Shows That Caught Our Eye in Toronto the Week of May 15th, 2017

Get ready to sing and dance, Toronto! On our lovely city’s stages this week is a veritable smorgasbord of ballroom, opera, burlesque, and literature told through music. There’s also a thriller about a serial killer who was caught in Toronto, some Shakespeare, and much more. Don’t worry, our assistant editor Jess is on hand to pick out a few promising shows in red. Check them out below the cut:

Already Reviewed by Mooney on Theatre:

for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf. Soulpepper Theatre presents a play by Ntozake Shange. Through music, poetry and dance, seven women weave their stories of love, heartache, violence and joy into a powerful mosaic of the experiences of African-American women. Previews May 5, opens May 6 and runs to Jun 3, see website for times. $32-$89. At The Young Centre for the Performing Arts. Show Info.

Tosca by Giacomo Puccini (Canadian Opera Company). A woman murders the chief of police to save her lover in this Italian psychological drama of passion and betrayal. Opens Apr 30 and runs to May 20, see website for times. $35-$235. At The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Show Info.

Strictly Ballroom The Musical by Baz Luhrmann and Craig Pierce (Mirvish). A dancer defies all the rules and follows his heart to find his true calling and true love. Opens Apr 26 and runs to Jun 25, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Wed, Sat & Sun 2 pm. $31.25-$139. At The Princess of Wales Theatre. Show Info.

The Boy in the Moon by Emil Sher (Crow’s Theatre). Based on Ian Brown’s memoir, this play tells the story of a couple raising a child with profound disabilities. Previews from May 8, opens May 12 and runs to May 27, Mon-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $20-$40. At The Streetcar Crownsnest. Show Info.

Wildfire. Soulpepper Theatre & RARE Theatre Company present a play by Judith Thompson. Researched and performed by actors with Down syndrome, this play explores the boundaries of love for people with visible differences. Previews May 2, opens May 3 and runs to May 20, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $25-$58. At The Young Centre for the Performing Arts. Show Info.

And the rest:

Onegin by Amiel Gladstone and Veda Hille (The Musical Stage Company/National Arts Centre). High-energy indie rock adaptation of Pushkin’s poem and Tchaikovsky’s opera. Previews from May 13, opens May 17 and runs to Jun 4, Wed-Thu & Sat 8 pm (and some Tue), Fri & Sun 7 pm, mat Wed & Sun 1 pm. $35-$59. At The Berkeley Street Theatre. Show Info.

Play in a Pub: Red Velvet by Lolita Chakrabarti (Driftwood Theatre). Reading of a fictionalized account based on the true story of a Black actor who achieved an extraordinary career in 19th-century London. May 15 at 8 pm. $25. At The Social Capital Theatre. Show Info.

The Good Doctor Holmes & His Children of God by Julian R. Munds (Tanagra). Thriller about Dr. HH Holmes, America’s first serial killer, who was caught in Toronto in 1894. Opens May 11 and runs to May 21, Wed-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $30 adv reserve, pwyc at the door. At Theatre Passe Muraille. Show Info.

TLC vs. Salt-N-Pepa: A Burlesque Tribute! Zyra Lee Vanity presents a sex-positive, femme pride burlesque revue set to music of the two hip-hop girl group powerhouses, featuring Dainty Smith, Ivory, Ferrera Rose, Mahogany Storm, Simply Shakera and others, musical performances by Belle Jumelles, Johnny B Goode & Trixi Jones. May 21, doors 7 pm, show 8 pm, after-party from 9:45 pm. $20-$30. At Round Venue. Show Info.

Strangers, Babies by Linda McLean (Theatre PANIK). A woman who is haunted by a horrifying past decides to bring a baby into her life. Previews May 11, opens May 12 and runs to May 28, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $33-$39, stu $26. At Artscape Sandbox. Show Info.

Anything to Declare? by Maurice Hennequin and Pierre Veber (Stage Centre Productions). Two families fret over an unconsummated marriage in 1912 Paris in this classic mistaken identities farce. Opens May 18 and runs to May 27, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat May 21 and 27 at 2 pm. $30, stu/srs $25. At Fairview Library. Show Info.

The Melville Boys by Norm Foster (Village Players). Two brothers plan for a quiet weekend of fishing is upended when two single sisters show up in this comedy. May 18-20, Thu-Sat 8 pm. $20-$24. At The Village Playhouse. Show Info.

Caesar. Wolf Manor Theatre presents a remount of its reimagining of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. Five actors take on over 30 roles to put 33 wounds into one ruler in this reimagining of the Bard’s play. Opens May 17 and runs to May 28, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $15-$28. At Kensington Hall. Show Info.

The Play About The Baby by Edward Albee (Seven Siblings Theatre). Young new parents find their happiness compromised by a strange visit from an older couple in this black comedy. Opens May 12 and runs to May 21, Wed-Sun 8 pm, mat May 20 at 2 pm. $15-$25. At Rhino. Show Info.

The Best Dad in the World (& Other Sad Characters) by Allan Cooke (Monocosm). Three characters live in a Toronto we’ve never seen – where first dates cost millions and coffee is more potent than cocaine. Starring Cooke, Natalie Kulesza and Jesse Bond. Opens May 16 and runs to May 20, Tue-Sat 8 pm. $15. At Red Sandcastle Theatre. Show Info.

(re)Birth: E.E. Cummings in Song. Soulpepper Theatre Concert Series presents a collective creation that offers a musical exploration of the extensive canon of the legendary American poet, essayist, painter and playwright. Opens May 17 and runs to May 20, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $25-$60, artsworker & StagePlay (Under 30) $20. At The Young Centre for the Performing Arts. Show Info.

Pirate Life Children’s Theatre. Kids can dress in costume, get face paint tattoos and help discover the mystery of the treasure map in this interactive theatrical show/boat cruise. Opens May 6 and runs to Oct 8, Sat-Sun until Jun 25, daily Jun 26-Sep 4, weekends to Oct 9. Various times from 10:30 am-5 pm. $25. At Island Rogue. Show Info.

Dom Juan by Molière (Théâtre français de Toronto). An unrepentant man with an insatiable libido goes up against moral norms in 17th-century France. Previews from May 10, opens May 12 and runs to May 28, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 3:30 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. Surtitled performances Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. $19-$49, Wed-Thu pwyc, Sat rush $20. At The Berkeley Street Theatre. Show Info.

Listings based primarily on NOW! Stage Listings.