Here is what’s going on in Toronto theatre this week. There are several great shows to catch for the week of October 8th, 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 Covered by MoT

AMALUNA (Cirque du Soleil). Acrobatics, music, dance 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 Nov 4. $58.50-$158.50, stu/srs/child from $43.50. Grand Chapiteau Tent, Port Lands, Commissioners at Cherry. cirquedusoleil.com/amaluna.

DIE FLEDERMAUS by Johann Strauss II (Canadian Opera Company). A woman gets revenge on her philandering husband in this comic operetta. Opens Oct 4 and runs to Nov 3. $12-$325. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-363-8231, coc.ca.

IL TROVATORE by Giuseppe Verdi (Canadian Opera Company). A troubadour and his rival woo a noblewoman while a gypsy plots revenge in this tragic opera. Opens Sep 29 and runs to Oct 31. $12-$325. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-363-8231, coc.ca.

NO GREAT MISCHIEF by David S Young (Tarragon Theatre). Haunted by stories and songs of their Scottish ancestry, two brothers seek to reconcile their past. Previews Sep 11-18. Opens Sep 19 and runs to Oct 21. $48-$53, srs $38-$43, stu $27, previews $21-$24, rush $13. 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.

SISTER ACT (Mirvish) a wannabe diva’s life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a crime and the cops hide her in the last place anyone would think to look—a convent! Oct. 2 – Nov. 4, $35-$130, Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria St., Mirvish.com

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 Nov 4. $35-$130, rush $29. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

WE’VE TOTALLY (PROBABLY) GOT THIS! Second City presents its fall 2012 revue featuring new sketches, songs and improv about stress and juggling priorities. Wed-Thu 8 pm, Fri-Sun 7:30 pm (plus Fri-Sat 10 pm). $24-$29, stu $15. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.

And the Rest

Abilities Arts Festival (AAF). The festival celebrating diversity, inclusion and accessibility features a multimedia Nuit Blanche installation, stories told through podcast plays, film and more. Opens Sep 20 and runs to Oct 11. $8-$25, many events free. Various venues. abilitiesartsfestival.org.

**Bloodless: The Trial Of Burke And Hare by Joseph Aragon (Theatre 20). This macabre musical tells the true story of two 19th-century Irish serial killers who sold corpses to anatomy schools in Edinburgh. Previews Oct 9-11. Opens Oct 12 and runs to Oct 28. $49-$69. Panasonic Theatre, 651 Yonge. 416-872-1212, theatre20.com.

De Colores Festival Of New Works (Alameda Theatre Company). The festival showcasing Latin-Canadian playwrights features Carmen Aguirre, Jose Arias, Ari Belathar and Alejandro Valbuena. Oct 11-12 at 8pm. $15, stu/srs $13, pass $29. Wychwood Theatre, 601 Christie. 416-652-5442, alamedatheatre.com.

Dracula, A Love Story by Sharyl Hudson and Bill Sewers (Brant Theatre Workshop). Follow actors through the castle’s historic halls in this adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel. Opens Sep 27 and runs to Nov 9. $39. Casa Loma, 1 Austin Terrace. 647-725-1826, casaloma.org.

East Side Represents Red Sandcastle Theatre presents a monthly comedy revue w/ Sandra Battaglini, Kelly Fanson, Jeanie Calleja, Precious Chong, Sarah Carver, Phil Luzi, host Fiona Carver and others. Oct 11 8 pm. $10. 922 Queen E. 416-845-9411, redsandcastletheatre.com.

HARBOURKIDS: FOLK (Harbourfront Centre). This all-ages festival about going back to one’s roots features an adaptation of Evalyn Parry’s bicycle play, SPIN, a musical play based on a First Nations legend and more. Oct 6-8. Free. 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.

I On The Sky by Yves Simard (DynamO Théâtre). A woman who had to abruptly leave behind her entire life wanders in a park in this story about exile, isolation and hope. Previews Oct 9. Opens Oct 10 and runs to Oct 21. $10-$20. Young People’s Theatre, 165 Front E. 416-862-2222, youngpeoplestheatre.ca.

I’m Not The Indian You Have In Mind Native Women in the Arts and Harbourfront NextSteps present dance inspired by Thomas King’s short film exploring indigenous stereotypes. Oct 11-13. $20-$28. Enwave Theatre, 231 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.

La Cage Aux Folles by Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein (Mirvish). A gay man and his drag queen partner prepare to meet the conservative parents of their son’s fiancée. Previews Oct 10-11. Opens Oct 12 and runs to Nov 18. $35-$130. Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

Miss Caledonia by Melody A Johnson (Lunkamud/Tarragon Theatre). A 1950s farm girl dreams of being an actress in the big city in this musical solo show. Previews Oct 13-23. Opens Oct 24 and runs to Nov 22. $48-$53, srs $38-$43, stu $27, previews $21-$24, rush $13. Tarragon Theatre, Extra Space, 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.

My Dream (Sony Centre/Easter Seals). The China Disabled People’s Performing Arts Troupe performs a variety show showcasing cultural traditions. Oct 12 at 7:30 pm. $28-$128. Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, 1 Front E. 1-855-872-7669, sonycentre.ca.

Nazi Hunter The Simon Wiesenthal Story by Tom Dugan (Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company). Dugan performs his solo show about the Holocaust survivor who brought more than 1,000 Nazi war criminals to justice. Previews Oct 9-10. Opens Oct 11 and runs to Oct 18. $30-$60. Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge. hgjewishtheatre.com.

Saucisse: A Foo Musical by Helen Donnelly (Foo Productions). A skeptical nomadic peddler and a New-Age pig form an unlikely friendship in this solo clown show. Opens Oct 10 and runs to Oct 20. $20, child $10. Pia Bouman School for Ballet, Studio Theatre, 6 Noble. fooproductions.com.

**Tear The Curtain! by Jonathan Young and Kevin Kerr (Electric Company/Arts Club Theatre/Canadian Stage). A 1930s theatre critic falls for a movie star and gets caught between warring mobsters in this play that goes between screen and stage. Previews Oct 7. Opens Oct 9 and runs to Oct 20. $24-$99. Bluma Appel Theatre, 27 Front E. 416-368-3110, canadianstage.com.

The Beaver Den: A New Canadian Musical by Taylor Abrahamse, Jaclyn Enchin and Jennifer Enchin (Jazz Squared Theatre Company). A cast of young Canadian actors are stuck on an outdated kid’s show filmed in Northern Ontario. Opens Oct 10 and runs to Oct 14. $18. Lower Ossington Theatre, 100A Ossington. lowerossingtontheatre.com.

The Fine Art Of Murder (Mysteriously Yours… Dinner Theatre). This dinner-theatre whodunit features a Sherlock Holmes mystery. Opens Sep 21 and runs to Dec 29. $66-$71. 2026 Yonge. 416-486-7469, mysteriouslyyours.com.

The Long Run by Rachel Ganz (Newborn Theatre/Sunnybrook’s Family Navigation Project). Three teenaged siblings spend a weekend alone as a result of their mother’s bipolar disorder. Panel discussion on mental health disorders to follow. Oct 11 at 7:30 pm. $25, stu $10. Al Green Theatre, 750 Spadina. newborntheatre.weebly.com.

**This Must Be The Place: The CN Tower Show by the Architect Theatre Collective (Theatre Passe Muraille). This multidisciplinary creation explores the social and cultural changes in Toronto during the tower’s construction in the 70s. Previews Oct 4-6. Opens Oct 9 and runs to Oct 27. $30-$35, previews $15. 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, passemuraille.on.ca.

Uninvited by Julie Tepperman and Shira Leuchter (Bring the Buzz). Tepperman and Leuchter present their work-in-development on the pervasive culture of rape, sexual violence and gender politics. Opens Oct 4 and runs to Oct 13. Pwyc. Theatre Passe Muraille, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, passemuraille.on.ca.

Vacant by Fraser Elsdon (Triangle Pi Productions). This play looks at morality, relationships and the search for authenticity in digital-age Toronto. Previews Oct 3. Opens Oct 4 and runs to Oct 13. $15, stu $12, preview pwyc. Alumnae Theatre, Studio, 70 Berkeley. totix.ca