Here is what’s going on in Toronto theatre this week. There are several great shows to catch for the week of May 21, 2012: ** Shows marked with the double asterisks and in red are the ones that make Wayne, our Managing Editor, wish he could exist in multiple parallel universes so he could check them all out.

Already Reviewed by MoT

A Florentine Tragedy/Gianni Schicchi by Alexander Zemlinsky/Giacomo Puccini (Canadian Opera Company). Zemlinsky’s satire based on an unfinished Oscar Wilde play is presented with Puccini’s comedy about a greedy family members scheming over a will. Opens Apr 26 and runs to May 25. $12-$318. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-363-8231, coc.ca.

Bring It On: The Musical by Jeff Whitty, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tom Kitt and Amanda Green (Mirvish). This musical comedy looks at high school rivalries and friendship in the world of competitive cheerleading. Opens May 2 and runs to Jun 3. $35-$130, rush $25. Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria. mirvish.com.

Home by David Storey (Soulpepper). The social interaction between five characters reveals their desire to belong and maintain human contact. Previews May 8-16. Opens May 17 and runs to Jun 20. $51-$68, stu $32; rush $22/stu $5. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

**Kim’s Convenience by Ins Choi (Soulpepper). A Korean family in Toronto struggles with a bitter past and reconciliation. Opens May 17 and runs to Jun 9. $22-$68. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

**Live Wrong And Prosper Second City presents its latest revue of sketches, songs and improvisations. Wed-Sat 8 pm, plus Fri & Sat 10:30 pm, Sun 7 pm. $24-$29, stu $15. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.

Luba, Simply Luba by Diane Flacks, Luba Goy and Andrey Tarasiuk (Pleiades Theatre/Red Boots Canada). Actor/comic Goy shares her own story of growing up in a Ukrainian immigrant family and finding radio and TV success. Previews May 7-8. Opens May 9 and runs to May 26. $33. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley. 416-368-3110, canadianstage.com.

Odysseo (Cavalia). Theatre artists and horses create a spectacle combining equestrian arts, stage arts and special effects. Opens May 15 and runs to Jun 3. $29.50-$119.50. White Big Top, 324 Cherry. 1-866-999-8111, cavalia.net.

Panamerican Routes/Rutas Panamericanas (Aluna Theatre). This festival of theatre for human rights features multidisciplinary works by Canadian and Latin American artists, including dance-theatre piece Urban Odyssey by Loco 7, Parting Memories by Violeta Luna, Carmen Aguirre’s Blue Box and more. Opens May 15 and runs to May 27. $15-$30, festival pass $100. Theatre Passe Muraille, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, alunatheatre.ca.

**Rent by Johnathan Larson (Theatre Sheridan). New York artists struggle to make ends meet in the shadow of the AIDS epidemic in this musical. Previews May 15. Opens May 16 and runs to Jun 3. $40-$60, stu rush $25. Panasonic Theatre, 651 Yonge. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

Semele by GF Handel (Canadian Opera Company). Handel’s opera based on the Greek myth about an ill-fated love affair is fused with ancient Chinese myths and legends in this adaptation. Opens May 9 and runs to May 26. $12-$318. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-363-8231, coc.ca.

Stockholm by Bryony Lavery (Seventh Stage Theatre Productions/Nightwood Theatre). Problems arise in a couple’s rosy relationship in this play about the lines between love and lust, aggressor and victim. Previews May 11-13. Opens May 15 and runs to Jun 3. $15-$30. Tarragon Theatre, Extra Space, 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, seventhstageproductions.com/theatre.

The Adventures Of Pinocchio (Cow Over Moon Children’s Theatre). The classic story of the wooden boy that comes to life is brought to the stage. Opens May 14 and runs to May 21. $15, child $10. Unit 102 Theatre, 376 Dufferin. 905-510-8210, cowovermoon.ca.

**The Real World? by Michel Tremblay (Tarragon Theatre). A playwright draws on his family as the raw material for his first work. Previews Apr 24-May 1. Opens May 2 and runs to Jun 3. $21-$51. 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.

West Side Story by Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim (Dancap Productions). A young man falls in love with a rival gang member’s sister in this musical. Opens May 8 and runs to Jun 3. $51-$180. Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge. 416-644-3665, dancaptickets.com

You Can’t Take It With You by George S Kaufman and Moss Hart (Soulpepper). An eccentric clan experiences unusual order when their daughter finds a fiancé from a conservative family. Previews Apr 19-25. Opens Apr 26 and runs to Jun 21. $51-$68, stu $32; rush $22/stu $5. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

 

And the Rest

360 Screenings (360 Screenings). This immersive cinema experience combines the screening of a film with elements of theatre. May 25 at 7 pm. $60. Secret Location, see website for details. 360screenings.com.

Aer Time (Femmes du Feu/Zero Gravity Circus). This workshop performance series features new works by aerial artists including Jen Roy, Mark Segal, Kirsten Edwards and others. May 26 at 2 pm. $10. Centre of Gravity West, south entrance, 213 Sterling, suite 100. hollytreddenick@gmail.com.

Arena Harbourfront Centre NextSteps and Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre present six contemporary dance works including works by Colin Connor, Sylvie Bouchard, Carol Anderson and Deborah Lundmark. May 25-26. $25-$38, stu/srs $22.50-$35. Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, ccdt.org.

Autogeddon by Heathcote Williams (Pandemic Theatre/Happy Trails Productions). An alien visitor observes the behaviour of humans and their cars. Opens May 17 and runs to May 27. $15-$25, May 20 pwyc. Dancemakers Centre for Creation, 55 Mill, bldg 58, studio 313. pandemictheatre.eventbrite.ca.

Contes Pour Enfants Pas Sages: 8 Cautionary Entertainments by Christopher Butterfield (Continuum Contemporary Music). Music, voices and projection are used in this staging of Jacques Prévert’s darkly themed animal fables. May 27-29. $30, stu/srs $15. 918 Bathurst Centre for Culture & the Arts, 918 Bathurst. 416-924-4945, continuummusic.org.

Dance Through Time Opera Atelier presents the School of Atelier Ballet performing Renaissance, baroque and 19th-century dances as part of Doors Open Toronto. May 27 at 2 pm. Free. St Lawrence Hall, 157 King E. operaatelier.com.

Dear World by Jerry Herman, Jerome Lawrence and Robert E Lee (Civic Light Opera Company). An eccentric old lady stands up to a corporation and saves the world in this musical. Opens May 23 and runs to Jun 9. $28. Fairview Library Theatre, 35 Fairview Mall. 416-755-1717, musictheatretoronto.com.

**Dirt (Soulpepper). In this collective creation, the Academy uses urban stories, movement and multimedia to explores dirt in literal and figurative terms. Previews May 18-22. Opens May 23 and runs to May 26. $20. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

**Ghosts Of Violence Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada presents a full-length ballet by choreographer Igor Dobrovolskiy about domestic homicide and its victims. May 26 at 7:30 pm. $29-$99. Bluma Appel Theatre, 27 Front E. 416-366-7723, atlanticballet.ca

Huit Femmes by François Ozon (Les Indisciplinés de Toronto). Eight women try to figure out who murdered a man in this adaptation of the French film. May 24-27. $15, stu $10. Ecole Gabrielle-Roy, Auditorium, 14 Pembroke. lesindisciplinesdetoronto.ca.

Islands by Graham Porter (draft89 theatre collective). In 2512, the survivors of a nuclear cataclysm try to keep civilization going in this play about the clash between utopia and human nature. Previews May 16. Opens May 17 and runs to Jun 2. $30. Theatre Centre, 1087 Queen W. 416-538-0988, draft89.com.

Lost In Yonkers by Neil Simon (Harold Green Jewish Theatre). Marion Ross stars in Simon’s play about two boys who must live with their harsh grandmother. Previews May 12-16. Opens May 17 and runs to Jun 10. $42.50-$79.50. Jane Mallett Theatre, 27 Front E. 416-366-7723, hgjewishtheatre.com.

Paul & Marie by Roberto Angelini (Two Snakes Productions). A couple risk their secure life to pursue fulfilling careers in the arts. Opens May 24 and runs to Jun 2. $25. George Ignatieff Theatre, 15 Devonshire. twosnakesproductions.com.

Pieces by Sarah Illiatovitch-Goldman (Cue6 Productions). The show’s script sequence is randomly drawn before each performance in this play about sex and betrayal. Opens May 24 and runs to Jun 9. $20-$30. Unit 102 Theatre, 376 Dufferin. cue6.ca.

Queer Sisters: Bernice Abbott And Elsa Von Freytag-Loringhoven (Ryerson Modern Literature and Culture Research Centre). This salon performance features multimedia dance and poetry. May 26 at 5 pm. Free. Rm GER 354, 111 Gerrard E. 416-979-5000 ext 7668, ryerson.ca/mlc.

**Redheaded Stepchild by Johnnie Walker (Nobody’s Business Theatre). Fundraising performance of the play about a boy dealing with his his new stepmother and a school bully. May 27 at 8 pm. $20-$25. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, nobodysbusiness.ca.

Rehearsal Hall (Fresh Herbs at Tarragon). This mini-festival of creations by member of the Young Players Unit and other youth-oriented programs features 10-minute plays, a staged reading and a public panel. May 25-27. Pwyc. Tarragon Theatre, Near Studio, 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.

Rent by Jonathan Larson (Toronto Youth Theatre). Artists of NYC’s Lower East Side struggle to make ends meet in the shadow of the AIDS epidemic in this musical. Opens May 24 and runs to Jun 16. $45-$60. Lower Ossington Theatre, 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.

**Semele: Ensemble Studio Performance (Canadian Opera Company). Young talent perform lead roles in the COC’s production of the Handel opera. May 23 at 7:30 pm. $22-$55. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-363-8231, coc.ca.

Sister Mary’s A Dyke?! by Flerida Peña (Carlos Bulosan Theatre). A teen learns the truth about her all-girl Catholic boarding school in this workshop presentation. May 25-27. Pwyc. Fringe Creation Lab, suite 403, 720 Bathurst. carlosbulosan.wordpress.com.

Spring Showcase 2012 Canada’s National Ballet School presents students performing classical and contemporary works. May 24-26. $50, stu/srs $25. Betty Oliphant Theatre, 404 Jarvis. 416-964-5148, nbs-enb.ca.

The Green Door Cabaret Series (Lower Ossington Theatre). This series features cabaret performances by various artists. Opens May 11 and runs to Jun 9. $20-$30. 100A Ossington. lowerossingtontheatre.com/cabaret.

The Heart In Motion 2012Cardinal Carter Academy presents a student performance. May 22-23 at 7:30 pm. $15. 36 Greenfield. 416-393-5556 ext 82221.

The Hypochondriac by Molière (East Side Players). A man is obsessed with his imaginary ailments in this classic farce. Opens May 24 and runs to Jun 9. $20, stu $15. Papermill Theatre, 67 Pottery. 416-425-0917, eastsideplayers.ca.

The Outlaw Stripper’s Ball (Skin Tight Outta Sight Rebel Burlesque). The audience chooses the acts to be performed in this burlesque revue. May 25 at 9 pm. $20-$25. Gladstone Hotel, Ballroom, 1214 Queen W. outlawstrippersball2012.eventbrite.com.

The Turn Of The Screw by Benjamin Britten (Against the Grain Theatre). The 20th-century opera based on Henry James’s 1898 ghost story is presented. Opens May 24 and runs to May 27. $40-$60. Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse, 79A St George. againstthegraintheatre.com.

This Is Bulgaria BALKANTO Entertainment presents the Bulgarian National Folklore Ensemble performing ethnic songs and dance. May 25 at 8 pm. $40, stu/srs $30, child $20. Edward Johnson Building, MacMillan Theatre, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-825-9336, balkanto.ca.

 

*Listings based on NOW Stage Listings*