Eye-Catching Toronto Theatre for the Week of April 9, 2012

Here is what’s going on in Toronto theatre this week. There are several great shows to catch for the week of March 19, 2012: ** 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

**Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris (Studio 180 Theatre/Canadian Stage). A battle over race and real estate rages over two generations in a suburban Chicago neighbourhood. Previews Apr 2-4. Opens Apr 5 and runs to Apr 28. $22-$49, limited Mon pwyc. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley. 416-368-3110, studio180theatre.com.

I Love You Because by Joshua Salzman and Ryan Cunningham (Angelwalk Theatre). An uptight man meets a flighty woman in this musical modern twist on Jane Austen’s Pride And Prejudice. Previews Mar 28-29. Opens Mar 30 and runs to Apr 15. $35-$45, previews $30. Toronto Centre for the Arts, Studio Theatre, 5040 Yonge. 416-872-1111, angelwalk.ca.

Live Wrong And Prosper Second City presents its latest revue of sketches, songs and improvisations. Wed-Sat 8 pm, plus Sat 10:30 pm, Sun 7 pm. $24-$29, stu $15. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.

**My Granny The Goldfish by Anosh Irani (Factory Theatre). A neurotic man’s Indian grandmother comes to Canada to help him recover from illness. Previews Mar 17-21. Opens Mar 22 and runs to Apr 15. $30-$40, mat pwyc, previews $20. 125 Bathurst. 416-504-9971, factorytheatre.ca.

Sia by Matthew MacKenzie (Cahoots Theatre Company). A Canadian student volunteering in West Africa is taken hostage by a former child soldier. Previews Mar 24-25. Opens Mar 27 and runs to Apr 15. $30, stu/srs $25, mats pwyc-$18.75. Factory Theatre, Studio, 125 Bathurst. 416-504-9971, cahoots.ca.

**War Horse based on a novel by Michael Morpurgo, adapted by Nick Stafford (National Theatre of Great Britain/Mirvish). An English boy sets out to find his horse after it’s sold to the cavalry and shipped off to France during WWI. Previews Feb 10-27. Opens Feb 28 and runs to Sep 30. $35-$130. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

**Was Spring by Daniel MacIvor (Tarragon Theatre). Three women from different generations confront each other about an incident in their shared past. Previews Mar 27-Apr 3. Opens Apr 4 and runs to May 6. $24-$51. 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.

 

And The Rest…

A Month Of Sundays Aimee Dawn Robinson presents a performance series that features art, video, dance and more with Dawne Carleton, Evan Webber, Victoria Cheong and others. Opens Apr 1 and runs to Apr 29. $10. Halo Halo Village, 208 Christie. wix.com/aprilisamonthofsunda/aprilisamonthofsundays.

Armide by Jean-Baptiste Lully (Opera Atelier). The doomed love affair of a Christian knight and a Muslim princess plays out against a backdrop of obsession, jealousy and magic. Opens Apr 14 and runs to Apr 21. $35-$175. Elgin Theatre, 189 Yonge. 1-855-622-2787, operaatelier.com.

Bboyizm – IZM DanceWorks and Harbourfront NextSteps present choreographer/dancer Yvon Soglo (Crazy Smooth) exploring the street dance tradition. Apr 13-14. $15-$28, stu/srs $15-$18. Enwave Theatre, 231 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.

**Cosi by Louis Nowra (Alumnae Theatre). A theatre director looks to stage Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte with a cast of mental patients in 1970s Australia. Apr 13-28. $20, Wed 2-for-1, Sun pwyc. 70 Berkeley. 416-364-4170, alumnaetheatre.com.

Dream Dance presents improvised music and dance with Aisha Sasha John plus musicians. Mar 21 at 8 pm. Apr 11 at 8 pm. $8. Somewhere There Studio, 227 Sterling. coexisdance.wordpress.com.

Essence YMI Dancing presents new work by Julia Aplin, Kate Franklin, Bethany Litner and Larissa Taurins. Apr 12-15. $20, stu/srs $15, Sun pwyc. Pia Bouman Studio, 6 Noble. 416-533-3706, ymidancing.com.

Forever Plaid by Stuart Ross (Lower Ossington Theatre). Four young singers get a posthumous chance to fulfill their dreams in this musical revue. Opens Apr 13 and runs to Apr 28. $45. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.

Haunted by Daniel Karasik (Between Stages). Karasik’s play about family, desire and spiritual hunger gets a reading. Apr 10 at 8 pm. Pwyc ($10 sugg). Miles Nadal JCC, 750 Spadina. 416-924-6211 ext 606, mnjcc.org.

Heart Strings, The Musical (Reynold Nathaniel). In 1908, an Italian apprentice goes to Ireland to deliver an anniversary gift from Germany. Opens Mar 23 and runs to Apr 28. $20-$25. The Annex Live, 296 Brunswick. 416-929-3999.

Jack And The Giant Beanstalk by Linda A Carson (Young People’s Theatre). This version of the classic children’s folk tale features audience participation. Opens Apr 2 and runs to Apr 21. $10-$20. 165 Front E. 416-862-2222, youngpeoplestheatre.ca.

Mortified HATCH 2012 presents a creation by Jenn Goodwin and Camilla Singh that uses sound and movement to explore aggression, enthusiasm, kindness, rage, pride and regret. Apr 14 at 8 pm. $15, stu/srs $12. Harbourfront Centre, Studio Theatre, 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.

One Way Ticket Fundraiser Richie Doyle presents art, dance and spoken word performances to raise funds for his upcoming show w/ Helen Cox & Joey Eddy, Emma Kerson, Doyle and others. Apr 14. Pwyc. The White House Studio Project, 277.5 Augusta. theotherwhitehouse.ca.

Orpheus Descending/Happy End by Tennessee Williams/Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht (George Brown College Theatre School). Williams’s Southern retelling of the Orpheus myth and the Weill/Brecht surrealistic musical comedy are presented in repertory. Opens Apr 10 and runs to Apr 21. $18, srs $12, stu $7. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, youngcentre.ca.

Prisoner Of Tehran by Marina Nemat (Contrary Company). Nemat’s memoir of being imprisoned on false charges, a forced marriage and family tension is adapted for the stage. Previews Apr 10. Opens Apr 11 and runs to Apr 28. $30-$35, stu/srs $20, mat pwyc. Theatre Passe Muraille, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, artsboxoffice.ca.

Projections Momentum Dance Toronto presents a variety of dance forms and choreography performed over music from the movies. Opens Apr 11 and runs to Apr 14. $25, Wed preview $20. Winchester Street Theatre, 80 Winchester. momentumdancetoronto.com.

Quicksand/Nine Harbourfront NextSteps and inDANCE present works by Hari Krishnan that mix classical Indian dance with modern influences and explore culture and human encounters. Apr 12-14. $30-$35, srs $25-$28, stu $15. Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.

Romeo And Juliet by William Shakespeare (ESA Drama). Students perform the classic tragedy with influences from modern and traditional Japanese culture. Opens Apr 11 and runs to Apr 13. $21, stu $13. Etobicoke School of the Arts, Nancy Main Auditorium, 675 Royal York. esainfo.ca.

Speakeasy (Les Coquettes). The cabaret theatre company presents burlesque, music and more inspired by vintage NYC nightclubs in a dinner theatre show. Apr 4. Apr 15. Apr 22. Dinner + show $85; show only $20-$55. Revival, 783 College. lescoquettes.com.

Spring Fever Festival (Theatre Elusive). This festival offers previews of in-development shows, featuring comedy duo the Young Geologists, stage combat by Demanding Satisfaction and more. Apr 9-11. Pwyc. Theatre Centre, 1087 Queen W. theatrecentre.org.

The Duck Variations by David Mamet (Glance Productions). Two friends watch ducks in a park while obliquely talking about life, aging and death. Opens Apr 3 and runs to Apr 14. $18, stu/srs $15. Red Sandcastle Theatre, 922 Queen E. 416-845-9411, glanceproductions.ca.

The Evolution of B-boying The Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre presents a street dance showcase with dancer/choreographer Yvon Soglo. Apr 12 at noon. Free. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. coc.ca.

**The Melville Boys by Norm Foster (Panfish Productions). Two pairs of siblings have their cottage getaway plans changed by a chance meeting in this comedy. Opens Apr 12 and runs to Apr 28. $25. Alumnae Theatre, Studio, 70 Berkeley. 647-401-9727, panfishproductions.ca

The Simian Showcase (Monkeyman Productions). Short plays by Sarah Bowden, Nick Philpott, Matthew Ivan Bennett and DJ Sylvis deal with themes of geek/fandom/pop culture. Opens Apr 13 and runs to Apr 21. $10. Imperial Pub, 54 Dundas E. monkeymanproductions.com.

The Tales Of Hoffman by Jacques Offenbach (Canadian Opera Company). The dark reminiscences of a drunken poet come to life as he recalls his lost loves. Opens Apr 10 and runs to May 14. $12-$318. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-363-8231, coc.ca.

*Listings based on NOW stage listings*