Playlistings in Toronto for the week of November 20th

Shows That Caught Our Eye in Toronto the Week of November 20th, 2017

With lots of youth-focused themes, is a great week to take the kids out to see a show in Toronto. Our editor Lin is here to choose her most anticipated shows are highlighted (in red). Check them out below the cut:

Already reviewed by Mooney on theatre:

Bat out of Hell The Musical. Mirvish presents the rock ‘n’ roll musical by Jim Steinman (producers: David Sonenberg, Michael Cohl, Randy Lennox and Tony Smith). A young rebel falls in love with the daughter of a powerful man in a post-apocalyptic world in this rock ‘n’ roll musical. Previews from Oct 14, opens Oct 25 and runs to Dec 24, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Wed 1:30 pm, Sat-Sun 2 pm. $29-$139. At Ed Mirvish Theatre. Show Info

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee by William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin (Hart House Theatre). Teachers and contestants at a small-town spelling bee wonder if winning is everything in this musical comedy. Opens Nov 10 and runs to Nov 25, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat Nov 25 at 2 pm. $28, srs $17, stu $12-$15. At Hart House Theatre. Show Info.

Beauty and the Beast. Young People’s Theatre’s Production of Disney’s Beauty And The Beast. Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Howard Ashman & Tim Rice, Book by Linda Woolverton. The musical based on the Disney film about hope and being your authentic self  is brought to the stage. For ages 5 and up. Previews from Nov 6, opens Nov 9 and runs to Dec 31, see website for schedule. $10-$49. At Young People’s Theatre. Show Info.

Grease The Musical by Jim Jacob and Warren Casey (Irregular Entertainment). The original high-school musical set in the 1950s deals with themes of first love, friendship and themes of identity. Previews from Nov 1, opens Nov 9 and runs to Dec 10, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Wed, Sat-Sun 1:30 pm. $29-$159. At The Winter Garden Theatre. Show Info.

Poison by Lot Vekemans (Coal Mine Theatre). A couple meet for the first time in years following a harrowing breakup. Old wounds re-open, new truths surface and the real reason behind their separation is revealed. Previews from Nov 12, opens Nov 15 and runs to Dec 3, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 2 pm. $42.50, preview/rush $25. At The Coal Mine Theatre. Show Info.

Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar (Mirvish/the Hope and Hell Theatre Co). Despite liberal and progressive leanings, everyone at a multicultural NYC dinner party reveals their “tribal” roots. Previews from Nov 11, opens Nov 14 and runs to Nov 26 Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm, Nov 15 at 1:30 pm. $39-$92. At The Panasonic Theatre. Show Info.

Weesageechak Begins to Dance. Native Earth Performing Arts presents the 30th year of the annual festival of Indigenous work. Featuring works-in-development and presentations in dance, theatre and interdisciplinary styles. Programming includes a workshop preview of Vancouver Moving Theatre’s Weaving ReconciliationBury by Alanis King, reading of The Weekend by Henrietta Baird, dance work Echoes by Olivia Shortt and more. Nov 15-25, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm (except Nov 24 at 8 pm) see website for schedule details. $15, festival pass $60. At Daniels Spectrum. Show Info.

Mr. Shi and his Lover by Wong Teng Chi and Njo Kong Kie (Macau Experimental Theatre/Music Picnic/Point of View Art Assoc). Chinese opera and vintage pop are used to tell the story of an espionage scandal in which a French diplomat falls in love with a mysterious opera singer. Previews from Nov 7, opens Nov 15 and runs to Dec 17, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat & Sun 2:30 pm. $22-$60. At Tarragon Theatre. Show Info.

And everything else:

Trace by Jeff Ho (b current performing arts/Factory). This play follows three generations of mother and son from the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong to Canada in the 21st century. Written and performed by Jeff Ho, this stimulating chamber play offers a new look into the lasting implications of sacrifice across generations. Previews from Nov 11, opens Nov 16 and runs to Dec 3, Tue-Sat 8 pm (and Nov 12 at 7 pm), Sun 2 pm. $30-$50, previews $20. At Factory Theatre. Show Info.

Old Man and the River by Lynda Hill and Thomas Morgan Jones (Theatre Direct/Crow’s). A solitary, grumpy old man finds a friend in this puppetry show for ages 3 & up. Nov 25-26, Sat 2:30 & 4:30 pm, Sun 11:30 am & 2:30 pm. $10-$20. At Streetcar Crowsnest. Show info. 

Pygmalion by George Bernad Shaw (Alexander Showcase Theatre). A London professor wagers that he can pass of a Cockney flower girl as a duchess in this classic social comedy play. Opens Nov 23 and runs to Dec 3, Wed-Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 2 pm. $22-$28. At Alumnae Theatre. Show Info.

Unholy by Diane Flacks (Nightwood Theatre). Four women – a progressive Muslim lawyer, an Orthodox Jewish spiritual leader, an excommunicated nun and a lesbian atheist pundit – debate religion and misogyny. Previews from Nov 23, opens Nov 25 and runs to Dec 10 Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. $25-$35, Sun pwyc. At Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Show Info.

Rumours by Neil Simon (Trinity College Dramatic Society). A dinner party goes awry when the hostess disappears and the host turns up with a gunshot wound in this farcical play. Opens Nov 22 and runs to Nov 25, Wed-Sat 8 pm. $15, stu/srs $10. At George Ignatieff Theatre. Show Info.

Oleanna by David Mamet (Theatre Penumbra). A power struggle ensues when a female student accuses a professor of sexual harassment. Opens Nov 21 and runs to Dec 3, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 3 pm. $20-$25. At Red Sandcastle Theatre. Show Info.

Elf The Musical by Matthew Sklar, Chad Beguelin, Thomas Meehan, Bob Martin (Mirvish). This seasonal comedy is based on the 2003 film ELF. Opens Nov 21 and runs to Nov 26, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Wed, Sat-Sun 1:30 pm. $59-$139. At The Princess of Wales Theatre. Show Info.

A&R Angels by Kevin Drew (Crow’s Theatre). Two songwriting angels who write music to uplift people worry that they’ve lost the hitmaker’s touch in this rock fable. Broken Social Scene band member Drew stars in the play along with Billy Talent front man Ben Kowalewicz. Previews from Nov 20, opens Nov 23 and runs to Dec 9, Mon-Sat 8 pm, mat Wed & Sat 2 pm. $20-$50. At Streetcar Crowsnest. Show Info.

Post National. Presented by Theatre @ York with Volcano Theatre. This two-part collective creation explores Canadian identity and citizenship in an increasingly populist world. Previews from Nov 19, opens Nov 21 and runs to Nov 25, Sun-Fri 7:30 pm, mat Wed & Fri 1 pm, Sat 2 pm. $20, stu $12, previews $7, Wed-Thu eve $5. In the Joseph G. Green Theatre at the Centre for Film and Theatre, York U Keele Campus. Show Info.

Dublin Carol by Conor McPherson (Fly on the Wall Theatre). An unexpected visit from his estranged daughter on Christmas Eve morning forces an undertaker to confront his past. Previews Nov 14, opens Nov 15 and runs to Nov 26, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 2 pm. $20-$25, preview $15. At Artscape Youngplace. Show Info.

5 Guys Chillin’ by Peter Darney (Theatre Topikós). Using real words found on Grindr, this play looks at the dark and often dangerous subculture of gay men who engage in risky sexual behaviour while under the influence of recreational drugs (PnP/Party ‘n’ Play/chemsex). Previews Nov 15, opens Nov 16 and runs to Nov 25, Tue-Sun 8 pm. $20 on eventbrite.ca. At Kensington Hall. Show Info.

IMPFilament Incubator and Epigraph Collective presents a play by Curtis the Brinke. Six years ago a coven of teenage witches unwittingly unleashed a violent force on their small town. With the body count piling up, these now grown-up witches return home to fix their mistake. Opens Nov 15 and runs to Nov 26, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. $15-$20. At Tarragon Theatre. Show Info.

Cake by Donna-Michelle St. Bernard (New Harlem Productions/Theatre Passe Muraille). This play takes a stark and poetic look at the things we use, how we are used and what happens when we’re all used up. Previews from Nov 17, opens on Nov 21 and runs to Dec 3, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $17-$33 (weekend mats pwyc at the door; $22.50 in advance). At Theatre Passe Muraille. Show Info.

Marine Life by Rosa Laborde (Aluna Theatre/Tarragon). An ecological activist is caught between her own environmental extremism and falling in love with a man who has a secret dependency on plastic. Previews from Nov 8, opens Nov 16 and runs to Dec 17, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat & Sun 2:30 pm. $22-$60. Tarragon Theatre. Show Info.
Quiet Courage by Chris Cocoluzzi (Amicus Productions). This play commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Halifax Explosion. Adapted from Too Many To Mourn by James and Rowena Mahar, it celebrates the fortitude and courage of the living, who were trying to make sense of what has happened and racing against time to find their relatives and fellow survivors. Opens Nov 9 and runs to Nov 25, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Nov 12 & 19 at 2 pm. $25, srs $20, stu $15. At Papermill Theatre. Show Info.

My Name is Asher Lev by Aaron Posner (Studio 180 Theatre/Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company). A young Jewish artist is torn between his Hasidic upbringing and his need to fulfill his creative promise. Previews from Nov 4, opens Nov 9 and runs to Nov 26, Tue-Thu & Sat 8 pm, Nov 12 & 19 at 7 pm, mat Wed 1 pm (and Nov 23), Sun 2 pm. $TBA. At The Toronto Centre for the Arts. Show Info.

Curious George and the Golden Meatball. by John Kavanaugh and Jeremy Desmon (Lower Ossington Theatre). The mischievous monkey from kids’ books tries to help his chef friend win a cooking competition in this all-ages musical. Opens Oct 14 and runs to Nov 26, Sat 1 pm, Sun 11 am & 1 pm. $30-$40. At Lower Ossington Theatre. 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. Opens Sep 22 and runs to Nov 26, Fri-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat 3:30 pm, Sun 4 pm. $55-$65. At The Lower Ossington Theatre. Show Info.

Listings based primarily on NOW! Stage Listings.