Here is what’s going on in Toronto theatre this week. There are several great shows to catch for the week of October 29th, 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.

Der Freischütz (The Marksman) by Carl Maria von Weber (Opera Atelier). A young marksman enters a Faustian pact for love in this Romantic-period German opera. Opens Oct 27 and runs to Nov 3. $35-$155. Elgin Theatre, 189 Yonge. 1-855-622-2787, operaatelier.com.

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.

Fiddler On The Roof by Joseph Stein, Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick (Encore Entertainment). A Jewish patriarch clings to tradition in a changing world in this musical. Opens Oct 25 and runs to Nov 4. $32.50, stu/srs $30. Toronto Centre for the Arts, Studio Theatre, 5040 Yonge. 416-733-0545, encoreshows.com.

Horses At The Window by Matei Visniec (Siavash Shabanpour/Go Play Producing). Three women learn they’ve lost a male family member in this absurdist journey through three centuries of war and destruction. Opens Oct 25 at 7:30 pm. Oct 29-Nov 2. $20, stu $15. The Great Hall Black Box Theatre, 1087 Queen W. horsesatthewindow.tickets@gmail.com.

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.

In 40 Years (Bobby Del Rio). This movement-based theatre piece is based on Del Rio’s collection of poems about love. Opens Oct 25 and runs to Nov 4. $10, Sun pwyc. Sterling Studio Theatre, 163 Sterling. bobbydelrio.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.

Sister Act by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner, Alan Menken and Glenn Slater (Whoopi Goldberg/Stage Entertainment/Troika Entertainment). A wannabe diva who witnessed a murder hides from the mob in a convent in this musical comedy. Previews Oct 2-3. Opens Oct 4 and runs to Nov 4. $35-$130. Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (The Classical Theatre Project). Three actors perform all 37 plays in 87 minutes. Oct 26 at 7:30 pm. Nov 3 at 7 and 9:30 pm. $28-$42. Lower Ossington Theatre, 100A Ossington. 416-915-6750, completeworksabridged.com.

The Hours That Remain by Keith Barker (New Harlem Productions). Haunted by her sister’s disappearance, a woman seeks answers and closure. Opens Oct 19 and runs to Nov 3. $21, mats $11-$16. Daniels Spectrum, Aki Studio Theatre, 585 Dundas E. 1-800-204-0855, thehoursthatremain.ca.

**The Normal Heart by Larry Kramer (Studio 180 Theatre). A group of friends refuse to let doctors, politicians and the press bury the truth about the AIDS epidemic in early 80s NYC. Previews Oct 19-20. Opens Oct 23 and runs to Nov 18. $30-$49, stu $25, limited Sun pwyc. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander. 416-872-1212, studio180theatre.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 Jan 6. $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.

What You Want: Toronto by Andrew Templeton (MachineFair/Bring the Buzz). Eight unique presentations of the playwright’s works What You Want: Vancouver and What You Want: Toronto explore true stories of both cities. Opens Oct 18 and runs to Nov 3. Pwyc (except Oct 29 workshop: $25, stu $20). Theatre Passe Muraille, Backspace, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, machinefair.ca.

And the Rest…

Alligator Pie (Soulpepper). Adapted from the children’s poems of Dennis Lee, this family-friendly production celebrates imagination and invention. Previews Oct 26-Nov 5. Opens Nov 6 and runs to Nov 25. $23. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

Ballet In The Studio Ballet Jörgen presents new works in development. Oct 30-31. $20, stu/srs $15. George Brown College, Bldg C, BJC Studio, 160 Kendal. balletjorgencanada.ca.

Bone Orchard Follies (Les Coquettes). A prom night avenger finds herself in a sensous cabaret in this revue featuring music, comedy, striptease and dance. Oct 28-31. $20-$35. Revival, 783 College. lescoquettes.com.

**Byologyc: Retreat (Zed.TO). Audience members choose the role they’ll play in this end-of-the-world adventure. Nov 2-3. $59.99-$99.99. Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview. zed.to.

Cream of Comedy (Second City). Fresh Meat’s final showdown – each act will perform their heart out, with the grand prize winner walking away with a $5000 prize and a scholarship to study at The Second City Training Centre. October 29 at 8pm. $15. The Second City, 51 Mercer St. secondcity.com

Day Of The Dead Harbourfront Centre presents a cultural festival featuring a workshop and performance by the Mexican Folkloric Dance company, plus music, art, film and more. Nov 3-4. Free. 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.

Delicacy by Kat Sandler (Theatre Brouhaha). A wealthy couple meet a younger couple at a sex club in this play about condo culture, class and growing up. Opens Oct 25 and runs to Nov 3. $20, Wed $15, Sun pwyc. Factory Theatre, Studio, 125 Bathurst. theatrebrouhaha.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.

Endgame by Samuel Beckett (Soulpepper). A blind man who is unable to stand gives orders to his servant, who is unable to sit, in this absurdist tragicomedy. Previews Oct 26-30. Opens Oct 31 and runs to Nov 17. $51-$68, stu $32, rush $5-$22. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

FOOL – Festival Of Oral Literatures (The Tellery). Celebration of spoken word and storytelling with Morgan Jones Phillips, Susan Coyne, Ron Evans, Jan Blake and others. Opens Oct 18 and runs to Nov 11. Free-$20. AGO, Rustic Owl Cafe and Artscape Wychwood Barns, see website for details. foolfestival.com.

Green Man Flashing by Mike van Graan (Actors Repertory Company). Staged reading of van Graan’s play as part of the Theatre Foreplay Reading Series. Nov 4 at 7:30 pm. Pwyc. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander. arcstage.com.

Hatched by Claire Burns (Triangle Co-Op). A teen’s identity crisis deepens when he learns he was conceived from a donor egg. Previews Nov 1. Opens Nov 2 and runs to Nov 17. $25, stu $18 (totix.ca). Toronto Free Gallery, 1277 Bloor W. hatchedtheplay.wordpress.com.

Honesty by Jordan Tannahill (Suburban Beast/Koffler Centre of the Arts). A solo performer works at the store and tells the stories of the city’s working class in this performance intervention. Two 90-minute acts with one-hour intermission. Opens Oct 16 and runs to Nov 4. Free. Honest Ed’s, 581 Bloor W. kofflerarts.org.

**iD by Jeannot Painchaud and Mourad Merzouki (Cirque Éloize). The streets of a big city are transformed through music, video projections, urban dance and circus arts. Nov 1-3. $45-$80. Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, 1 Front E. 1-855-872-7669, sonycentre.ca.

Les Fourberies De Scapin (Scapin’s Deceits) by Molière (Théâtre français de Toronto). Two young men seek a sly valet’s help for their romantic predicaments in this comedy performed in French (some surtitled shows). Previews Oct 24-25. Opens Oct 26 and runs to Nov 10. $33-$57, under 30/srs $28-$57, rush $20. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley. 416-534-6604, theatrefrancais.com.

New Art Night (Living Room Theatre). Short original works and excerpts of longer works by local theatre and literary artists will be presented. Nov 1-3. Pwyc. Unit 102 Theatre, 376 Dufferin. livingroomtheatreto@gmail.com.

No Day, But Today – 15th Anniversary Celebration of RENT in Toronto (Fife House/Theatre Sheridan). RENT alumni Chad Richardson and Cary Shields plus cast from the production perform selected songs from the musical to benefit people living with HIV/AIDS. Oct 29 at 6 pm. $75-$125. Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas E. 416-205-9888 ext 241, spotlightfife.com.

Over The Rainbow With Harold Arlen (Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company). This concert celebrates one of the great Jewish composers with performances by Brent Carver, Cynthia Dale, Sterling Jarvis and others. Nov 3 at 8 pm. $53-$99. Toronto Centre for the Arts, George Weston Recital Hall, 5040 Yonge. 416-733-0545, hgjewishtheatre.com.

Speaking In Tongues by Andrew Bovell (The Company Theatre/Canadian Stage Company). Four marriages are plunged into a morass of sex, lies and neglect after a woman goes missing. Previews Oct 29-31. Opens Nov 1 and runs to Nov 24. $22-$49. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley. 416-368-3110, canadianstage.com.

Summerfolk by Maxim Gorky (Ryerson Theatre School). Bourgeois Russians drink, flirt, complain and consider their changing society at an early 1900s garden party. Opens Oct 26 and runs to Nov 2. $18, stu/srs $14. Ryerson Theatre, 43 Gerrard E. 416-979-5118, ryersontheatre.ca.

The Enchanted Crackhouse by the ensemble (Enchanted Collective). A woman follows a rat into forest riddled with drugs and promiscuity in this darkly comedic puppet opera. Opens Oct 30 and runs to Nov 3. $15. Monarch Tavern, 12 Clinton. enchantedcrackhouse.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 Rocky Horror Show by Richard O’Brien (Fallen Rock Productions/Effort Trust). The popular rock musical is presented to benefit the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario. Opens Oct 25 and runs to Nov 3. $25-$50. Randolph Theatre, 736 Bathurst. 416-978-8849, uofttix.ca.

The Rocky Horror Show by Richard O’Brien (Lower Ossington Theatre). A newly engaged couple stumble upon a freaky castle in this classic rock musical. Opens Oct 19 and runs to Nov 3. $35-$45. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.

**The War Of The Worlds/Herrmannthology (Art of Time Ensemble/Harbourfront Centre). The radio drama about a Martian invasion based on Orson Welles’ 1938 broadcast is performed along with a suite based on the music of Bernard Herrmann. Opens Oct 30 and runs to Nov 4. $25-$59. Enwave Theatre, 231 Queens Quay W. artoftimeensemble.com.

Translations by Brian Friel (Toronto Irish Players). Tensions arise in 1833 when the British Army comes to change Irish place names to English ones in a small town. Opens Oct 18 and runs to Nov 3. $20, stu/srs $18, opening night $50, Oct 25 pwyc ($10 min). Alumnae Theatre, 70 Berkeley. 416-440-2888, torontoirishplayers.com