Eye-Catching Toronto Theatre for the Week of May 28, 2012

Here is what’s going on in Toronto theatre this week. There are several great shows to catch for the week of May 28, 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

BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL by Jeff Whitty, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tom Kitt and Amanda Green (Mirvish). This musical comedy looks at high school rivalries and friendship in the world of competitive cheerleading. Opens May 2 and runs to Jun 3. $35-$130, rush $25. Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria. mirvish.com.

**HOME by David Storey (Soulpepper). The social interaction between five characters reveals their desire to belong and maintain human contact. Previews May 8-16. Opens May 17 and runs to Jun 20. $51-$68, stu $32; rush $22/stu $5. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

ISLANDS by Graham Porter (draft89 theatre collective). In 2512, the survivors of a nuclear cataclysm try to keep civilization going in this play about the clash between utopia and human nature. Previews May 16. Opens May 17 and runs to Jun 2. $30. Theatre Centre, 1087 Queen W. 416-538-0988, draft89.com.

**KIM’S CONVENIENCE by Ins Choi (Soulpepper). A Korean family in Toronto struggles with a bitter past and reconciliation. Opens May 17 and runs to Jun 9. $22-$68. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

LIVE WRONG AND PROSPER Second City presents its latest revue of sketches, songs and improvisations. Wed-Sat 8 pm, plus Fri & Sat 10:30 pm, Sun 7 pm. $24-$29, stu $15. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.

ODYSSEO (Cavalia). Theatre artists and horses create a spectacle combining equestrian arts, stage arts and special effects. Opens May 15 and runs to Jun 10. $29.50-$119.50. White Big Top, 324 Cherry. 1-866-999-8111, cavalia.net.

PIECES by Sarah Illiatovitch-Goldman (Cue6 Productions). The show’s script sequence is randomly drawn before each performance in this play about sex and betrayal. Opens May 24 and runs to Jun 9. $20-$30. Unit 102 Theatre, 376 Dufferin. cue6.ca.

**RENT by Johnathan Larson (Theatre Sheridan). New York artists struggle to make ends meet in the shadow of the AIDS epidemic in this musical. Previews May 15. Opens May 16 and runs to Jun 3. $40-$60, stu rush $25. Panasonic Theatre, 651 Yonge. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

STOCKHOLM by Bryony Lavery (Seventh Stage Theatre Productions/Nightwood Theatre). Problems arise in a couple’s rosy relationship in this play about the lines between love and lust, aggressor and victim. Previews May 11-13. Opens May 15 and runs to Jun 3. $15-$30.Tarragon Theatre, Extra Space, 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, seventhstageproductions.com/theatre.

THE REAL WORLD? by Michel Tremblay (Tarragon Theatre). A playwright draws on his family as the raw material for his first work. Previews Apr 24-May 1. Opens May 2 and runs to Jun 3. $21-$51. 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.

**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, rush $29. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com

WEST SIDE STORY by Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim (Dancap Productions). A young man falls in love with a rival gang member’s sister in this musical. Opens May 8 and runs to Jun 3. $51-$180. Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge. 416-644-3665, dancaptickets.com

YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU by George S Kaufman and Moss Hart (Soulpepper). An eccentric clan experiences unusual order when their daughter finds a fiancé from a conservative family. Previews Apr 19-25. Opens Apr 26 and runs to Jun 21. $51-$68, stu $32; rush $22/stu $5. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

And the rest…

A VERY CHRIS-TERICAL 90S CABARET (Theresa Hubbard/Chris Tsujiuchi). Stacey Maroske, Vaughn Harris, Wade Muir, Tsujiuchi and others perform a musical cabaret. Jun 1-2 at 8 pm. $10. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Tallulah’s Cabaret, 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555. buddiesinbadtimes.com.

AN EVENING OF MUSIC AND LAUGHTER (The Company Theatre). This funder for TCT’s upcoming production features Allan Hawco, Mark Critch, musical guests and more. May 30 at 7 pm. $75. Dora Keogh, 141 Danforth. 416-568-2466, companytheatre.ca.

BUGZZZ – A CAUTIONARY TALE by William Mackwood (Out of the Box Productions). In a post-human world, insects find a copy of Puccini’s Tosca and attempt to perform it in order to learn about humankind. Opens May 31 and runs to Jun 9. $17-$25. Wychwood Barns, 76 Wychwood. 416-537-4191, outoftheboxproductions.ca.

CONTES POUR ENFANTS PAS SAGES: 8 CAUTIONARY ENTERTAINMENTS by Christopher Butterfield (Continuum Contemporary Music). Music, voices and projection are used in this staging of Jacques Prévert’s darkly themed animal fables. May 27-29. $30, stu/srs $15. 918 Bathurst Centre for Culture & the Arts, 918 Bathurst. 416-924-4945, continuummusic.org.

DEAR WORLD by Jerry Herman, Jerome Lawrence and Robert E Lee (Civic Light Opera Company). An eccentric old lady stands up to a corporation and saves the world in this musical. Opens May 23 and runs to Jun 9. $28. Fairview Library Theatre, 35 Fairview Mall. 416-755-1717, musictheatretoronto.com.

HAMLET The National Ballet of Canada presents Kevin O’Day’s adaptation of the Shakespeare play. Opens Jun 1 and runs to Jun 10. $25-$234. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-345-9595, national.ballet.ca.

INFUSION The Dark Side Studio presents an evening of alternative bellydance with Akimi, Danielle Davies, Audra, Monique Ryan, Rachel Brice and others. Jun 2 at 9 pm. $25. Royal Cinema, 608 College. thedarksidestudio.com.

**INSPIRATO FESTIVAL (Dominik Loncar). The annual festival of 10-minute plays presents works by Nina Ki, Robin Pond, Amina Henry, Greg Vovos, Nelson Yu, Stanley Toledo and others. Opens Jun 1 and runs to Jun 10. $12, four-show pass $38. Alumnae Theatre, 70 Berkeley. inspiratofestival.ca.

LOST IN YONKERS by Neil Simon (Harold Green Jewish Theatre). Marion Ross stars in Simon’s play about two boys who must live with their harsh grandmother. Previews May 12-16. Opens May 17 and runs to Jun 10. $42.50-$79.50. Jane Mallett Theatre, 27 Front E. 416-366-7723, hgjewishtheatre.com.

NEW ART NIGHT (Living Room Productions). Various local theatre companies present short original creations. May 28-30. Pwyc. Unit 102 Theatre, 376 Dufferin. livingroomtheatreto@gmail.com.

PAUL & MARIE by Roberto Angelini (Two Snakes Productions). A couple risk their secure life to pursue fulfilling careers in the arts. Opens May 24 and runs to Jun 2. $25. George Ignatieff Theatre, 15 Devonshire. twosnakesproductions.com.

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by Helen Jerome (Lakeshore Drama Club). Students perform this adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic novel. Opens May 30 and runs to Jun 1. $10, stu/srs $7.Lakeshore Collegiate Institute, 350 Kipling. lakeshorecollegiate.ca.

PRINCE RAMA IN THE WILDERNESS Harbourfront Centre NextSteps and Menaka Thakkar Dance Theatre present a family-friendly Indian dance work based on the Ramayana. May 31-Jun 2. $25, child under 12 $10. Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, menakathakkardance.org.

RENT by Jonathan Larson (Toronto Youth Theatre). Artists of NYC’s Lower East Side struggle to make ends meet in the shadow of the AIDS epidemic in this musical. Opens May 24 and runs to Jun 16. $45-$60. Lower Ossington Theatre, 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.

SITAYANA Harbourfront Centre NextSteps and Menaka Thakkar Dance Theatre present a Indian dance work based on the Ramayana retold from a feminist point of view. May 31-Jun 2. $30-$35, srs $25-$28, stu $15. Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, menakathakkardance.org.

THE GREEN DOOR CABARET SERIES (Lower Ossington Theatre). This series features cabaret performances by various artists. Opens May 11 and runs to Jun 9. $20-$30. 100A Ossington. lowerossingtontheatre.com/cabaret.

THE HYPOCHONDRIAC by Molière (East Side Players). A man is obsessed with his imaginary ailments in this classic farce. Opens May 24 and runs to Jun 9. $20, stu $15. Papermill Theatre, 67 Pottery. 416-425-0917, eastsideplayers.ca.

**THE SCRIPT-TEASE PROJECT (National Theatre of the World). Improvised plays will be created and performed based on two pages written by playwrights Maja Ardal, Michael Healey, Sky Gilbert, Scott Thompson, Ins Choi and others. Opens May 28 and runs to Jun 3. $20, stu $15. Theatre Passe Muraille, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, thenationaltheatreoftheworld.com.

TORONTO FESTIVAL OF CLOWNS (Adam Lazarus/Dave McKay). This festival features clowns, bouffons and physical theatre performers including Phil Luzi, Sandra Battaglini, Shelley Marshall, Helen Donnelly, Morro & Jasp and others. May 31-Jun 3. $10. Pia Bouman Studio Theatre, 6 Noble. torontofestivalofclowns.com.

TORONTO MONOLOGUE SLAM (Trane Studio). Upcoming actors deliver intimate and energetic performances. Jun 3 at 7 pm. $10-$15. 2335 Yonge. toslam.com.

*Listings based on NOW stage listings*