Eye-Catching Toronto Theatre for the Week of June 3rd, 2013

Here is what’s going on in Toronto theatre this week. There are several great shows to catch for the week of June 3rd, 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

Empty Boxes by AJ Laflamme (Homestead Theatre Project). A couple try to sort out their stuff as their lives go in different directions. Opens May 30 and runs to Jun 9. $15. Red Sandcastle Theatre, 922 Queen E. 416-845-9411, homesteadtheatre.ca.

InspiraTO Festival (Dominik Loncar). The annual festival of 10-minute plays presents works by Greg Vovos, Angie Farrow, Rachel Ganz, Jordan Mechano, Brett Haynes, Ashley Park and others. Opens May 30 and runs to Jun 8. $15, stu $12; festival pass $50, stu $40. Alumnae Theatre, 70 Berkeley. inspiratofestival.ca.

**Kim’s Convenience by Ins Choi (Soulpepper). Choi’s play about a Korean family in Regent Park struggling with the past returns to the stage. Previews May 20-23. Opens May 24 and runs to Jun 19. $51-$68, stu $32, rush $5-$22. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

Over The River And Through The Woods by Joe DiPietro (East Side Players). A young man is offered a dream job far away from his close-knit Italian family. Opens May 23 and runs to Jun 8. $22, stu $15. Papermill Theatre, 67 Pottery. 416-425-0917, eastsideplayers.ca.

Sister Mary’s A Dyke?! by Flerida Peña (Cahoots Theatre Company). A teen learns the truth about her all-girl Catholic boarding school in this coming-of-age story. Previews May 25-26. Opens May 28 and runs to Jun 16. $15-$25, Sun pwyc. Daniels Spectrum, Aki Studio Theatre, 585 Dundas E. 1-800-204-0855, cahoots.ca.

Suddenly Mommy! by Anne Marie Scheffler (Perfectly Norma Productions). Scheffler performs her solo comedy about motherhood. Jun 8 at 8 pm. $20-$30, stu $15. John Candy Box Theatre, 70 Peter. suddenlymommy.com.

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 Dumb Waiter by Harold Pinter (Wordsmyth Theatre). Two men are holed up in a basement with a job to do in this surreal play that asks how do you escape when there is no exit. Previews May 15 at 8 pm. Opens May 16 and runs to Jun 6. $15-$25. Odyssey Studio, 636 Pape. wordsmyth.ca.

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…

A Very Chris-terical 90s Cabaret (Queer Pride 2013). Chris Tsujiuchi performs his cabaret show with Gabi Epstein, Colin Asuncion and others. Jun 7-9. $15-$20. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, buddiesinbadtimes.com.

Bare: The Musical by Damon Intrabartolo and Jon Hartmere (Toronto Youth Theatre). High school seniors at a co-ed Catholic boarding school explore issues of identity, sexuality and faith. Jun 6-9. $30, stu $22. Lower Ossington Theatre, 100A Ossington. torontoyouththeatre.org.

Carmen The National Ballet of Canada presents Davide Bombana’s adaptation of Bizet’s opera about lust, betrayal and murder. Opens Jun 5 and runs to Jun 9. Jun 15-16. $25-$239. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-345-9595, national.ballet.ca.

Cats by Andrew Lloyd Webber (Nu Musical Theatricals/Classic Theatre Project/Starvox Entertainemnt). The popular musical featuring feline frolic at the Jellicle Ball returns. Previews May 28-Jun 9. Opens Jun 11 and runs to Jul 28. $40-$110. Panasonic Theatre, 651 Yonge. 416-872-1212, catsto.com.

Factory Wired 13 (Factory Theatre). Staged readings of works-in-progress by Jesse Stong, Melody A Johnson, Daniel MacIvor & Daniel Brooks and others. Opens May 27 and runs to Jun 9. Pwyc. 125 Bathurst. 416-504-9971, factorytheatre.ca.

Fairy Tale Ending by Kieren MacMillan and Jeremy Hutton (Role Your Own Theatre). A girl questions characters about tragic plot changes occurring in popular fairy tales in this family musical. Jun 7-9. $15, kids $12. Wychwood Barns, 76 Wychwood. fairytaleending.ca.

Flamenco Olé IV Arte Flamenco presents a dance showcase. Jun 8 at 8 pm. $20. Robert Gill Theatre, 214 College. 416-978-7986, arteflamenco.com.

Lend Me A Tenor by Ken Ludwig (Scarborough Theatre Guild). A hapless understudy impersonates a famous tenor in this musical comedy. Opens May 30 and runs to Jun 15. $18, stu/srs $15. Scarborough Village Theatre, 3600 Kingston. 416-267-9292, theatrescarborough.com.

LIFT Out Loud Series (Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto). AJ Demers’s screenplay, Kern County, gets a reading, followed by discussion with moderator James Luscombe. Jun 5 at 7:30 pm. $5. Magpie Taproom, 831 Dundas W. lift.on.ca/mt/liftoutloud.html.

Magic, Suggestion & Psychology (Gabriello Pitman LIVE). Pitman performs an interactive show featuring mind-reading, suggestion and misdirection. Jun 8 at 10 pm. $12-$15. Black Swan, 154 Danforth. gabriellopitmanlive.com.

**Next To Normal by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey (Clearwater Theatre Company). A woman struggles with bipolar disorder and the effect of her illness on her family in this musical. Previews Jun 5. Opens Jun 6 and runs to Jun 16. $25, stu/srs $20, preview $15, rush $12 (Fri & Sun). Tarragon Theatre, Extra Space, 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, clearwatertheatre.com.

Oil/Player One: What Is To Become Of Us (Goethe-Institut). Philip Riccio & the Company Theatre present a dramatic reading of excerpts of Lukas Bärfuss’s and Douglas Coupland’s plays in an exploration of oil, greed and disaster. Jun 7 at 5 pm. Free. 2nd floor, 100 University. goethe.de/toronto.

**Passion Play by Sarah Ruhl (Outside the March/Convergence Theatre/Sheep No Wool). Amateur actors stage a traditional passion play in three historical eras in this exploration of religion, politics and theatre. Show starts in the park and moves to Eastminster United Church. Previews Jun 6-9. Opens Jun 10 and runs to Jun 30. $25-$30. Withrow Park, 725 Logan. outsidethemarch.ca.

Reveal Me (Red Herring Burlesque). Virgin vixens and professional peelers put on a show. Jun 5 at 8 pm. $10. Rivoli, 332 Queen W. aprofessionaldistraction.com.

Scottish Dancing RSCDS Toronto presents weekly dancing and live music. Jun 4-25. Free/pwyc. Edwards Gardens, SW corner, Leslie and Lawrence E. rscdstoronto.org.

Specter by Don Nigro (Sterling Studio Theatre). A man driving home on a rainy night finds an enchanting woman on a lonely road in this take on an ancient ghost story. Opens Jun 3 and runs to Jun 8. $10. 163 Sterling, unit 5. sterlingstudiotheatre.com.

Tarantino Tease: Volume 1 (The Underground Peep Show). This geeky burlesque show offers a tribute and parody of Tarantino flicks. Jun 7. Jun 15. $20-$25. Metro Theatre, 677 Bloor W. undergroundpeepshow.com.

**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 Script-Tease Project (National Theatre of the World). Improvised plays will be created and performed based on two pages written by playwrights Richard Greenblatt, Rick Mercer, Zaib Shaikh, Judith Thompson, Guillermo Verdecchia and others. Opens Jun 4 and runs to Jun 8. $25, stu $15. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, youngcentre.ca.

Thrones And Recreation by Andrew Kelly and Matty Burns (Queen’s Players Toronto). An ambitious king seeks to take over Canada in this comedic mashup of two TV series. Opens May 30 and runs to Jun 8. $20-$25. Tranzac, 292 Brunswick. queensplayerstoronto.com.

Toronto Comedy Brawl Round One Empire Comedy Live presents amateur comedians competing for $1,000. Eight comics per night. Opens Jun 3 and runs to Jul 22. $5. Johnny Jackson, 587 College. empirecomedylive.com.

You Are Here Bad Dog Repertory Players present an improvised show where suggestions form a map that shapes the show. Opens May 30 and runs to Jun 20. $12, stu $10. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. 416-551-6540, baddogtheatre.com.

Zombie Toronto Bad Dog Theatre presents an improvised zombie apocalypse w/ Mark Little, Hannah Spear and others. Opens May 22 and runs to Jun 19. $12, stu $10. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. 416-551-6540, baddogtheatre.com.

*Listings based on NOW stage listings*