Caught our Eye Playlistings for the Week of July 25th

Here’s a list of all the theatre shows playing in Toronto this week. Take your pick and go see a show during the week of July 25th 2011:

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

Already covered by MoT

 

**BEST OF FRINGE UPTOWN (Fringe Toronto). Encore performances of Hypnogogic Logic By Uncalled For; ELLAmentary; Living With Henry; Kim’s Convenience; Love, Virtually; Mickey & Judy; Pitch Blond; Remember, Maggy?; The Soaps; The Travelling Salesman & His Magical Suitcase Of Desires; and Tiki Bikini Beach Paradise Party A-Go-Go. Opens Jul 20 and runs to Aug 5, shows performed in rep, nightly at 7 and 9 pm, mats Jul 29-30 at 4 pm. See website for details. $15. Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge. tocentre.com.

 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 Aug 4, 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 7 pm, Wed-Sat 7:30 pm, mats Sat-Sun and Wed 1:30 pm. $36-$130. Canon Theatre, 244 Victoria. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com

NEXT TO NORMAL by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey (Dancap productions). A woman struggles with bipolar disorder and the effect of her illness on her family in this musical. Previews Jul 19. Opens Jul 20 and runs to Jul 31, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mats Sat-Sun and Wed 2 pm. $34-$129. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-644-3665, dancaptickets.com.

SPENT by Michele Smith, Dean Gilmour, Ravi Jain and Adam Paolozza (Why Not Theatre/TheatreRUN). The absurd comedy about the financial crisis returns to raise funds for its run in Scotland and for the SummerWorks festival (Jul 22 show). Opens Jul 21 and runs to Jul 29, Wed-Sat 8 pm. $20. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, theatrerun.wordpress.com.

THE GLASS MENAGERIE by Tennessee Williams (Soulpepper). A broken family struggles to fulfill their dreams in this memory play. Previews Jul 1-5. Opens Jul 6 and runs to Sep 10, see website for schedule. $45-$65, rush $5-$22. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

WISHFUL DRINKING by Carrie Fisher (Mirvish). Fisher recalls the true tale of her life in Hollywood in this solo show. Opens Jul 12 and runs to Aug 21, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mats Sat-Sun and Wed 2 pm. $35-$99. Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

And the rest…

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM by William Shakespeare (Frolick/Feed your city). The classic comedy is presented outdoors to benefit local and ethical food growing projects. Opens Jul 21 and runs to Jul 30, Thu-Sat 6 pm, mat July 31 at 2 pm (pwyc). $35, stu $20, kids under 10 free. Carrot Common Green Roof, 348 Danforth. Frolick.ca.

BLUE MAN GROUP (Mirvish). The multimedia theatrical troupe presents its latest creation. Opens Jul 19 and runs to Jul 30, Mon-Sat 8 pm, mats Thu and Sat-Sun 2 pm. $40-$99. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

FIERCE MONSTERS by Rebecca Buttigieg (The Pop Group). This old-fashioned western with a twist gets a staged reading. Jul 31 at 7 pm. Pwyc. Victory café, upstairs, 581 Markham. 416-516-5787.

**LYSISTRATA – THE SEX STRIKE adapted by Germaine Greer (Hart House Theatre/Canopy Theatre). Aristophanes’s greek comedy about women who withhold sex until the men end the wars gets an outdoor staging. Opens Jul 20 and runs to Aug 6, wed-sat 8 pm. $10, stu/srs $8, wed pwyc. Philosopher’s walk, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-978-8849, canopytheatre.ca.

POINT NO POINT by Noah Davis (Chainsaw  Theatre co-op). A relationship is thrown into turmoil when a buried trauma resurfaces. Opens Jul 21 and runs to Jul 31, Tue-Sat 8 pm, sun 2:30 pm. $22. Tarragon theatre, extra space, 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, chainsawtheatre.com. 

SELKIEMAID (Little Red Theatre). A magical seal meets a special child in this play for ages four to 12. Opens Jul 23 and runs to Jul 29, sat 2 pm, Thu-Fri and Mon-Tue 1:30 pm, see website for other times. $11, child $9. Palmerston Library Theatre, 560 Palmerston. 416-533-8848, littleredtheatre.on.ca. 

SLEEPTALKER by Jill Battson (Theatre Centre). Battison’s new play about Somniloquist songwriter Dion McGregor gets a workshop reading. Jul 28 at 8 pm. Free. 1087 Queen W. 647-351-2466. theatrecentre.org

SOLT 2011 OPERA WORKSHOP SERIES (Summer Opera Lyric Theatre). This series features workshop productions of Mozart’s Idomeneo, Verdi’s La Traviata and Aaron Copland’s the Tender Land. Opens Jul 29 and runs to Aug 7, see website for schedule. $26, stu/srs $22. Robert Gill Theatre, 214 College. 416-978-7986, solt.ca. 

SURVIVAL OF THE FIERCEST by Shawn Hitchins (run ginger run). Hitchins performs his comedic musical cabaret about urban survival. Jul 27 at 8 pm. Pwyc. Buddies in bad times theatre, 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, shawnhitchins.com. 

SWEENEY TODD, THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler (No Strings Theatre). The wrath of a wrongfully convicted barber has brutal consequences in this musical. Opens Jul 27 and runs to Jul 30, Wed-Sat 7:30 pm, mats Fri-Sat 1:30 pm. $25-$27, stu/srs $20-$22. Al Green Theatre, 750 Spadina. 416-912-9809, nostringstheatre.com. 

**THE CHERRY ORCHARD by Anton Chekhov (Guildwood Festival Theatre). Chekhov’s play about an aristocratic family in financial trouble is presented outdoors. Opens Jul 7 and runs to Jul 31, wed-sun 8 pm, mat Sun 2 pm. $20, kids under 12 free. Guild Inn Gardens, Greek Theatre, 201 Guildwood Pkwy. 416-392-1421, guildfestivaltheatre.ca. 

THE COMEDY OF ERRORS by William Shakespeare (Humber River Shakespeare Co). Mistaken identities lead to trouble in this comedy presented outdoors. Jul 27-29, Wed-Fri 7 pm. Pwyc. Old Mill Inn, 21 Old Mill Rd. 416-209-2026, humberrivershakespeare.ca.

THE KREUTZER SONATA adapted by Ted Dykstra (Soulpepper). Dykstra performs his adaptation of Tolstoy’s novella inspired by Beethoven’s sonata. Previews Jul 12-14. Opens Jul 15 and runs to Aug 11, see website for schedule. $25-$35, rush $5-$22. Young centre for the performing arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

THE OCCUPATION OF HEATHER ROSE by Wendy Jill (Isolation Proximity Theatre). A woman falls down the rabbit hole and ends up in her own deconstructive wonderland. Jul 28-30 at 8 pm. $12-$15. Unit 102 studio, 46 noble. Isolationproximitytheatre@gmail.com.

**THE PEDALER’S WAGER (Clay & Paper Theatre). The theatre and Cyclops Troupes present a production featuring puppets and bicycles. Opens Jul 20 and runs to Aug 14, Wed-Sun 7 pm, mat Fri 2 pm (weekend mobile matinees at 2 pm; see website for details). Pwyc ($10 suggested). Dufferin Grove Park, Dufferin S of Bloor. Clayandpapertheatre.org/cyclops.

 **THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW by Richard O’Brien (Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts). This rock musical is based on the 70s film. Opens Jul 26 and runs to Jul 30, Tue-Thu and sat 8 pm, Fri 11:59 pm. $22. Bathurst Street Theatre, 736 Bathurst. 416-872-1111, randolphacademy.com

THE WINTER’S TALE by William Shakespeare (Canadian Stage Dream in High Park). A jealous king puts his wife on trial in this outdoor production. Opens Jun 28 and runs to Sep 4, Tue-sun 8 pm. Pwyc ($20 sugg); under 14 free. High park amphitheatre, Bloor W and Parkside. Canadianstage.com/dream.

THIS WIDE NIGHT by Chloe Moss (Mermaid Parade). On her release from prison, a woman seeks out her former cellmate but finds the friendship has changed. Previews Jul 20-21. Opens Jul 22 and runs to Jul 31, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mats sun (and Jul 30) 2 pm. $22-$44, stu/srs $17.50, previews $15, mat Pwyc. Theatre Passe Muraille, Backspace, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, thiswidenight.com.