Eye-Catching Toronto Theatre for the Week of June 6, 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 June 6th, 2011:

** 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…

**BILLY BISHOP GOES TO WAR by Eric Peterson and John Gray (Soulpepper Theatre Company). Soulpepper remounts its hit production about the famous WWI fighter pilot. Previews Jun 1. Opens Jun 3 and runs to Jun 21, see website for schedule. $45-$65, stu $28, rush $22 (stu $5). 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 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.

**DOUBLE BILL (Soulpepper). The Academy presents (re)Birth: E.E. Cummings In Song and Lab Series creation Window On Toronto. Previews Apr 30-May 8. Opens May 9 and runs to Jun 18, see website for schedule. $28-$65. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

FRONTERAS AMERICANAS by Guillermo Verdecchia (Soulpepper). Verdecchia perform his solo show about seeking his identity as an Argentinean-Canadian. Previews May 6-9. 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.

LA BOHÈME by Giacomo Puccini (Against the Grain Theatre). The classic opera is reset in contemporary Toronto and performed in English. Jun 2-5 at 8 pm. $30. Tranzac, 292 Brunswick. againstthegraintheatre.com.

OUR TOWN by Thornton Wilder (Soulpepper). A stage manager paints a portrait of life in a small American town around 1900. Previews Apr 7-12. Opens Apr 13 and runs to Jun 18, see website for schedule. $45-$65, stu $28; rush $5-$22. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

**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 LION KING by Elton John and Tim Rice (Mirvish). The musical based on the Disney film returns. Previews Apr 19. Opens Apr 20 and 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 RAILWAY CHILDREN by Edith Nesbit (Mirvish). Three siblings struggle to survive after their father is imprisoned in Edwardian England. Opens May 3 and 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.

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. Opens Jun 6 and runs to Jun 15, see website for schedule. $45-$60, stu $28; rush $5-$22. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

TIGHTROPE by 2boys.tv (Stephen Lawson and Aaron Pollard) (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre). This theatrical song cycle looks at societal amnesia and cultures threatened by suppression of memory. Previews May 26. Opens May 27 and runs to Jun 5, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. $19-$33, Sun pwyc. 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, buddiesinbadtimes.com.

**ZADIE’S SHOES by Adam Pettle (Factory Theatre). Desperate to recoup his losses, a gambler looks to his forgotten synagogue for a miracle. Previews Apr 30-May 4. Opens May 5 and 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

ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND National Ballet of Canada and the Royal Ballet (UK) present Christopher Wheeldon’s interpretation of Lewis Carroll’s story. Opens Jun 4 and runs to Jun 12, Wed-Sat 7:30 pm, Sun (and Jun 9 and 11) 2 pm. Jun 23-25, Thu-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $24-$227. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-345-9595, national.ballet.ca.

**ANDROMACHE by Jean Racine (Necessary Angel/Luminato). Following a war, a woman must give herself to the new leader or let her son be executed in this adaptation of the Greek myth. Previews Jun 10. Opens Jun 11 and runs to Jun 19, daily at 8 pm. $51.50. Theatre Centre, 1087 Queen W. 416-368-4849, luminato.com.

CHOCOLATE WOMAN DREAMS THE MILKY WAY (The Chocolate Woman Collective). This collective creation looks at feminine strength from an indigenous perspective. Previews May 31-Jun 1. Opens Jun 2 and runs to Jun 19, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $20, stu/srs $10. Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse, 79A St. George. 647-717-6129, totix.ca.

CITY OF HOPE: TORONTO CARES (Actors’ Fund of Canada). Cast and crew members from The Lion King and Billy Elliott present a cabaret benefit of song, dance and spoken word. Jun 6 at 8 pm. $25. Tranzac, 292 Brunswick. 416-975-0304, brownpapertickets.com.

**INSPIRATO FESTIVAL (Dominik Loncar). The annual festival of 10-minute plays presents works by Jordan Davis, Catherine Frid, Len Cuthbert and others. Opens Jun 2 and runs to Jun 11, Thu-Sat 8 pm, see website for more times. $12-$17. Alumnae Theatre, 70 Berkeley. inspiratofestival.ca.

L’IMPLORANTE by Claude Guilmain (Théâtre La Tangente). This dance-theatre piece based on letters between sculptors Camille Claudel and Auguste Rodin is performed in French with English audio. Previews Jun 6. Opens Jun 7 and runs to Jun 11, Mon-Sat 8 pm. $20-$40.Glendon Campus Theatre, 2275 Bayview. 416-947-7909, theatrelatangente.ca.

NATURAL MAGICK (Magicana/Luminato). David Ben performs a theatrical magic show about the world’s master magicians. Opens Jun 10 and runs to Jun 16, Tue-Sun 8 pm. $36.50-$41.50.Tarragon Theatre, 30 Bridgman. luminato.com.

**ONE THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS (Dash Arts/Luminato). Scenes from the famous Arabian stories are performed in English, French and Arabic with surtitles in this two-part show. Previews Jun 7-10. Opens Jun 11 and runs to Jun 19, Tue-Sun 7 pm, mats Sat-Sun 2 pm. $49-$115. Joey and Toby Tanenbaum Opera Centre, 227 Front E. 416-368-4849, luminato.com.

PRESENT LAUGHTER by Noel Coward (East Side Players). An actor deals with various people vying for his attention in this comedy. Opens May 26 and runs to Jun 11, Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $20, stu $15. Papermill Theatre, 67 Pottery. 416-425-0917, eastsideplayers.ca.

REEFER MADNESS: THE MUSICAL by Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney (JR Theatre Company). This musical comedy satirizes the 1930s propaganda film about the dangers of marijuana. Opens Jun 9 and runs to Jun 18, Thu-Sat 8 pm, plus Fri-Sat 11:30 pm. $27.50-$37.50. Lower Ossington Theatre, 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, reefertoronto.com.

STEPS FROM HOME PushPULL Dance presents non-professional dancers performing styles from ballet and jazz to modern, African and salsa. Opens Jun 9 and runs to Jun 18, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mats Sun (and Jun 18) 2 pm. $20, mat $15. Winchester Street Theatre, 80 Winchester. pushpulldance.com.

**TAJ Luminato and Sampradaya Dance Creations present a dance-theatre piece that tells the story of love and political intrigue that led to the creation of the Taj Mahal. Jun 10-12, Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $51.50-$71.50. Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay W. 416-368-4849, luminato.com.

THE LAWYER SHOW: AS YOU LIKE IT by William Shakespeare (Nightwood Theatre). Toronto lawyers perform a modern, urban version of the classic comedy in this funder for Nightwood. Jun 9-11, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $60. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley. 416-944-1740 ext 5, nightwoodtheatre.net.

THE WALLS ARE ALIVE WITH THE SOUND OF MAD PEOPLE (Friendly Spike Theatre Band). The company presents development rehearsals of a new production about the CAMH Patient Built Wall. Mar 11 at 6:30 pm. Apr 8 at 6:30 pm. May 13 at 6:30 pm. Jun 10 at 6:30 pm. Jul 8 at 6:30 pm. Free. May Robinson Auditorium, 20 West Lodge Ave. friendlyspike@primus.ca.

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.

URINETOWN by Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis (CATS Mainstage Theatre Company). A corporation takes advantage of a global water shortage in this musical comedy. Opens Jun 8 and runs to Jun 11, Wed-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat 1:30 pm. $25, stu $15. Theatre Passe Muraille, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, catsmainstage.com.

WHERE’S THE BEEF? (Les Coquettes). The burlesque troupe perform an 80s-inspired cabaret. Opens Jun 5 and runs to Jun 12, Sun 7 and 9:30 pm. $15-$30. Revival, 783 College. lescoquettes.com.

 

*Listings based on NOW stage listings*