Play Listings for the Week of September 15th, 2014

TIFF is over, and the weather is getting chilly… But the theatre scene in Toronto is heating up for the coming start of the fall! Here’s a list of the shows playing in Toronto during the week of September 15th, 2014. If they’re highlighted in red, and have two asterisks before them, they come highly recommended by our Managing Editor, Wayne. You never know what you might find!

 

Already Covered By MoT…

Cactus Flower by Abe Burrows (Scarborough Theatre Guild). A philandering dentist falls for his assistant in this comedy. Opens Sep 4 and runs to Sep 20, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sep 14 and 20 at 2 pm. $20, stu/srs $17. Scarborough Village Theatre, 3600 Kingston. 416-267-9292, theatrescarborough.com.

**The Crucible by Arthur Miller (Soulpepper Theatre). A community is thrown into chaos by accusations of witchcraft in 1692 Massachusetts. Previews Aug 30-Sep 4. Opens Sep 6 and runs to Sep 20, see website for schedule. $29-$74, rush $5-$23. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

Glenn by David Young (Soulpepper Theatre). Two versions of Bach’s Goldberg Variations frame this look at iconic Canadian artist Glenn Gould. Previews Aug 26-Sep 1. Opens Sep 2 and runs to Oct 4, see website for schedule. $29-$74, rush $5-$23. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

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 Sep 11 and runs to Sep 27, Thu-Sat 8 pm. $50. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.

**KURIOS – Cabinet Of Curiosities by Michel Laprise (Cirque du Soleil). The Seeker looks to his curio cabinet to give him access to a secret, invisible world in this show featuring acrobatics, music, dance and design. Opens Aug 28 and runs to Oct 26, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 5 pm, mat Sat 4:30 pm, Sun 1:30 pm. $60-$160, stu/srs/child from $50. Grand Chapiteau Tent, Port Lands, Commissioners at Cherry. cirquedusoleil.com/kurios

Monday Nights by Byron Abalos, Colin Doyle, Darrel Gamotin, Richard Lee and Jeff Yung (Theatre Centre/6th Man Collective). Five guys meet up at a basketball court every week in this immersive and interactive theatrical performance. Previews Sep 5-6 at 7:30 pm. Opens Sep 8 and runs to Sep 20, Thu-Sat and Mon 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 1:30 pm. $30, stu/srs $25, Sun pwyc. Theatre Centre, 1115 Queen W. 416-538-0988, theatrecentre.org.

Richard III, The Pleasures Of Violence based on text by William Shakespeare (Kadozuke Kollektif/Bad New Days). Performance and film are combined to explore the passion, violence and disaster that surrounds the three York brothers, Edward, Clarence and Richard. Previews Sep 9. Opens Sep 11 and runs to Sep 28, Thu-Sun 7:30 pm. $35. Zuke Studio, 1581 Dupont. zuke.ca.

Romeo And (Her) Juliet based on the play by William Shakespeare (Headstrong Collective/Urban Bard). This site-specific production features a female Romeo and Juliet living in contemporary Toronto. Previews Sep 3. Opens Sep 5 and runs to Sep 20, Fri-Sat and Wed 7:30 pm, mat Sep 19 at 1 pm. $18-$25, preview $10. Bloor Street United Church, 300 Bloor W. randjto.com.

Tartuffe by Molière (Soulpepper Theatre). A crafty vagrant feigns virtue while trying to seduce his host’s wife and gain an inheritance. Previews Aug 7-11. Opens Aug 12 and runs to Sep 20, see website for schedule. $29-$74, rush $5-$23. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

A Tender Thing by Ben Power (Soulpepper Theatre). An elderly Romeo and Juliet reminisce on their lives together in this re-working of Shakespeare’s text. Previews Aug 14-18. Opens Aug 19 and runs to Oct 1, see website for schedule. $29-$74, rush $5-$23. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, youngcentre.ca.

Ubu Mayor: A Harmful Bit Of Fun by Adam Seelig (One Little Goat Theatre Company). This play with music combines Alfred Jarry’s dadaist play Ubu Roi with the scandals of Toronto’s current mayor. Opens Sep 12 and runs to Sep 21, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $25, stu/srs $20, Sun $15. Wychwood Theatre, 76 Wychwood. 416-915-0201, onelittlegoat.org.

**Wicked by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman (Mirvish). The hit musical about the backstory of The Wizard Of Oz returns. Previews Sep 3. Opens Sep 4 and runs to Nov 2, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun and Wed 1:30 pm. $36-$139. Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

 

And the rest…

American Buffalo by David Mamet (Unit 102 Actor’s Company). Three small-time hustlers try to achieve the American Dream through a poorly planned coin heist. Opens Sep 21 and runs to Oct 4, Sep 22-27 and 30, and Oct 1-4, all shows 8 pm. $20-$25, pwyc Sep 24 and 30 (unit102tix@gmail.com). Unit 102 Theatre, 376 Dufferin. unit102theatre.com.

**An Enemy Of The People by Henrik Ibsen (Tarragon Theatre). A doctor clashes with officials who want to cover up a public health risk to protect the economy. Previews Sep 16-23. Opens Sep 24 and runs to Oct 26, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2:30 pm. $15-$53. 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.

Aromas by Andrew Faiz (The Junes Company). A woman searching for her identity gains insight from an escort in a parallel realm in this drama. Opens Sep 18 and runs to Oct 4, Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $23. Red Sandcastle Theatre, 922 Queen E. 416-845-9411, aromastheplay.com.

Cindy Church (Soulpepper Cabaret Series). Singer Church and guitarist Steve Briggs perform a collection of songs. Sep 20 at 8:30 pm. $20, stu $15. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, youngcentre.ca.

**Dusk Dances At Fort York On Common Ground Festival of Culture & Community presents outdoor dance featuring choreographies by Julia Aplin, Denise Fujiwara and Sylvie Bouchard. Sep 19-21 at 5 pm. Free. Fort York, 250 Fort York Blvd. duskdances.ca.

Freda And Jem’s Best Of The Week by Lois Fine (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre). This play about a lesbian couple and their kids looks at how queer culture approaches family-making and -breaking. Previews Sep 13-17. Opens Sep 18 and runs to Oct 5, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. Pwyc-$37. 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, buddiesinbadtimes.com.

Intimate Experiences: Meet The Company (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre). Bruce Dow and Jeff Madden host a night of performances by recent theatre school grads in this cabaret. Sep 21 at 7:30 pm. $15-$20. 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, buddiesinbadtimes.com.

Joel Grey: Up Close And Personal (Harold Green Jewish Theatre). The Tony and Academy Award-winning actor reminisces and performs songs from over his 50 years in show business. Sep 13-15, Sat and Mon 8 pm, Sun 7:30 pm. $76-$99. Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge. 416-733-0545, hgjewishtheatre.com.

Lunacy Cabaret: Season 10 Black Tie Gala (Zero Gravity Circus). This vaudeville-style cabaret features clown, circus, comedy, music and more. Sep 20 at 9 pm. $20-$25. The Circus Academy East, 1300 Gerrard E. lunacycabaret.com.

Offenbach & Hahn (Opera 5). This French opera double bill features L’Ile Du Rêve by Reynaldo Hahn and Ba-ta-clan by Jacques Offenbach. Sep 19-21, Fri-Sun 7:30 pm. $20-$25. Alliance Française Spadina, 24 Spadina Rd. 416-922-2014, be-mused.ca/group/opera5.

Our Country’s Good by Timberlake Wertenbaker (Out of Joint/Mirvish). A lieutenant stages a play with a cast of convicts and marines on Britain’s new penal colony in 1789 Australia. Previews Sep 13-20. Opens Sep 21 and runs to Oct 26, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun and Wed 2 pm. $25-$99. Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

**Retreat by Kat Sandler (Theatre Brouhaha). Four interns fight to the death to turn their unpaid positions into real jobs in this satire. Opens Sep 18 and runs to Sep 28, Wed-Sun 8 pm, mat Sun 2 pm. $20-$25. The Storefront Theatre, 955 Bloor W. secureaseat.com.

Rob Ford the Musical: The Birth of Ford Nation by Brett McCaig and Anthony Bastianon (McCaig Regan Productions). The GTA mayor ruffles the ruling elite and goes on a journey from rock star to rehab to redemption. Previews Sep 16-17. Opens Sep 18 and runs to Sep 28, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $35-$40. Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst. 416-504-9971, robfordthemusical.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 Sep 16. Opens Sep 17 and runs to Nov 30, Tue-Sat 8 pm (Sep 17 at 7 pm), Sun 7:30 pm, mat Sat 2 pm, Sun 1:30 pm. $49-$130. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

**The Hoop by Anthony Henhawk (lemonTree creations). A young man goes on a journey from stasis and apathy to becoming a champion hoop dancer. Sep 20 at 8 pm. $15. lemonTree Studio, 196 Spadina. brownpapertickets.com/event/849366.

The Little Mermaid Jr. (Lower Ossington Theatre). The Disney Broadway production is adapted for younger audiences. Opens Sep 20 and runs to Oct 5, Fri-Sun, see website for times. $15-$30. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.

The Music Man by Meredith Willson (The Civic Light-Opera Co). A conman fools small-town folks into buying his wares in this family musical. Opens Sep 3 and runs to Sep 21, Wed 7 pm, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $28. Zion Cultural Centre, 1650 Finch E. 416-755-1717, musictheatretoronto.com.

Twist & Shout (Famous People Players). Memories of Dick Clark, juke boxes, drive-in movies and early rock ‘n’ roll are part of this all-ages black-light theatre show. Opens Aug 25 and runs to Oct 25, see website for schedule. $40-$65. 343 Evans. 416-532-1137, fpp.org.

Voices In The Valley by Kathleen Payne (Words in Motion). This walking outdoor play looks at three historical figures who lived in the Don Valley through three different centuries. Opens Aug 31 and runs to Sep 28, Sun 2 pm (Sep 21 and 27 at 12:30 and 2:30 pm). Pwyc. Todmorden Mills, 67 Pottery. wordsinmotion.ca.

Woyzeck by Georg Büchner (UC Follies). A poor soldier is driven to insanity and violence by exploitation and societal stress. Previews Sep 17 at 7:30 pm. Opens Sep 18 and runs to Sep 27, Thu-Sat 7:30 pm (no show Sep 20). $15, stu $10, preview $7. University College, Quadrangle, 15 King’s College Circle. 416-978-8849, ucfolliestheatre.ca.

 

Play Listings based on NOW! Stage Listings