Eye-Catching Toronto Theatre for the Week of March 18th, 2013

Here is what’s going on in Toronto theatre this week. There are several great shows to catch for the week of March 18th, 2013. ** 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

And Slowly Beauty… by Michel Nadeau (Belfry Theatre/National Arts Centre English Theatre). An uninspired office worker wins tickets to a play and discovers the transformative power of art. Previews Feb 20-26. Opens Feb 27 and runs to Mar 31. $48-$53, srs $38-$43, stu $27, previews $21-$24, rush $13. Tarragon Theatre, 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.

As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner (Theatre Smith-Gilmour). A family hauls their matriarch’s corpse across the Mississippi countryside to honour her dying wish. Previews Mar 8-12. Opens Mar 13 and runs to Mar 30. $25-$35, stu $20-$30, mats pwyc; opening night gala $45, stu $22. Theatre Passe Muraille, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, theatresmithgilmour.com.

Ching Chong Chinaman by Lauren Yee (fu-GEN Theatre Company). A teen from a highly assimilated Chinese-American family acquires a Chinese indentured servant in this play about the Asian American Dream. Previews Mar 12-13. Opens Mar 14 and runs to Mar 30. $15-$28, Sun pwyc. Daniels Spectrum, Aki Studio Theatre, 585 Dundas E. 1-800-204-0855, fu-gen.org.

Dairy-Free Love by Victoria Murdoch (Capricorn 9 Productions). Murdoch performs her solo comedy about the life of an internet cooking show host. Mar 21-23. $15, stu/srs $12. Red Sandcastle Theatre, 922 Queen E. 416-845-9411, redsandcastletheatre.com.

Dancing With Rage by Mary Walsh (Mirvish). Walsh performs her solo show featuring characters she has played over the years and scenes about pop culture and politics. Opens Mar 5 and runs to Mar 24. $25-$79. Panasonic Theatre, 651 Yonge. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

**Hannah Moscovitch Double Bill (Tarragon/Theatre Crisis/Theatre Panik). Other People’s Children is performed with Little One (to Mar 17) and In This World (Mar 19-24). Opens Feb 14 and runs to Mar 24. $27-$53, previews $21-$24, rush $13, pwyc Mar 16 mat. Tarragon Theatre, Extra Space, 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.

**Iceland by Nicholas Billon (Factory Theatre). Set against the backdrop of the banking crisis, a confrontation between a real estate agent and a tenant takes an unexpected turn. Previews Mar 2-6. Opens Mar 7 and runs to Mar 24. $32-$42, preview $22. 125 Bathurst. 416-504-9971, factorytheatre.ca.

Laws Of Motion by Ashlin Halfnight (Small Elephant Co-Op). The lives of 11 people are changed when the domino effect of one tragic incident touches each of them in different ways. Opens Mar 1 and runs to Mar 23. $23.53. Jam Factory Co, 2 Matilda. lawsofmotion.ca.

New Ideas Festival (Alumnae Theatre). The annual showcase of new writing, works-in-progress and experimental theatre features plays and staged readings. Opens Mar 6 and runs to Mar 24. $15, pass $35, Sat readings pwyc. 70 Berkeley. 416-364-4170, alumnaetheatre.com.

Rock by Kat Sandler (Paper Scissors Collective). A pitch black comedy about love and how far you would go to protect someone you care about who has recently started bludgeoning people to dead with rocks. Opens Mar 8 and runs to Mar 23. $20, Mar 10 pwyc, Mar 20 half price. The StoreFront Theatre, 955 Bloor St. W. theatrebrouhaha.com/portfolio/rock

The Meme-Ing Of Life Second City presents its spring mainstage revue about the wins and epic fails of living on and off the digital highway. Opens Mar 5 and runs to May 29. $24-$29, stu $15. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.

The Seagull In Four Movements (Upstart Theatre). Chekhov’s 19th-century Russian tragicomedy is adapted to a modern-day Toronto bar frequented by composers and musicians. Opens Mar 14 and runs to Mar 23. $15, stu/srs $10. Winchester Kitchen & Bar, 51A Winchester. upstart.seagull@gmail.com.

The Wizard Of Oz adapted by Andrew Lloyd Webber (The Really Useful Group/Mirvish/Troika Entertainment/Warner Bros/Bill Kenwright). A twister sends Dorothy over the rainbow in this musical based on the film. Previews Dec 20-Jan 12. Opens Jan 13 and runs to Jun 2. $35-$130. Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

And the Rest…

¡Theatresports! Spring Tournament Bad Dog Theatre presents the 30th year of the improv comedy competition. Opens Mar 9 and runs to May 25. $12, stu $10. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. 647-898-5324, baddogtheatre.com.

Acceleration 2013 The School of Toronto Dance Theatre presents excerpts from Peggy Baker’s Piano/Quartet, plus works by Christopher House, Danny Grossman, José Limon and others. Opens Mar 20 and runs to Mar 23. $19, stu/srs $15. Winchester Street Theatre, 80 Winchester. 416-967-6887, schooloftdt.org.

**Arigato, Tokyo by Daniel MacIvor (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre). A visiting Canadian author is pulled into a world of obsession, sex and longing in this play that fuses Japan and the West. Previews Mar 16-20. Opens Mar 21 and runs to Apr 14. Pwyc-$37. 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, buddiesinbadtimes.com.

Beat Nation All Style Dance Battle The Power Plant presents a hip-hop inspired mashup of music, dance and art as part of the Beat Nation exhibit, featuring 16 dance crews competing for a cash prize. Mar 22 at 8 pm. Free. Enwave Theatre, 231 Queens Quay W. thepowerplant.org.

Cabaret, Comedy And Coffee Talk (The Flying Beaver Pubaret). This cabaret variety/chat show features pianist Chris Tsujiuchi, burlesque performer Red Herring, poet MC Jazz and host Ryan G Hinds. Mar 22 at 9 pm. $10-$15. 488 Parliament. pubaret.com.

Death Clowns in Guantanamo Bay (Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies/the Blacklist Committee for Unsafe Theatre). Two clowns attempt to learn the truth about the deaths of three prisoners in this collective creation. Mar 21-24. $10, Sun pwyc. Glen Morris Studio Theatre, 4 Glen Morris. 416-978-7986, blacklistcommittee.wordpress.com.

FemCab 2013 (Nightwood Theatre). This multi-arts performance cabaret in honour of International Women’s Day features Min Sook Lee, Diane Flacks, Robin Hatch, host Shoshana Sperling and others. Mar 20 at 8 pm. $15-$25. Berkeley Street Theatre, Upstairs, 26 Berkeley. 416-368-3110, nightwoodtheatre.net.

Gwen Powers by Michael Goldlist (WORKhouse Theatre). A smart, sexy high school student and her teacher push the boundaries of their relationship. Opens Mar 22 and runs to Apr 6. $25, stu $15, mat pwyc. Theatre Passe Muraille, Backspace, 16 Ryerson. workhousetheatre.com.

Half Life Motel DanceWorks CoWorks presents a shared program by Blue Ceiling dance and Flightworks featuring duets and solos choreographed by Nova Bhattacharya, Lucy Rupert, Karen Kaeja and Diana (Groenendijk) Rose. Opens Mar 20 and runs to Mar 23. $18-$22, mat $25 (benefit for Myeloma Fdn). Dancemakers Centre for Creation, 9 Trinity, ste 313. 416-204-1082, danceworks.ca.

In Vino Veritas by Teige Reid (Pubcrawl Theatre). Reid performs a monologue show about the twists of fate that haunt the denizens of a small pub. Oct 19 at 7 pm. Nov 16 at 7 pm. Dec 14 at 7 pm. Jan 18 at 7 pm. Feb 15 at 7 pm. Mar 22 at 7 pm. Apr 19 at 7 pm. May 17 at 7 pm. $20. Fox & Fiddle, 27 Wellesley E. pubcrawltheatre.com.

Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice (Curtain Call Players). This family musical reinvents the Biblical story of Joseph and his brothers. Opens Mar 21 and runs to Mar 30. $26. York Woods Library Theatre, 1785 Finch W. 416-703-6181, curtaincallplayers.com.

Once Upon A Murder (Mysteriously Yours… Dinner Theatre). Preparations for a royal wedding are interrupted by a murder in this interactive dinner-theatre mystery. Opens Jan 25 and runs to May 31. $40-$71. 2026 Yonge. 416-486-7469, mysteriouslyyours.com.

Rock Of Ages by Chris D’Arienzo (Sony Centre for the Performing Arts). This arena-rock love story takes place on L.A.’s Sunset Strip and features hits from the 80s. Opens Mar 19 and runs to Mar 24. $25-$90. 1 Front E. 1-855-872-7669, sonycentre.ca.

Sexpectations: A Collective Procreation (Hart House Players). Photography, performance art, dance, music, drama and more are used to present a sex-themed cabaret. Mar 24 at 8 pm. Pwyc. Hart House, Debates Room, 7 Hart House Circle. facebook.com/events/145237418975574.

ShakesBeer (The Classical Theatre Project). The company performs The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare, Abridged – all 37 plays in 87 minutes – in a pop-up theatre tavern setting. Opens Mar 16 and runs to Mar 23. $49. Artscape Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie. shakesbeer.ca.

Tent Talks (Toronto Fringe). A discussion on building a sustainable career in theatre is followed by a short performance. Mar 20 at 11 am. Free. Fringe Creation Lab, suite 402, 720 Bathurst. fringetoronto.com.

Thaïs by Jules Massenet (VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert). An ascetic monk struggles with desire while trying to redeem an Egyptian courtesan in this French opera. Mar 24 at 2:30 pm. $40-$52. Jane Mallett Theatre, 27 Front E. 416-366-7723, operainconcert.com.

The Four Seasons/Emergence The National Ballet of Canada presents a double bill featuring James Kudelka’s choreography based on Vivaldi’s concerti, and Crystal Pite’s work about the instinct to create social forms. Opens Mar 20 and runs to Mar 24. $25-$239. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-345-9595, national.ballet.ca.

The Last Days Of Judas Iscariot by Stephen Adly Guirgis (Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts). Mother Teresa, Sigmund Freud and others testify at the trial of the notorious sinner in this comic drama. Opens Mar 19 and runs to Mar 23. $22. Annex Theatre, 730 Bathurst. 1-855-985-2787, ticketmaster.ca.

The New Groundswell Festival – A National Festival of Contemporary Women’s Theatre (Nightwood Theatre). A devised piece by Odelah Creations is featured, plus a workshop production of a new play by Judith Thompson, readings and more. Opens Mar 15 and runs to Mar 24. $15, readings/talks pwyc. Berkeley Street Theatre, (readings at Nightwood Studio, 9 Trinity, ste 315), 26 Berkeley. 416-368-3110, nightwoodtheatre.net.

The Passion Of Dracula by Bob Hall and David Richmond (Trinity College Dramatic Society). This Gothic dark comedy is based on the classic novel by Bram Stoker. Opens Mar 20 and runs to Mar 23. $10, stu $5. George Ignatieff Theatre, 15 Devonshire. 416-978-8849, uofttix.ca.

The Whipping Man by Matthew Lopez (Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company/Obsidian Theatre). A Jewish Confederate officer celebrates Passover with his former slaves in Civil War-era Virgina. Previews Mar 16-20. Opens Mar 21 and runs to Apr 14. $42.50-$62.50. Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge. 416-733-0545, hgjewishtheatre.com.

This by Melissa James Gibson (Canadian Stage). A group of 30-something friends navigate their way through death, parenthood and adultery in this unromantic comedy. Previews Mar 18-20. Opens Mar 21 and runs to Apr 13. $22-$49. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley. 416-368-3110, canadianstage.com.

To The Last Cry/The Lost Sagas Of Tjorvi The Flaccid by Omar Hady/Jiv Parasram and Alex Rubin (the Theatre Lab/Pandemic Theatre). A boy must brave a dangerous magical forest to save his dying brother, and an insecure Viking seeks to prove his worth in this double bill. Opens Mar 20 and runs to Mar 24. $25, mat pwyc. Factory Theatre, Studio, 125 Bathurst. 416-504-9971, factorytheatre.ca.

U Of T Festival Of Dance U of T Dance Coalition presents a showcase by students performing a variety of dance styles. Mar 22-23. $12, stu/srs $10. Hart House Theatre, 7 Hart House Circle. 416-978-8849, uofttix.ca.

Vocal Support (Robert Graham). This cabaret features performances by vocal coaches to raise funds for refugees facing deportation. Mar 24 at 4 pm. Pwyc. Dominion on Queen, 500 Queen E. wearejose.com.

**Weight x3 & 2 Harbourfront World Stage and Tao Dance Theatre present two works by emerging leaders of contemporary dance in China. Opens Mar 20 and runs to Mar 23. $15-$40. Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.org.

*Listings based on NOW stage listings*