Here are all of the shows we wish we could get out and see this week! Take your pick from our list of great theatre escapes for the week of June 20, 2011:
** Shows marked with the double asterisks and in red are the ones that make Megan, our editor in chief, wish she could clone herself so she could check them all out.
Already Covered by MoT…
**BILLY BISHOP GOES TO WAR by Eric Peterson and John Gray (Soulpepper Theatre Company). Soulpepper remounts its hit production about the famous WWI fighter pilot. Previews Jun 1. Opens Jun 3 and runs to Aug 4, see website for schedule. $45-$65, stu $28, rush $22 (stu $5). Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
**BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL by Lee Hall and Elton John (Mirvish). A boy leaves boxing for ballet while his family struggles with economic troubles in small-town England. Previews Feb 1-28. Opens Mar 1 and runs to Sep 3, Tue 7 pm, Wed-Sat 7:30 pm, mats Sat-Sun and Wed 1:30 pm. $36-$130. Canon Theatre, 244 Victoria. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.
THE OFFICE SPACEBALLS by Tim Suthervans, Kristian Bruun and Ben Birchard (Queen’s Players Toronto). Office workers fight a maniacal mayor in this mashup of The Office and Spaceballs. Previews Jun 15. Opens Jun 16 and runs to Jun 25, Thu-Sat 8:30 pm. $20, preview $15. Tranzac, 292 Brunswick. queensplayerstoronto.com.
THE RAILWAY CHILDREN by Edith Nesbit (Mirvish). Three siblings struggle to survive after their father is imprisoned in Edwardian England. Opens May 3 and runs to Jun 26, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mats Sat-Sun and Wed 2 pm (no shows May 29, Jun 12, 25; see website for other times). $25-$140. Roundhouse Theatre, 255 Bremner Blvd. mirvish.com.
…And the Rest
A BLACK AND WHITE READING SERIES (Royal Porcupine Productions). Two works in progress, White Plague by Karel Capek (Jun 22, 24) and Black Milk by Vassily Sigarev (Jun 23, 25), get staged readings. Opens Jun 22 and runs to Jun 25, Wed-Sat 8 pm. $12. Tarragon Theatre, Extra Space, 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.
**ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND National Ballet of Canada and the Royal Ballet (UK) present Christopher Wheeldon’s interpretation of Lewis Carroll’s story. Opens Jun 4 and runs to Jun 12. Jun 23-25, Thu-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $24-$227. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-345-9595, national.ballet.ca.
CODEX NOCTURNO (Kadozuke Kollektif). The collective presents a multimedia fusion of theatre and performance art about dreams and fallen angels. Opens Jun 10 and runs to Jul 3, Wed-Sun 8 pm. $25, stu $20. Imagefoundry, 1581 Dupont. 647-367-1015, zuke.ca.
DRIVEN TO SCORE: CELEBRATING CANADIAN MUSICAL COMPOSERS (Theatre 20). Composers Leslie Arden, Jonathan Monro and David Warrack will be joined by performers Louise Pitre, Ma-Anne Dionisio, David Keeley and others. Jun 20 at 8 pm. $59-$69. Panasonic Theatre, 651 Yonge. 416-872-1212, theatre20.com.
I NEED TO KNOW MY FATHER by Marcia Brown and Cleveland O McLeish (Marcia Brown Productions). Fifteen years after race and class divides two families, a teen sets out to find her father. Jun 25 at 8 pm. $30. J Clarke Richardson Collegiate, 1355 Harwood N. marciabrownproductions.com.
MAD HOT WONDERLAND National Ballet of Canada presents its annual gala fundraiser featuring performance excerpts, a Mad Hatter Tea Party, a lottery and more. Jun 21 at 6 pm. $55-$133. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-345-9595, madhotgala.com.
NEARLY LEAR adapted from Shakespeare by Susanna Hamnett and Edith Tankus (Red Sandcastle Theatre). Hamnett performs a solo show based on King Lear using storytelling, film and music. Opens Jun 24 and runs to Jul 3, Fri-Sun 7 pm (no show Jul 1). $12 (opening gala $27). 922 Queen E. 416-845-9411. Redsandcastletheatre.com
**PRIDECAB (Queer Pride 2011). This multidisciplinary cabaret features songs and monologues by members of Buddies’ Queer Youth Arts Program. Jun 22 at 8 pm. Free for youth 25 and under, pwyc for others; all adv tickets $15. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, buddiesinbadtimes.com.
SKIRTING THE EDGE (Mysterious Entity Theatre). This collection of monologues looks at women dealing with mental health issues. Jun 23-24 at 8 pm. $20 or pwyc. Workman Arts Theatre, 651 Dufferin. mysteriousentity.com.
SVADBA – WEDDING by Ana Sokolovic (Queen of Puddings Music Theatre). Folk tales and traditions surround a woman the night before her wedding in this opera performed in Serbian with English surtitles. Opens Jun 24 and runs to Jul 2, Tue-Sat 8 pm (no show Jul 1). $49. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley. 416-368-3110, queenofpuddingsmusictheatre.com.
**THE CARNEGIE HALL SHOW The National Theatre of the World presents a weekly variety show. Wed 9 pm. Pwyc. Bread & Circus, 299 Augusta. thecarnegiehallshow.com.
THE GREEN DOOR (Lower Ossington Theatre). This series features cabaret performances by Michael Burgess, Judy Marshak, Bruce Dow, Gabi Epstein, Adi Braun and others. Opens Jun 3 and runs to Jun 25, Fri-Sat 8 and 10:30 pm. $20. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.
VIVID4 REAson d’etre presents two new works by Kathleen Rea: The Wild In Us and Unravelling The Tight Weave. Opens Jun 23 and runs to Jun 26, Thu-Sat 7 and 8:30 pm, Sun 1 and 2:30 pm. First show $5-$10, youth under 25 pwyc; second show $22-$30, youth under 25 $15-$20. Winchester Street Theatre, 80 Winchester. reasondetre.com.