Shows That Caught Our Eye in Toronto the Week of December 21st, 2015
There aren’t too many new shows out this week, but those that do choose to brave the winter winds of the holiday rush manage to stand out all the more for it. We’ve highlighted our picks in red text as usual. Here are the weekly picks under the cut:
Already Reviewed by Mooney on Theatre:
Click-bait and Switch The Second City presents its Fall MainStage Revue featuring sketches, songs and improv. Indefinite run, Tue-Thu 8 pm, Fri-Sun 7:30 pm, late shows Fri-Sat 10:30 pm. $16-$35. Show Info.
Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella. Mirvish presents the Tony-award winning Broadway musical based on the fairy tale. Dec 1-Jan 10, see website for times. $35-$200. Show Info.
Jesus Christ Superstar by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice (LOT). Judas makes a choice between Jesus and the Roman rulers in this musical. Opens Dec 3 and runs to Dec 27, Thu-Sat 7:30 pm , mat Sat-Sun 3:30 pm (no shows Dec 24-26). Show Info.
Fancy Nancy: The Musical by Susan DiLallo and Danny Abosch (Lower Ossington Theatre). Stage adaptation for families of the picture book Fancy Nancy And The Mermaid Ballet by author Jane O’Connor. Opens Nov 7 and runs to Jan 31, Sat 11 am, Sun 11 am & 1 pm. $25-$45, family packs $84-$124. Show Info.
Dee Snider’s Rock & Roll Christmas Tale (Starvox Entertainment). A heavy metal band sell their souls to the devil in exchange for success but soon realize that fame is no match for the Christmas spirit. Opens Nov 17 and runs to Jan 3, 2016, Tue-Thu 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat 8 pm, Sun 5:30 pm, mats Sat-2 pm, Sun 1:30 pm. $40-$100. Show Info.
Peter Pan: The 20th Anniversary Family Musical Panto-Monium! (Ross Petty Productions). Petty makes his final appearance as the villain in the annual holiday musical panto production. Previews from Nov 27, opens Dec 3 and runs to Jan 3, 2016, see website for schedule. $27-$99. Show Info.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (Soulpepper). Michael Shamata’s adaptation of the classic holiday ghost story gets a staging. Opens Dec 3 and runs to Jan 3, see website for schedule. $39-$89. Show Info.
It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play by Joe Landry (LOT). Frank Capra’s holiday film is adapted as a 1940s radio play. Opens December 3 and runs to Dec 24, Thu-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat 2 pm, Sun 4 pm. $45. Show Info.
The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe (Cameron Mackintosh). Super-sized staging of the iconic musical about love and obsession in 19th century Paris. Opens Dec 8 and runs to Jan 23, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 6:30 pm, mat Sat 2 pm, Sun 1 pm (see website for holiday schedule). $59-$210. Show Info.
Tricks (Soulpepper Theatre/Magicana). Trickster/magician David Ben performs magic inspired by an eclectic range of people and events. Opens Dec 5 and runs to Jan 3, see website for schedule. $24-$69. Show Info.
The Chasse Galerie by the Red One Theatre Collective (Storefront Theatre). This production is inspired by a French-Canadian folk tale about a bewitched canoe and a deal with the devil. Opens Dec 17 and runs to Dec 31, Dec 17-22 and 28-31 at 8 pm. $20-$25. Show Info.
Tails From the City by Marjorie Chan (Common Boots Theatre). A young girl goes on a magical winter adventure when she follows a raccoon family out of her yard in this outdoor all-ages show. Previews Dec 10-12, opens Dec 14 and runs to Dec 30, daily at 7:30 pm (no shows Dec 13, 20, 24-26), plus matinees at 4:30 pm Dec 19, 21 & 23. $30, srs $22, youth 25 & under $12, preview pwyc. Show Info.
Kim’s Convenience by Ins Choi (Soulpepper). The popular play about a Korean family in Regent Park struggling with their past returns to the stage. Opens Dec 6 and runs to Dec 26, see website for schedule. $29.50-$89. Show Info.
Parfumerie by Miklós László (Soulpepper Theatre). Shop clerks who don’t get along at work exchange anonymous love letters as pen pals. Opens Dec 11 and runs to Dec 27, see website for schedule. $29.50-$58. Show Info.
And the Rest:
Magic, Famous People Players black light theatre company presents an all-ages seasonal production. Opens Nov 7 and runs to Jan 2, see website for times. $40-$68 (includes lunch/dinner). Show Info.
Spy School!: Mission Ridiculous. Written by Danny Wengle, Ken MacDougall, Brian Caws & the Cast, presented by Mysteriously Yours Dinner Theatre. James Bond and other secret agents go back to school in this interactive dinner-theatre show. Runs to Mar 26, Fri-Sat 7:30 pm (dinner from 6:30 pm), see website for other matinees & shows (no shows Dec 25-26). $45-$87. Show Info.
Mistletoe Magic. Famous People Players black light theatre company presents an all-ages seasonal production. Opens Nov 7 and runs to Jan 2, see website for times. $40-$68 (includes lunch/dinner). Show Info.
Krampus the Original Christmas Curmudgeon by Roger Rousseau (Solar Stage Children’s Theatre). Santa’s mean sidekick comes to tell a little girl that she’s on the naughty list in this seasonal show for ages 4 and up. Dec 12-Jan 3, see website for schedule. $16. Show Info.
The Nutcracker. The National Ballet of Canada celebrates 20 years of performing the holiday classic ballet choreographed by James Kudelka. Opens Dec 12 and runs to Jan 3, see website for schedule. Prices start at $37 and vary based on peak and off-peak performances. Show Info.
The Second City: Unwrapped. Satirical songs and sketches that cut through the tinsel to the unfrosted truths about the holiday season. Previews Nov 23 & 26, opens Nov 30 and runs to Jan 1, see website for days and times. $20-$35, stu $16. Show Info.
Alligator Pie (Soulpepper Theatre). Adapted from the children’s poems of Dennis Lee, this family-friendly production celebrates imagination and invention. Opens Dec 16 and runs to Jan 3, see website for schedule. $24-$45. Show Info.
Jacques and the Bean Stockmarket! by Jane A Shields and Rosemary Doyle (Panto Players). Family-friendly Holiday pantomime show. Dec 18-Jan 3, daily to Jan 2 at 8 pm, mats Dec 27, Jan 2-3 at 2 pm (no show Dec 24-25, Dec 30 and Jan 1). $25, child $15. Show Info.
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. Nov 12-Jan 10, Thu-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 3:30 pm. $50-$60. Show Info.
The Naughty Listers. The North Pole is thrown into chaos when one of Santa’s elves goes rogue in this all-ages puppet and live action revue. Dec 19-Jan 1, daily at 2 pm (no show Dec 24-25). $14. Show Info.
MILF Life Crisis. Anne Marie Scheffler (Suddenly Mommy!) performs her new comedic solo play. Dec 21-23 at 7 pm. $20. Show Info.
A Very Soulpepper Christmas. (Soulpepper Theatre). Family concert of holiday stories and music featuring Mike Ross and members of the company. Opens Dec 19 and runs to Dec 26, see website for schedule. $22-$60. Show Info.
Cinderella in Muddy York by Ann Powell and David Powell (Puppetmongers Theatre). The fairy tale is reset in 1830s Upper Canada in this all-ages marionette theatre show. Opens Dec 26 and runs to Jan 1, daily at 2:30 pm. $25, stu/srs/child $20, family 4-pack $75. In the ExtraSpace. Show Info.
The Student Prince by Sigmund Romberg and Dorothy Donnelly (Toronto Operetta Theatre). A young prince must choose between love and duty in this four-act operetta. Opens Dec 27 and runs to Jan 2, Mon & Thu 8 pm, Sat-Sun 3 pm. $72-$95. Show Info.
Listings based primarily on NOW! Stage Listings