Here is what’s going on in Toronto theatre this week. There are several great shows to catch for the week of July 22nd, 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
Anything Goes by Cole Porter, Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse (Mirvish/Roundabout Theatre Company). A stowaway and a nightclub singer get in trouble aboard an ocean liner in this musical. Previews Jul 17. Opens Jul 18 and runs to Aug 18, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun and Wed 2 pm (no mat Jul 17, see website for other dates). $35-$130, rush $29. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.
Avenue Q by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx (Lower Ossington Theatre). A college grad moves to NYC and works through the transition to adulthood in this adult musical puppet show. Opens Jun 20 and runs to Oct 6, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm, Sun 4 pm (no shows Aug 4-28). $49-$60. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, avenueq.ca.
**Best Of The Fringe Theatre Festival (Fringe Toronto). Encore performances of Adopt This!, Polly Polly, Death Married My Daughter, It’s Always You: The Musical, Stealing Sam, Stop Kiss, Tales Of Whoa! and The Truth About Comets. Opens Jul 17 and runs to Jul 31, see website for schedule. $17.50. Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge. 1-855-985-2787, tocentre.com/studio/bof2013.
Buster Canfield And His Amazing Fleas by Eric Woolfe (Pocket Carnival Productions). This play for young audiences features puppets, masks, magic and a flea circus. Opens Jul 6 and runs to Aug 10, Sat at 11 am and 1 pm. $12.50-$15. Wychwood Barns, 76 Wychwood. pocketcarnival.com.
Cats by Andrew Lloyd Webber (Nu Musical Theatricals/Classic Theatre Project/Starvox Entertainment). The popular musical featuring feline frolic at the Jellicle Ball returns. Previews May 28-Jun 9. Opens Jun 11 and runs to Sep 1, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mats Sat-Sun and Wed 1:30 pm. $40-$110. Panasonic Theatre, 651 Yonge. 416-872-1212, catsto.com.
**Great Expectations by Charles Dickens (Soulpepper). A resourceful orphan grows into a London gentleman in this classic tale. Previews Jul 6-13. Opens Jul 16 and runs to Aug 17, see website for schedule. $51-$68, stu $32, rush $5-$22. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
Offers Of Home by Stephen Joffe (Panfish Productions). A man struggling with life tells stories in this drama about notions of home and self-security. Opens Jul 18 and runs to Jul 27, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat 2 pm (and Jul 28). $25, stu/srs $20. Theatre Passe Muraille, Backspace, 16 Ryerson. panfishproductions.ca.
The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (The Classical Theatre Project). Three actors perform 37 plays in 87 minutes in this interactive show. Opens Jul 18 and runs to Jul 25, Wed-Thu 7 and 9:30 pm. $49, stu/srs $34. Casa Loma, Garden Terrace, 1 Austin Terrace. 416-915-6750, completeworksabridged.com.
The Epitome Of Regret: A Musical by Mark Datuin (MAD Resilience). This comedy-musical follows the lives of three people in a neighbourhood of competing cafes, where everyone is carefree about their misery. Opens Jul 19 and runs to Jul 27, Tue-Sat 8 pm. $20. Unit 102 Theatre, 376 Dufferin. brownpapertickets.com/event/402730.
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, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mats Sat-Sun and Wed 1:30 pm (see website for other shows). $35-$130. Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.
Thrill Me: The Leopold And Loeb Story by Stephen Dolginoff (capricorn 9 productions). Two thrill-killers murder a boy in this musical based on a true story from 1924. Opens Jul 12 and runs to Jul 27, Fri-Sun 8 pm, mat Sun 2 pm. $25, stu/srs $20. Red Sandcastle Theatre, 922 Queen E. 416-845-9411, redsandcastletheatre.com.
Toronto Comedy Brawl Round One Empire Comedy Live presents amateurs competing for $1,000. Eight comics per night. Opens Jun 3 and runs to Jul 23, Mon-Thu 8 pm. $5. Johnny Jackson, 587 College. empirecomedylive.com.
And the Rest…
All Shook Up: An Elvis Musical by Joe DiPietro (First Act Productions). Based on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, this musical comedy is set to the songs of Elvis Presley. Opens Jul 24 and runs to Jul 27, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2:30 pm. $25. Papermill Theatre, 67 Pottery. 416-577-1344, firstactproductions.ca.
Always On Alert by David Lichty (Iconoclasm Theatre Company). In an isolated post in Nunavut, a man with access to a nuclear doomsday button contemplates humanity’s relevance in the universe. Jul 26-27, Fri-Sat 2 and 8 pm. $10-$15. Alumnae Theatre, 70 Berkeley. itcalwaysonalert-srch.eventbrite.ca.
**Angels In America: Parts I & II by Tony Kushner (Soulpepper). Seven individuals navigate NYC during the AIDS crisis in the 80s in this two-part show about human reactions to the epidemic. Previews Jul 19-30. Opens Jul 31 and runs to Sep 14, (part II opens Aug 1), see website for schedule. $51-$68, stu $32, rush $5-$22. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
Big City Improv T.K.O.! Big City Improv Festival presents 16 teams in an 8-week improv competition. Opens Jul 15 and runs to Sep 16, Mon Mondays 9:30 pm (excluding holidays). $10. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. bigcityimprovfestival.com.
Burlesque Brunch (Toronto Burlesque Festival). The festival wraps up with emerging and established talent. Jul 28 at 1:30 pm. $15-$20. Cadillac Lounge, 1296 Queen W. torontoburlesquefestival.com.
Dance For IngridLula Lounge presents this funder for ailing salsa enthusiast Ingrid Lara featuring a Kizomba lesson and dance performances by Zouk Tribe, Baso, Baila Boogaloo and others. Jul 22 at 7:30 pm. $20 sugg donation. 1585 Dundas W. 416-588-0307, lula.ca.
Entertaining Mr. Sloane by Joe Orton (Soulpepper). A dangerous lodger charms and unsettles his hosts in this dark comedy. Previews Jul 5-15. Opens Jul 17 and runs to Aug 17, see website for schedule. $51-$68, stu $32, rush $5-$22. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
Faking Bad (Bad Dog Theatre) a dynamic new show brought to life onstage, totally improvised, with an all-star cast of fantastic comedic talent. Opens Jul 10 and runs to Aug 7, Wednesdays 9:30 pm. $12, stu $10. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. 416-551-6540, comedybar.ca.
Fall 2013 Mainstage Revue Second City presents previews of a new collection of sketches, songs and improvisations. Tue-Thu 8 pm, Sat-Sun 7:30 pm (and Sat 10 pm). $24-$29, stu $15. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.
Kama 2050 DOORJA presents an improvisational performance based on the future, combining music, dance and visuals. Jul 17 at 9 pm, Jul 25 at 10 pm. Jul 25 at 10 pm. $15. Gladstone Hotel, Ballroom, 1214 Queen W. kama2050.eventbrite.ca.
Lab Cab Festival: Parkdale (Lab Cab). This arts festival features music, theatre, film, comedy, visual art and more by Amy Lee Lavoie, Jessica Moss, Raoul Bhaneja, Gadfly, Asiansploitation and others, plus free childcare and pancake breakfast. Jul 27-28 from noon to 6 pm. Free. Parkdale Village, Queen W between Dufferin & Roncesvalles. labcab.ca.
Passage: A Moving Experience (Children’s Peace Theatre). This collective creation explores themes of global migration and the struggles and joys faced by immigrants and refugees in Toronto. Jul 25-27, Thu-Fri 1:30 pm, Sat 5 pm. Sat gala $25, stu/srs $15, child $10; mats pwyc. 305 Dawes. 416-752-1550, childrenspeacetheatre.org.
Princess Polly And The World’s Smallest Ninja Second City presents an all-ages sketch revue. Opens Jun 30 and runs to Sep 1, Thu and Sun 1 pm. $14, family 4-pack $45. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.
**Shakespeare In High Park: The Taming Of The Shrew/Macbeth (Canadian Stage). The Taming Of The Shrew and Macbeth will be performed outdoors on alternating nights. Previews Jun 26-Jul 2. Opens Jul 3 and runs to Sep 1, Tue-Sun 8 pm (The Taming Of The Shrew opens Jul 16). Pwyc ($20 sugg). High Park Amphitheatre, 1873 Bloor W. canadianstage.com.
SOLT 2013 Mini Opera Festival (Summer Opera Lyric Theatre). The opera training program presents workshop productions of Handel’s Alcina, Bellini’s I Capuleti E I Montecchi and Puccini’s La Boheme. Opens Jul 26 and runs to Aug 4, see website for schedule. $26, stu/srs $22 per show. Robert Gill Theatre, 214 College. 416-978-7986, solt.ca.
Songs For A New World by Jason Robert Brown (UC Follies Theatre Company). Characters from various eras live through defining moments in this vignette musical performed outdoors. Bring a blanket. Opens Jul 24 and runs to Jul 27, Wed-Sat 7:30 pm. $15, stu/srs $10. University College, Quadrangle, 15 King’s College Circle. 416-978-8849, uofttix.ca.
The Misanthrope by Moliere (Classical Theatre Project/Guild Festival Theatre) Moliere’s classic is set on the open-air stage of marble columns, Corinthian capitals, and elegant arches adjacent to the Scarborough Bluffs. July 18 – Aug. 11, $20-$25. Scarborough Bluffs. 416-915-6750, guildfestivaltheatre.ca
The Trial Of Ken Gass by Bobby Del Rio (Sterling Studio Theatre). In a Kafkaesque series of interrogations, theatre legend Ken Gass is put on trial for crimes he is not aware of. Opens Jul 23 and runs to Aug 3, Tue-Sun 8 pm, mat Sun 2:30 pm. $10, Sun pwyc. 163 Sterling, unit 5. sterlingstudiotheatre.com.
Theatresports Bad Dog Theatre presents the classic improv comedy competition. Opens Jul 6 and runs to Aug 24, Sat Saturdays 8 pm. $12, stu $10. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. 416-551-6540, comedybar.ca.
Toronto Burlesque Festival (TBF). The annual fest features Ms. LouLou D’Vil, Armitage Shanks, Boylesque T.O., Skin Tight Outta Sight Rebel Burlesque, the Harlettes and others. Opens Jul 26 and runs to Jul 27, Fri-Sat 7 and 10:30 pm. $35-$50. Virgin Mobile Mod Club, 722 College. torontoburlesquefestival.com.
*Listings based on NOW stage listings*