opens Mar 31 and runs to Apr 30, see website for schedule. $20, festival passport $65. Palmerston Library Theatre, 560 Palmerston. 416-890-3271, festivalinspanish.ca.

**ZERO HOUR by Jim Brochu (Harold Green Jewish Theatre). This solo show looks at the art, humour, temper and wit of Jewish artist Zero Mostel. Previews Mar 26-27. Opens Mar 28 and runs to Apr 16, Mon-Thu and Sat 8 pm, mats Sat-Sun and Wed 2 pm. $40.50-$64.50. MNJCC Al Green Theatre, 750 Spadina. 416-366-7723, hgjewishtheatre.com.

*Listings based on NOW stage listings*