Eye-Catching Toronto Theatre for the Week of August 15

Here’s what’s going on in Toronto theatre this week. There are several great shows to catch for the week of August 15, 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 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.

DUSK DANCES 2011 presents outdoor dance by Santee Smith, Jenn Goodwin, Jon ‘Drops’ Reid, Roshanak Jaberi and Lua Shayenne. Aug 18-21, Thu-Sun 7 pm. Pwyc. Earlscourt Park, St Clair W at Caledonia. duskdances.ca.

**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.

**TOTEM by Robert Lepage (Cirque du Soleil). Music, dance, acrobatics and design are used to trace the journey of the human species from amphibians to its desire to fly. Opens Aug 10 and runs to Oct 9, Tue-Sat 8 pm (opening night 7:30 pm), mats Sun 1 & 5 pm, Fri-Sat 4 pm (no show Sep 6). $74-$249, stu/srs $67-$235, children under 12 $54-$208. Grand Chapiteau, Port Lands, Commissioners at Cherry. cirquedusoleil.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.

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

BABEL RAP by John Lazarus (Speakeasy Productions). Two men building the Tower of Babel argue about the job and what the structure means. Aug 18-20 at 7:30 pm. $15, stu $12. Bread & Circus, 299 Augusta. speakeasyproductions.org.

BRUNCH & LAUGHS WSB Enterprises presents comedy and brunch with Blakka Ellis. Aug 21 Doors open at noon. $45. Maple Banquet Hall, 1325 Eglinton E. 416-744-2913.

COME FLY AWAY Dancap Productions presents a dance-theatre piece by Twyla Tharp about four couples at a night club, featuring the music of Frank Sinatra. Previews Aug 16-17. Opens Aug 18 and runs to Aug 28, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mats Sat-Sun and Wed 2 pm. $42-$135. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-644-3665, dancaptickets.com.

**’DA KINK IN MY HAIR by trey anthony (Trey Anthony Studios). Eight women tell their stories in a Caribbean hair salon in Toronto. Previews Aug 11-14. Opens Aug 13 and runs to Aug 21, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mats Sat-Sun 2 pm. $37-$67, previews $30, opening VIP $99. Enwave Theatre, 231 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, treyanthonystudios.com.

EXIT THE KING by Eugene Ionesco (Soulpepper). An aging king with a crumbling kingdom gets more bad news in this absurdist play. Previews Aug 6-15. Opens Aug 16 and runs to Sep 9, 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 EROS CABARET Rivoli presents music, dance and more with Winston Spear, Jimmy Danger, the Daunting Divas, Jamee Valin and others. Aug 17 at 9 pm. $12-$15. 332 Queen W. 416-553-1352.

**INTO THE WOODS by James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim (StageWorks Toronto). Characters from popular fairy tales reunite in a musical about wishes and consequences. Aug 18-21, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mats Sat-Sun 2 pm. $20. Annex Theatre, 730 Bathurst. 416-803-5287, stageworkstoronto.com.

KOMIC SUTRA Harbourfront Centre presents stand-up comedian Nitin Mirani and others in an 18+ show, as part of the Masala! Mehndi! Masti! festival. Aug 20 10:30 pm. Free. 235 Queens Quay W. harbourfrontcentre.com.

MASALA! MEHNDI! MASTI! Harbourfront Centre and Satya Arts present the South Asian arts fest, including dance by Swar Sadhana, Dandiya Raas, Sanskriti Arts, Tarana Dance Academy and more. Aug 19-21, see website for schedule. Free. 235 Queens Quay W. masalamehndimasti.com.

TWEED: A NEW CANADIAN MUSICAL by Tim Porter and Andre Morin (IANA Theatre Company). A couple’s new love is torn apart by the coming war in this play based on the history of the town of Tweed, Ontario. Opens Aug 18 and runs to Aug 27, Thu-Sun 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $28.25, stu/srs $25. Papermill Theatre, 67 Pottery. tweedthemusical.com

 

*Listings based on NOW stage listings*