There’s a lot of great theatre going on in Toronto for the week of June 23rd, 2014. ** Shows marked with the double asterisks and in red are the ones that make Megan, our Founding Editor, wish there were more hours in a day so she could check all of them out.

 

Already Covered by MoT…

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. Opens Jun 12 and runs to Jul 12, see website for schedule. $29-$74, rush $5-$23. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

Avenue Q by Robert Lopez, Jeff Marx and Jeff Whitty (Lower Ossington Theatre). A college grad moves to NYC and copes with grown-up problems in this adult musical puppet play. Opens Jun 26 and runs to Aug 3, see website for schedule. $49-$59. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.

**Cockfight by Kat Sandler (Theatre Brouhaha/Red One Theatre Collective). Hoping to find their fortune, three brothers try to train a rooster to fight in this dark comedy. Opens Jun 12 and runs to Jun 29, Thu-Sun 8 pm (and Jun 25), mat Sat 2 pm. $20-$25. The Storefront Theatre, 955 Bloor W. redonetheatre.com.

Hedwig And The Angry Inch by John Cameron Mitchell (Lower Ossington Theatre). An East German transgender rocker moves to America to start a band and find love. Opens Jun 26 and runs to Jul 12, see website for schedule. $50. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.

**The God That Comes by Hawksley Workman and Christian Barry (2b theatre company). The slaves, women and outlaws of a city flee the oppressive king to worship the god of wine, sex and ecstasy in this rock and roll cabaret. Opens Jun 3 and runs to Jun 29, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. $40. Tarragon Theatre, 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.

Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose (Soulpepper). Jurors argue over the case of a young man accused of killing his father in a capital murder case. Previews Jun 11-16. Opens Jun 17 and runs to Jul 19, Tue-Sat 8 pm, see website for mats. $29-$74, rush $5-$23. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

 

And the rest…

A Chorus Queen (Time of the Month Drag Productions). This musical depicts the lives of three drag queens as they try to achieve their dreams. Opens Jun 19 and runs to Jun 28, Mon-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Jun 21 and 25 at 2 pm. $45-$49 (proceeds to the Toronto People With AIDS Fdn). Hart House Theatre, 7 Hart House Circle. 416-978-8849, uofttix.ca/acq.

Borne by Judith Thompson and the ensemble (RARE Theatre Company/Soulpepper). Nine performers who use wheelchairs tell their own stories and blow up myths about living with a disability. Opens Jun 27 and runs to Jul 19, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $49, stu $25. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

**The Carnegie Hall Show – The National Theatre of the World presents the improv variety show w/ Matt Baram & Chris Gibbs and guests Sean Cullen, Alastair Forbes and Michael Therriault. Opens Jun 24 8 pm. $18-$20, stu $10. Drake Hotel, Underground, 1150 Queen W. brownpapertickets.com.

**Company by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth (Theatre 20). A series of vignettes tell the story of a man unable to commit, his three girlfriends and the married couples who are his friends. Previews Jun 21-25. Opens Jun 26 and runs to Jul 13, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Wed 1:30 pm, Sat-Sun 2 pm. $30-$89. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley. 416-368-3110, theatre20.com.

Confessions Of A Fairy’s Daughter by Alison Wearing (Giant Productions). Wearing performs her musical monologue about growing up with a gay dad in the 1980s. Opens Jun 25 and runs to Jun 28, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $28. George Ignatieff Theatre, 15 Devonshire. fairysdaughter.com.

**Gavin Crawford And Sharron Matthews Are Vicious Bitches (Queer Pride 2014). The monologue king and the cabaret queen lovingly lampoon all things gay. Jun 26 at 8 pm. $25. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, buddiesinbadtimes.com.

**In Love And Chaos: Raw, Resilient And Forever Redefining (Queer Pride 2014). This curated performance showcase features indigenous two-spirit, black and people of colour queer/trans artists. Jun 25 at 10:30 pm. $10-$15. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, buddiesinbadtimes.com.

The Lady Hamlet by Sarah Schulman (WorldPride Toronto/Queer Pride 2014). Reading of the play about two women competing for the role of Hamlet in 1920s NYC. Jun 25 at 8 pm. Pwyc (proceeds to Wychwood Open Door). Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, buddiesinbadtimes.com.

Left Hander In London/The Get Happy Hour with Judy (JJ Marie Gufreda/Kimberly Roberts). Gufreda performs her show about transgender transition and Roberts performs as Judy Garland in this solo show double bill. Jun 24-25, Tue-Wed 6 and 9 pm. $15-$20. Revival, 783 College. lefthanderinlondon.com.

MSM [men seeking men] by Indrit Kasapi (lemonTree creations/Spiderbones Performing Arts). This dance/theatre piece is inspired by transcripts of web chats and electronic music and looks at the online male persona. Previews Jun 23. Opens Jun 24 and runs to Jun 29, Mon-Tue 9:30 pm, Wed-Sun 7:30 and 9:30 pm. $20, preview $10. Winchester Street Theatre, 80 Winchester. msmtoronto.bpt.me.

Pelléas et Me´lisande by Claude Debussy (Against the Grain Theatre). The French opera about a love triangle is performed outdoors. Opens Jun 19 and runs to Jun 25, Wed-Thu, Sat and Mon 7:30 pm. $40-$60. Max Tanenbaum Courtyard Gardens, 227 Front E. againstthegraintheatre.com.

Pinkalicious The Musical by Elizabeth Kann, Victoria Kann and John Gregor (Vital Theatre). A girl turns pink after eating too many cupcakes in this family musical. Opens Jun 22 and runs to Sep 28, Sun 1 pm (no shows Aug 10, 17 & 24). $30-$40. Lower Ossington Theatre, 100A Ossington. lowerossingtontheatre.com.

Prince Charming: Missing Person by Kelly Aija Zemnickis (Green with Envy Productions). A woman meets a man who is nothing like what she was promised in childhood storybooks. Opens Jun 22 and runs to Jun 29, Sun 7 pm. $20. Black Swan, 154 Danforth. 416-839-8810, greenwithenvyproductions.ca.

Shakespeare In High Park: As You Like It (Canadian Stage/York University Dept of Theatre). The classic comedy is performed outdoors on alternating nights with Titus Andronicus. Previews Jun 26-Jul 1. Opens Jul 3 and runs to Aug 30, Thu, Sat and Tue 8 pm. Pwyc ($20 sugg). High Park Amphitheatre, 1873 Bloor W. canadianstage.com.

Shakespeare In High Park: Titus Andronicus (Canadian Stage/York University Dept of Theatre). The tragedy is performed outdoors on alternating nights with As You Like It. Previews Jun 27-Jul 2. Opens Jul 4 and runs to Aug 31, Fri, Sun and Wed 8 pm. Pwyc ($20 sugg). High Park Amphitheatre, 1873 Bloor W. canadianstage.com.

Spamalot by Eric Idle, John Du Prez and Neil Innes (Lower Ossington Theatre). The Monty Python-based musical retells the story of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Opens Jun 19 and runs to Aug 3, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm, Sun 4 pm. $49-$59. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.

Truth/Dare: A Satire by Salvatore Antonio and Adamo Ruggiero (Toronto Arts Council/WorldPride). This song-and-dance recreation of the Madonna backstage doc features creators Antonio and Ruggiero plus Keith Cole, Damien Atkins, Nick Green and others. Opens Jun 25 and runs to Jun 29, Wed-Sun 9 pm. $20-$25. The Citadel, 304 Parliament. ticketwise.ca.

Viva Cabaret – A Tribute To The Greatest Divas (Yury Ruzhyev). Ruzhyev performs satirical drag parodies of gay icons. Jun 25-26, Wed-Thu 8 pm. $20-$25. Rivoli, 332 Queen W. ticketfly.com/event/543049.

Welcome To Manada! (Boylesque T.O.). The all-male burlesque troupe performs tributes to iconic Canadian figures and symbols. Jun 27 at 10 pm. $25-$30. Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor W. manada.eventbrite.ca.

When The Sun Comes Out by Leslie Uyeda and Rachel Rose (Queer Innovative Theatre). A married woman and a gender outlaw have an affair in a country where gay love is punishable by death in this lesbian opera. Jun 26-27, Thu-Fri 8 pm. $15-$35. Ernest Balmer Studio, 9 Trinity, suite 316. wtscotheopera.bpt.me.

 

*Play listings based on NOW stage listings.