Here is what’s going on in Toronto theatre this week. There are several great shows to catch for the week of August 27th, 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.
Covered by MoT
AVENUE Q by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx (Lower Ossington Theatre). A college grad moves to NYC and works through the transition to adulthood in this musical puppet show. Opens Jun 22 and runs to Oct 7. $45-$60. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.
DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS LIVE: CAMPAIGN 1: THE LEGEND OF T’RANNAH Bad Dog Theatre presents an unscripted adventure comedy based on the popular role-playing game. Opens Aug 22 and runs to Sep 19. $12, stu $10. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. 416-551-6540, baddogtheatre.com.
MEMORY IN THE MUD (Words In Motion). This movable drama and tour tells the stories of brick makers, POWs and Depression-era transients who spent time at the Brick Works. Opens Jul 11 and runs to Sep 29. $20, child $10. Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview. ebw.evergreen.ca/whats-on/memory-in-the-mud.
SPEED-THE-PLOW by David Mamet (Soulpepper). Movie industry big shots use sex and schemes to succeed in Hollywood. Previews Jul 5-14. Opens Jul 16 and runs to Sep 22. $51-$68, stu $32; rush $22, stu $5. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
**THE CRUCIBLE by Arthur Miller (Soulpepper). A small, devout Massachusetts town is thrown into chaos with accusations of witchcraft in 1692. Previews Jul 25-Aug 8. Opens Aug 9 and runs to Sep 22. $51-$68, stu $32; rush $22, stu $5. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
THE ROYAL COMEDIANS dramatist Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, better known as Molière. Previews Jul 24-Aug 6. Opens Aug 7 and runs to Sep 21. $51-$68, stu $32; rush $22, stu $5.Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
THE SUNSHINE BOYS by Neil Simon (Soulpepper). Two vaudeville veterans must overcome their mutual dislike to reunite for a TV special. Previews Jul 14-25. Opens Jul 26 and runs to Sep 22. $51-$68, stu $32; rush $22, stu $5. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
WAR HORSE based on a novel by Michael Morpurgo, adapted by Nick Stafford (National Theatre of Great Britain/Mirvish). An English boy sets out to find his horse after it’s sold to the cavalry and shipped off to France during WWI. Previews Feb 10-27. Opens Feb 28 and runs to Sep 30. $35-$130, rush $29. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King W. 416-872-1212
WE’VE TOTALLY (PROBABLY) GOT THIS! Second City presents its fall 2012 revue featuring new sketches, songs and improv. Tue-Thu 8 pm, Fri-Sun 7:30 pm (plus Sat 10 pm). $24-$29, stu $15. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.
And the rest…
**AMALUNA (Cirque du Soleil). Music, dance, acrobatics and design are used to look at femininity, renewal, rebirth and balance on a mystical island governed by women. Opens Sep 6 and runs to Oct 21. $58.50-$158.50, stu/srs/child from $43.50. Grand Chapiteau, Port Lands, Commissioners at Cherry. cirquedusoleil.com/amaluna.
ASHKENAZ FESTIVAL Harbourfront Centre presents an arts and culture festival including Avia Moore, the Dance Panorama demo, Klezmer Contra Dance and more. Aug 30-Sep 3. Most events free. 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.
BELLYDANCE DUMBEK BRIGADE Arabesque Dance presents live drumming and dance in the park. Sep 9 from 3 to 4 pm. Free.Ramsden Park, 1020 Yonge. arabesquedance.ca.
CINDERELLA… IF THE SHOE FITS! (Cabbagetown Theatre Company). This all-ages, panto-style comedy is inspired by the fairy tale and presented as part of the Cabbagetown Festival. Sep 7-9. $5. Necropolis Chapel, 200 Winchester. 416-653-5870, cabbagetowntheatre.com.
**FERAL CHILD by Jordan Tannahill (Suburban Beast/Canadian Stage). An Oshawa housekeeper’s encounter with a teenage boy unearths memories of her son’s disappearance during the Bosnian war. Previews Sep 6 at 8 pm. Opens Sep 7 and runs to Sep 22. $22, stu $17. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley. 416-368-3110, suburbanbeast.ca.
JAMAICA FAREWELL by Debra Ehrhardt (Meadowbrook Entertainment). This solo show based on a true story follows a woman’s adventurous emigration from Jamaica to the U.S. Sep 8 at 5 and 8 pm. $35. Al Green Theatre, 750 Spadina. 416-924-6211, brownpapertickets.com.
MASADA by Arthur Milner (Beit Zatoun). Staged reading of Milner’s lecture-play about the history of modern Zionism, from Roman times to the present. Sep 8 at 7 pm. $10. 612 Markham. 647-726-9500, beitzatoun.org.
REVEAL ME (Red Herring Burlesque). Virgin vixens and professional peelers put on a show. Jul 4 at 8 pm. Aug 1 at 8 pm. Sep 5 at 8 pm. $10. Rivoli, 332 Queen W. aprofessionaldistraction.com.
SPEAKEASY (Les Coquettes). The cabaret theatre company presents burlesque, music and more inspired by vintage NYC nightclubs in a dinner theatre show. Jul 8 at 7 pm. Sep 9 at 7 pm. Oct 14 at 7 pm. Nov 18 at 7 pm. Dec 9 at 7 pm. $20-$85.Revival, 783 College. lescoquettes.com.
THE BEST OF THE SECOND CITY presents classic and original sketch and trademark improvisation. Sep 3 8 pm, Sep 17 8 pm, Sep 24 8 pm. $14. Second City, 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.
THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED) (The Classical Theatre Project). Three actors perform 37 plays in 97 minutes in this interactive show performed on the garden terrace. Opens Aug 8 and runs to Aug 15. Aug 29-Sep 5. $50, stu/srs $30. Casa Loma, 1 Austin Terrace. 416-915-6750, completeworksabridged.com.
THE SECOND CITY’S IMPROV ALL-STARS Second City presents a fast-paced, completely improvised weekly show. Opens Sep 4 and runs to Sep 25. $14. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.