Toronto Theatre Features

Tarragon Season Announcement (2014/2015)

Toronto’s Tarragon Theatre announces their 2014/2015 season

From Press Release

Toronto, February 19, 2014  – Artistic Director Richard Rose and General Manager Gideon Arthurs proudly rolled out Tarragon Theatre’s 8-play 2014-15 season today, filled with adventurous theatrical experiences both on and off the stage, and set Tarragon up for a fresh, affordable and seductive reinvention of the theatre-going experience. Tarragon’s 44th season, dubbed “Lies, Sex & What Comes Next”, features works from some of Canada’s greatest talents alongside brilliant artistry from Germany for a roster that showcases five world premieres of Canadian plays, two English-language premieres of cutting-edge German works and a brand new, home-grown Shakespeare adaptation.

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Mirvish Season Announcement (2014/2015)

Newsies, the musical

Toronto’s Mirvish announces their 2014-2015 season

The biggest game in town, Mirvish, have unveiled their 2014-2015 season, and it’s massive: Kinky Boots, Titanic and Newsies for musical-lovers; Buyer & Cellar, Arcadia and Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike for those who like their theatre more cerebral; a few greatest-hits productions see a return engagement (Jersey Boys, The Lion King, Book of Mormon); and a few more get their Toronto premiere. (Rick Miller’s Boom, Our Country’s Good, Robin Hood and Return to Grace)

The popular Off-Mirvish season is also returning, offering three shows in the intimate Panasonic Theatre with a more experimental bent–and the selection of Bonus Shows (which includes a tour of Wicked and–for the whole family–the fresh-from-Australia Dinosaur Zoo Live) will surely be an enticement to subscribers.

For ticket prices and a full list of productions, click the jump. But steel yourself: when I said Mirvish seasons are big, I meant it.

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Preview: The Next Stage Theatre Festival 2014

Kick off 2014 with the seventh annual Toronto Fringe’s Next Stage Theatre Festival beginning January 8

The 7th year of the Toronto Fringe’s Next Stage Theatre Festival is upon us.

The Next Stage Theatre Festival, or NSTF, is a platform for past Fringe artists (from Toronto or any other CAFF member festivals) to take groundbreaking work to the “next stage”. Some performances are remounts of previous Fringe shows, but most are new works from previously established Fringe artists. This year’s festival runs from January 8 – 19, 2014.

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Fundraiser 55 hour soap-a-thon Christmas at Choke and Poke Toys – part of the Impulse Festival

Catch great improv anytime day or night and watch sleep-deprived improvisors give their all

christmas at choke poke

The Impulse Festival being presented by Soulpepper and National Theatre of the World is not only bringing amazing improvisational acts from around the world to Toronto, and hosting fantastic workshops for beginners and experienced improvisers alike, but it’s also the home of a 55 hour long improvised soap opera being performed for charity, Gilda’s Club of Toronto.

Improvisation is always impressive to watch. People thinking on their feet. Mistakes turned into gifts. The audience helping to drive the action. Never knowing what to expect next. But this takes improv to a whole different place.

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Preview: DESH (Akram Khan Company/Canadian Stage)

akram khan resize

A familial story told through dance, Akram Khan brings DESH to the Canadian Stage

He’s known as one of Britain’s top choreographers receiving numerous awards and commissions from around the world. Whether you recognize his name from the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremonies or you have heard about his spectacular awe-inspiring dance shows, choreographer and dancer Akram Khan has become a household name but his journey as a celebrated artist wasn’t always an easy one.

Khan is bringing a very touching and personal story to the Toronto audiences; a story that transports him back to his own childhood and homeland, Bangladesh. The 80-minute solo dance work, DESH (meaning homeland), showcases his complex relationship with his father as he uses intricate fast unique movements to tell this emotional story. Visually and technologically appealing in every way, DESH, commissioned by Canadian Stage, is being premiered at the Bluma Appel Theatre on October 31st and Toronto, you don’t want to miss this!

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