Here is what’s going on in Toronto theatre this week. There are several great shows to catch for the week of January 21st, 2013. ** 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

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. Opens Jan 10 and runs to Mar 3. $45-$60. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.

Body 13 by the Company (MT Space/Theatre Passe Muraille). Characters from different cultures encounter one another in this play about the politics of the sexualized body. Previews Jan 16. Opens Jan 17 and runs to Jan 26. $30-$35, stu/srs $25-$30, preview $15. Theatre Passe Muraille, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, passemuraille.on.ca.

Catalpa by Donal O’Kelly (Blood in the Alley). A screenwriter tells the story of six Irish expats who undertake a risky trip to free rebels from an Australian prison in 1875. Previews Jan 15. Opens Jan 16 and runs to Feb 2. $20, preview $15, mat pwyc. Theatre Passe Muraille, Backspace, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, passemuraille.on.ca.

Dinner With Goebbels by Mark Leith (act2studio works). This political satire features an imagined meeting of Joseph Goebbels, Karl Rove and Edward Bernays. Jan 25-27. $20, srs $18. Red Sandcastle Theatre, 922 Queen E. 416-979-5000 ext 6297, ryerson.ca/~act2.

**Hedwig And The Angry Inch by John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask (breathe.feel.love). An East German transsexual indie rocker seeks stardom and love in this biographical rock concert. Opens Jan 9 and runs to Jan 26. $35, stu $25. Drake Hotel, Underground, 1150 Queen W. hedwigtoronto.brownpapertickets.com.

**Robin Hood: The Legendary Musical Comedy by Kieren MacMillan, William Foley, Jeremy Hutton, Jesse MacLean, Kevin MacPherson and Kate Smith (Hart House Theatre). This musical looks at how social, political and religious constructs inform our notions of status and wealth distribution. Opens Jan 11 and runs to Jan 26. $25, stu/srs $15. 7 Hart House Circle. 416-978-8849, uofttix.ca.

**Someone Else by Kristen Thomson (Crow’s Theatre/Canadian Stage). A middle-aged couple are forced to confront their stagnant existence after a sobering encounter with a stranger in this dark comedy. Previews Jan 7-9. Opens Jan 10 and runs to Feb 2. $22-$49. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley. 416-368-3110, crowstheatre.com.

The Amorous Adventures Of Anatol by Arthur Schnitzler (Tarragon Theatre). A young playboy pursues women without commitment or care in this contemporary adaptation of the 1895 play. Previews Jan 1-8. Opens Jan 9 and runs to Feb 10. $27-$53, rush $13. 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.

**The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood (Nightwood Theatre). Odysseus’s wife gives her response to Homer’s epic, told through classical tragedy, Victorian melodrama, burlesque and song. Previews Jan 8-9. Opens Jan 10 and runs to Feb 10. Pwyc-$49. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, nightwoodtheatre.net.

The Wizard Of Oz adapted by Andrew Lloyd Webber (The Really Useful Group/Mirvish/Troika Entertainment/Warner Bros/Bill Kenwright). A twister sends Dorothy over the rainbow in this musical based on the classic film. Previews Dec 20-Jan 12. Opens Jan 13 and runs to Mar 31. $35-$130. Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

**This Is War by Hannah Moscovitch (Tarragon Theatre). A Canadian Forces captain in a volatile region of Afghanistan must deal with a threat from within. Previews Dec 28-Jan 2. Opens Jan 3 and runs to Feb 3. $48-$53, srs $38-$43, stu $27, rush $13. Extra Space, 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.

Thunderstick by Kenneth T Williams (Thunderstick Collective/Culture Storm). Odd couple native cousins seeking journalistic fame get on the trail of scandalous political intrigue. Previews Jan 16-17. Opens Jan 18 and runs to Mar 3. $20, stu/srs/preview $15. Toronto Free Gallery, 1277 Bloor W. tickets@culturestorm.ca.

Wait Until Dark by Frederick Knott (Red One Theatre Collective). A blind woman is terrorized by thugs after unwittingly taking possession of a drug-filled doll. Opens Jan 11 and runs to Jan 26. $20. The Storefront Theatre, 955 Bloor W. redonetheatre.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. Opens Aug 23 and runs to Jan 31. $24-$29, stu $15. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.

And the Rest…

A Woman Of No Importance by Oscar Wilde (Alumnae Theatre). A woman finds out that her son’s boss is the man who got her pregnant and refused to marry her. Opens Jan 25 and runs to Feb 9. $20, Wed 2-for-1, Sun pwyc. 70 Berkeley. 416-364-4170, alumnaetheatre.com.

Climbing Poetree (88 Days of Fortune). This night of spoken word poetry, music and art features the NYC performance duo and guests exploring diverse themes. Jan 25. $10-$15. CineCycle, 129 Spadina. facebook.com/events/490566440987841.

Cowboy Mouth by Sam Shepard and Patti Smith (Heart in Hand Theatre). A man embarks on a sex- and drug-fuelled bender with a girl who dreams of making him a rock star. Previews Jan 25-28. Opens Jan 30 and runs to Feb 14. $25, previews $20. Cameron House, 408 Queen W. heartinhandtheatre.com.

**Every Letter Counts by Nina Lee Aquino (Factory Theatre). A woman searching for her path in life examines the legacy of her uncle, a Filipino political icon. Previews Jan 26-30. Opens Jan 31 and runs to Feb 24. $32-$42, preview $22. 125 Bathurst. 416-504-9971, factorytheatre.ca.

Final Savage Land by Allison Cummings (Sore for Punching You). Art, music and dance are used to explore questions about survival and codependency. Opens Jan 23 and runs to Feb 2. $20. Oz Studios, 134 Ossington. 416-504-6429 ext 24, soreforpunchingyou.com.

Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical by Gerome Ragni, James Rado and Galt MacDermot (First Act Productions). The hippie youth of the 60s explore free love and flower power in the shadow of the Vietnam War. Opens Jan 23 and runs to Jan 26. $22. Papermill Theatre, 67 Pottery. firstactproductions.ca.

Love Letters by AR Gurney (Encore Entertainment). A dutiful lawyer and a lively artist exchange letters over 50 years in this play about love and friendship. Opens Jan 25 and runs to Feb 3. $28-$29.50. Toronto Centre for the Arts, Studio Theatre, 5040 Yonge. 416-733-0545, encoreshows.com.

Once Upon A Murder (Mysteriously Yours… Dinner Theatre). Preparations for a royal wedding are interrupted by a murder in this interactive dinner-theatre mystery. Opens Jan 25 and runs to May 31. $40-$71. 2026 Yonge. 416-486-7469, mysteriouslyyours.com.

P-Dale Episode 3: A Shot Of Love To The Gut by Luis Fernandes (Unit 102 Actors Company). This multimedia theatrical series looks at the pre-gentrified residents of Parkdale. Opens Jan 23 and runs to Feb 2. $15. Unit 102 Theatre, 376 Dufferin. p-dale.com.

The Frogs: A New Musical by Stephen Sondheim, adapted by Burt Shevelove (Trinity College Dramatic Society). Dionysus brings playwright George Bernard Shaw back from Hades to save ancient Greece in this adaptation of a comedy by Aristophanes. Opens Jan 22 and runs to Jan 26. $15, stu $10. George Ignatieff Theatre, 15 Devonshire. 416-978-8849, uofttix.ca.

The Knight of the Burning Pestle by Francis Beaumont (Theatre @ York). The 17th-century play-within-a-play satire is re-imagined for contemporary audiences. Previews Jan 20-21. Opens Jan 22 and runs to Jan 26. $17, stu/srs $12, previews $5. York University, Joseph G Green Studio Theatre, 4700 Keele. 416-736-5888.

The Marvelous Wonderettes by Roger Bean (Lower Ossington Theatre). This musical comedy pays homage to high school songleader squads of the 1950s. Opens Jan 17 and runs to Feb 10. $49. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.

The Odd Couple by Neil Simon (Scarborough Players) The great 1965 comedy, in a new production up close and personal on the Scarborough Village Theatre stage. Runs through Jan 26. $15 – $18. Scarborough Village Theatre, 3600 Kingston Rd. (at Markham Rd.) 416-267-9292, www.theatrescarborough.com

When Sisters Speak (Up from the Roots). This showcase of black female spoken word artists features Britta B, Jemeni, d’bi.young and others. Jan 26 at 8 pm. $38-$48. St Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front E. 416-366-7723, stlc.com.

 *Listings based on NOW stage listings*