Eye-Catching Toronto Theatre for the Week of May 16th, 2011

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 May 16th, 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…

**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. Runs to Sep 3, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mats Sat-Sun and Wed 1:30 pm. $36-$130. Canon Theatre, 244 Victoria. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com

CALENDAR GIRLS by Tim Firth (Mirvish/Manitoba Theatre Centre). Members of a women’s club make a racy calendar to raise money in this comedy. Runs to May 28, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mats Sat-Sun and Wed 2 pm. $30-$94. Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

CINDERELLA (LA CENERENTOLA) by Gioacchino Rossini (Canadian Opera Company). The comic opera based on the fairy tale is performed in Italian. Runs to May 25, Apr 23, 28, May 10, 13, 19 and 25 at 7:30 pm, May 1 and 22 at 2 pm, May 7 at 4:30 pm. $62-$281. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-363-8231, coc.ca.

**DOUBLE BILL (Soulpepper). The Academy presents (re)Birth: E.E. Cummings In Song and Lab Series creation Window On Toronto. Runs to Jun 18, see website for schedule. $28-$65. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

**FORESTS by Wajdi Mouawad (Tarragon Theatre). A teenage girl seeks the origins of her mother’s mysterious fatal illness in this drama about family and sacrifice. Runs to May 29, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sat-Sun 2:30 pm. $23-$46, rush $10. 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.

GHOST STORIES by Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman (Mirvish/Lyric Hammersmith/Phil McIntyre Entertainments). This theatrical experience features stories based on real interviews. Runs to May 29, Tue-Fri 7:30 pm, Sat 5 & 8:30 pm, Sun 3 pm. $25-$79. Panasonic Theatre, 651 Yonge. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

ORFEO ED EURIDICE by Christoph Willibald Gluck (Canadian Opera Company). Orfeo goes through the underworld to bring back his wife in this Italian opera. Runs to May 28, May 8 at 2 pm, May 11, 14, 17, 20, 24 and 26 at 7:30 pm, May 28 at 4:30 pm. $62-$281, rush $22. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-363-8231, coc.ca.

THE ATOMIC WEIGHT OF HAPPINESS Stand Up Dance presents a bicycle-powered theatre/dance mashup by Meagan O’Shea. Previews Apr 22-24. Runs to May 29, Fri-Sun 8 pm. $10-$25. Hub 14, 14 Markham. 416-504-6429 ext 18, standupdance.com.

**THE LION KING by Elton John and Tim Rice (Mirvish). The musical based on the Disney film returns. Runs to Jun 12, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 1 and 6:30 pm (no show May 24 & 31; see website for other times). $20-$130. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

THE POST OFFICE by Rabindranath Tagore (Pleiades Theatre). A sick boy watches and interacts with the world from his bedroom window in India. Runs to Jun 4, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mats May 28 and Jun 4 at 2 pm. $35, stu $12, srs $16-$30.Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley. 416-368-3110, pleiadestheatre.org.

THE RAILWAY CHILDREN by Edith Nesbit (Mirvish). Three siblings struggle to survive after their father is imprisoned in Edwardian England. Runs to Jun 26, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mats Sat-Sun and Wed 2 pm (no shows May 29, Jun 12, 25; see website for other times). $25-$140. Roundhouse Theatre, 255 Bremner Blvd. mirvish.com.

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

**ZADIE’S SHOES by Adam Pettle (Factory Theatre). Desperate to recoup his losses, a gambler looks to his forgotten synagogue for a miracle. Runs to Jun 5, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $15-$45, Sun pwyc. 125 Bathurst. 416-504-9971, factorytheatre.ca.

… and the rest

$#*! MY MAYOR SAYS Second City presents current-events comedy about T.O. Mon 8 pm. $12. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.

ANYTHING GOES by Cole Porter, Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse (Civic Light Opera Company). A stowaway and a nightclub singer get in trouble aboard an ocean liner in this musical. Opens May 18 and runs to Jun 4, Wed 7 pm, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mats Sun (and Jun 4) at 2 pm. $25. Fairview Library Theatre, 35 Fairview Mall. 416-755-1717, civiclightoperacompany.com.

ARIADNE AUF NAXOS by Richard Strauss (Canadian Opera Company). Strauss’s opera-within-an-opera is performed in German. Opens Apr 30 and runs to May 29, Apr 30 at 4:30 pm, May 3, 12, 18, 21 and 27 at 7:30 pm, May 15 and 29 at 2 pm. $62-$281. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-363-8231, coc.ca

**FESTIVAL OF IDEAS AND CREATION (Canadian Stage). This development festival features talks, workshops and readings and workshop performances of cross-disciplinary works by Weyni Mengesha, Jordan Tannahill, Moynan King, Yvonne Ng, Liza Balkan and others. Opens May 9 and runs to May 21, see website for details and schedule. Most events free. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley. 416-368-3110, canadianstage.com/festival.

**FRONTERAS AMERICANAS by Guillermo Verdecchia (Soulpepper). Verdecchia perform his solo show about seeking his identity as an Argentinean-Canadian. Opens May 11 and runs to Jun 12, see website for schedule. $28-$65. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

**INTERIOR WITH MOVING FIGURES Peggy Baker Dance Projects presents four contemporary works being performed simultaneously in different galleries. Opens May 11 and runs to May 18, Wed 7 pm, Sat-Sun 2 pm. Free w/ admission (Wednesdays free). Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas W. peggybakerdance.com.

ISMENE by Jeremy Menekseoglu (Socratic Theatre Collective). Oedipus’s daughter rebels against the mechanics of tragedy that call for her family to be destroyed. Opens May 11 and runs to May 21, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $15, stu/srs $10, Tue pwyc. Marshall McLuhan Catholic Secondary School, 1107 Avenue Rd. socratictheatre.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 Oct 9 and runs to May 29, Sat 11 am, Sun 1:30 pm. $29.50-$39.50. Lower Ossington Theatre, 100A Ossington. 416-642-8973, vitaltheatre.ca.

**ROCK.PAPER.SISTAHZ (bcurrent). The 10th anniversary of the arts festival features poetry, spoken word, theatre, music, staged readings, dance, film and more. Opens May 10 and runs to May 20, see website for schedule. $10-$25, pass $59.99. Artscape Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie. 416-533-1500, bcurrent.ca.

SUDDENLY MOMMY! by Anne Marie Scheffler (Perfectly Norma Productions). Scheffler performs her solo comedy about motherhood. Opens May 16 and runs to May 22, Mon-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $20-$25. Theatre Centre, 1087 Queen W. 416-538-0988, suddenlymommy.com.

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE by William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin (Toronto Youth Theatre). Overachievers vie for the championship in this musical comedy. Opens May 18 and runs to May 28, Wed-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat 3:30 pm. $21.50-$37. Lower Ossington Theatre, 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, putnamcounty.eventbrite.com.

THE ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY COMPLETELY MADE UP SHOW Second City presents interactive, family-friendly improv and sketch. Sat 11 am. $12. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.

THE ALEPH by Jorge Luis Borges (Soulpepper). Diego Matamoros performs this adaptation of Borges’s short story. Previews May 13-16. Opens May 17 and runs to Jun 18, see website for schedule. $25-$35. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

THE SHAPE OF A GIRL by Joan MacLeod (Green Thumb Theatre). A teen is torn between loyalty to a bullying friend and the safety of others in this drama for ages 12 and up. Opens May 12 and runs to May 19, call or see website for schedule. $15-$20.Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People, 165 Front E. 416-862-2222, lktyp.ca.

**TO LIFE by Avery Saltzman and Tim French (Harold Green Jewish Theatre). The Jewish life cycle is portrayed through songs of the Jewish musical theatre canon in this revue. Opens May 17 and runs to May 29, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mats Sat-Sun and Wed 2 pm. $42.50-$79.50. Jane Mallett Theatre, 27 Front E. 416-366-7723, hgjewishtheatre.com.

TWELFTH NIGHT by William Shakespeare (Shakespeare Toronto). Love triangles and mistaken identities are part of this romantic comedy. May 19 at 8 pm. $28, stu/srs $20.Bathurst Street Theatre, 736 Bathurst. 416-915-6750, shakespearetoronto.com.

WONDERFUL by Shannon Blake (The Bench Theatre). Three women struggle to avoid losing their babies to Children’s Aid. Opens Apr 29 and runs to May 21, Thu-Sat 8 pm. $12-$15.Sanctuary, 25 Charles E. 416-922-0628 ext 215, thebenchtheatre.com.

YICHUD (SECLUSION) by Julie Tepperman (Convergence Theatre/TPM). An Orthodox Jewish couple are alone together for the first time following their arranged marriage. Opens May 21 and runs to May 29, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun and Wed 2 pm. $30-$45, Wed mat $20. Theatre Passe Muraille, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, passemuraille.on.ca.  (See the Mooney on Theatre review of an earlier version of this production)

*Listings based on NOW stage listings*