Eye-Catching Toronto Theatre for the Week of May 13th, 2013

Here is what’s going on in Toronto theatre this week. There are several great shows to catch for the week of May 13th, 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

BEA by Mick Gordon (Actors Repertory Company). A young woman with a debilitating illness struggles to find her voice and make a difficult decision. Previews May 7. Opens May 8 and runs to May 26. $20-$25, Sun pwyc. Factory Theatre, Studio, 125 Bathurst. 416-504-9971, arcstage.com.

**Carried Away On The Crest Of A Wave by David Yee (Tarragon Theatre). A Thai escort, a Catholic priest in India and a Utah housewife are connected by the 2004 tsunami. Previews Apr 16-23. Opens Apr 24 and runs to May 26. $48-$53, srs $38-$43, stu $27, rush $13. 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.

Dialogues des Carmélites by Francis Poulenc (Canadian Opera Company). An order of Carmelite nuns is caught up in the terror of the French Revolution. Opens May 8 and runs to May 25. $12-$325. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-363-8231, coc.ca.

Lucia di Lammermoor by Gaetano Donizetti (Canadian Opera Company). An old feud and political ambition lead a man to sabotage his sister’s relationship in this Italian tragic opera. Opens Apr 17 and runs to May 24. $12-$325. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-363-8231, coc.ca.

**Night Of The Living Dead Live Live by Trevor Martin, Dale Boyer and Christopher Bond (Nictophobia Films). George A Romero’s 1968 zombie film is performed in black and white in this interactive stage adaptation. Previews Apr 23-25. Opens Apr 26 and runs to May 19. $29.50-$59.50, preview $20. Theatre Passe Muraille, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, nightofthelivingdeadlive.com.

Rent by Jonathan Larson (Lower Ossington Theatre). Artists of NYC’s Lower East Side struggle to make ends meet in the shadow of the AIDS epidemic in this musical. Opens Mar 28 and runs to Jun 2. $49-$60. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.

Salome by Richard Strauss (Canadian Opera Company). King Herod’s stepdaughter dances in exchange for the head of John the Baptist in this German opera based on the biblical tale. Opens Apr 21 and runs to May 22. $12-$325. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-363-8231, coc.ca.

South Pacific by Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein and Joshua Logan (Scarborough Music Theatre). Love blooms on an island paradise during WWII in this musical. Opens May 2 and runs to May 18. $25, stu/srs $21. Scarborough Village Theatre, 3600 Kingston. 416-267-9292, theatrescarborough.com.

Stopheart by Amy Lee Lavoie (Factory Theatre). A young man copes with growing up ‘different’ in a small town in northern Ontario in this dark comedy. Previews May 4-8. Opens May 9 and runs to May 26. $32-$42, preview $22. 125 Bathurst. 416-504-9971, factorytheatre.ca.

The Biographer by Daniel Karasik (Tango Co.). A father searches for his missing daughter in the wreckage of an abandoned seaside carnival. Previews May 2-3. Opens May 4 and runs to May 19. $15-$23. Videofag, 187 Augusta. secureaseat.com.

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 Jun 30. $24-$29, stu $15. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.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 Aug 18. $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.

Figaro’s Wedding (Canadian Opera Company). Against the Grain Theatre presents excerpts of their own take on Mozart’s classic opera. May 16 at noon. Free. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, 145 Queen W. coc.ca.

Harold Awards (Toronto Harolds). The annual awards for Toronto theatre artists are presented with hosts Richard Lee and Lindy Zucker. May 13 at 8 pm. $10 plus a canned food donation. Monarch Tavern, 12 Clinton. haroldawards.com.

I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change by Joe DiPietro and Jimmy Roberts (Angelwalk Theatre/KooGle Theatre Company). This musical comedy looks at dating, mating and romance. Previews May 14-15. Opens May 16 and runs to Jun 2. $25-$45. Toronto Centre for the Arts, Studio Theatre, 5040 Yonge. 1-855-985-2787, angelwalk.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.

John And Beatrice by Carole Fréchette (Should Be Theatre). A woman in an office tower waits for Mr. Right to respond to her personal ad. Opens May 8 and runs to May 18. $20, mat (and May 15) pwyc. Theatre Passe Muraille, Backspace, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529.

La Fugue (Qui Va Là/SMCQ Jeunesse). Contemporary music, theatre and puppetry are used to tell the story of a runaway and the dark reality of street gangs. Previews May 6. Opens May 7 and runs to May 16. $15-$20. Young People’s Theatre, 165 Front E. 416-862-2222, youngpeoplestheatre.ca.

Little Flower Of East Orange by Stephen Adly Gurgis (Column 13 Actors Company). A hospitalized woman with no memory is confronted by her long-absent son in this family drama. Previews May 13 at 8 pm. Opens May 15 and runs to May 25. $15. Unit 102 Theatre, 376 Dufferin. 416-536-0048, column13.org.

Of A Monstrous Child: A Gaga Musical by Alistair Newton (Ecce Homo Theatre). This crash course in the history of queer performance looks at celebrities whose work has been appropriated by Lady Gaga. Previews May 14-15. Opens May 16 and runs to May 26. Pwyc-$37. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, buddiesinbadtimes.com.

Older & Reckless – Edition 29: Old & Young And Reckless Together MOonhORsE Dance Theatre presents intergenerational works by Julia Sasso, Emily Gualtieri, Karen Kaeja and James Kudelka. May 16-18. $25, stu/srs $22. Dancemakers Centre for Creation, 9 Trinity, studio 313. 416-504-6429 ext 30, moonhorsedance.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.

She Was Kate Nankervis and Simon Renaud present their new works plus works of fellow dancers, musicians and visual artists. May 16-18. $15-$20. The Citadel, 304 Parliament. katherosinmotion.ca.

Slate One Screenplay Festival (We Make Movies Canada). Staged readings of six finalist scripts with three winners to be chosen by audience votes. May 14 at 7:30 pm. Free. Scotland Yard Pub, 56 the Esplanade. wemakemoviescanada.com/slate_one.

StreamFest: Canadian Comedy Live & Interactive You and Media Comedy presents the National Theatre of the World and Colin Mochrie. Live onstage and simulcast. May 19 7 pm. $12. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. 416-551-6540, streamfest.ca.

The Barber Of Seville (Soulpepper). A barber helps a nobleman woo his true love in this adaptation of the play by Beaumarchais and the opera by Rossini. Previews May 9-14. Opens May 15 and runs to Jun 8. $51-$68, stu $32, rush $5-$22. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

**The Book Of Mormon by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone (Mirvish). Two naive missionaries go to a volatile region in Uganda in this religious satire musical. Previews Apr 30-May 1. Opens May 2 and runs to Jun 9. Sold out: see website for info on ticket lottery. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

The Charge Of The Expormidable Moose by Claude Gauvreau (One Little Goat). A poet is envied, mocked and ultimately sacrificed by his housemates. Opens May 10 and runs to May 26. $25-$28, stu $20-$23, rush $13. Tarragon Theatre, Extra Space, 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, onelittlegoat.org.

The Dreamer Examines His Pillow by John Patrick Shanley (Column 13 Actors Company). A woman deals with her alcoholic father and an ex-boyfriend who seduced her sister. Previews May 12 at 2 pm. Opens May 14 and runs to May 25. $15. Unit 102 Theatre, 376 Dufferin. 416-536-0048, column13.org.

The Dumb Waiter by Harold Pinter (Wordsmyth Theatre). An experienced hitman and a newbie pass time in a basement while awaiting their next job. Previews May 15 at 8 pm. Opens May 16 and runs to Jun 2. $15-$25. Odyssey Studio, 636 Pape. wordsmyth.ca.

The Kick List (Charlatan Remedies). Listen to or share stories about someone you’d like to kick in this funder for an upcoming Fringe play. May 16 at 8 pm. Pwyc. Magpie Taproom, 831 Dundas W. magpietoronto.ca.

The Mark Lewis Magic Show (Lower Ossington Theatre). Lewis performs a magic show for children. Opens May 4 and runs to May 26. $29. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.

The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie (Lower Ossington Theatre). A police detective seeks a murderer among seven strangers stranded in a guest house. Opens Apr 25 and runs to Jun 2. $49. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.

The War Of 1812: The History Of The Village Of The Small Huts, 1812-1815 by Michael Hollingsworth (VideoCabaret). This history play looks at the war and its effects on a First Nations confederation that fought in defence of Canada. Previews Apr 9-16. Opens Apr 17 and runs to May 18. $20-$50. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, youngcentre.ca.

*Listings based on NOW stage listings*