There’s a lot of great theatre going on in Toronto for the week of May 26th, 2014. ** Shows marked with the double asterisks and in red are the ones that make Megan, our Founding Editor, wish there were more hours in a day so she could check all of them out.

 

Already Covered By MoT…

 

Avenue Q by Robert Lopez, Jeff Marx and Jeff Whitty (Lower Ossington Theatre). A college grad moves to NYC and copes with grown-up problems in this adult musical puppet play. Opens Apr 10 and runs to Jun 1, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm, Sun 4 pm. $49-$59. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.

Bingo! by Daniel MacIvor (Factory Theatre). Drinking games and fear of life in their 40s drive the actions of five friends at their high school reunion. Previews May 3-7, Sat and Tue-Wed 8 pm, Sun 7 pm. Opens May 8 and runs to Jun 1, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $30-$45, previews $23, Sun pwyc. 125 Bathurst. 416-504-9971, factorytheatre.ca.

Dead Metaphor by George F Walker (Mirvish/Canadian Rep). A soldier returning from Afghanistan settles for a job with a crusading politician in this dark comedy. Previews May 21-22. Opens May 23 and runs to Jun 8, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 7 pm (no show May 25), mat Sat-Sun 2 pm (and May 21). $19-$79. Panasonic Theatre, 651 Yonge. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

Freeway Strangler by Christian Canterbury (The Box Studio/Straeon Filmworks Inc). Four Hollywood actors pursue love and fame while a serial killer terrorizes L.A. Opens May 22 and runs to Jun 8, Thu-Sun 8 pm. $20. The Box Studio, 89 Niagara. brownpapertickets.com/event/688046.

Hedwig And The Angry Inch by John Cameron Mitchell (Lower Ossington Theatre). An East German transgender musician moves to America to start a rock band and find love. Opens Apr 17 and runs to Jun 7, Thu-Fri 8 pm, Sat 8 and 11 pm. $49. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.

**The Last Confession by Roger Crane (Mirvish). This thriller explores the mystery shrouding the sudden death of Pope John Paul I in 1978. Previews Apr 19-26. Opens Apr 27 and runs to Jun 1, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun and Wed 2 pm. $35-$119. Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

The Lion King by Elton John, Tim Rice and Roger Allers (Mirvish). The musical based on the Disney film returns. Previews Apr 30. Opens May 1 and runs to Jun 15, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 6:30 pm, mat Sun 1 pm, Sat 1:30 pm (see website for more dates/exceptions). $35-$155. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

The Road To Mecca by Athol Fugard (Soulpepper). A widow turns her property into an eccentric art installation in a conservative South African village in this drama about intolerance and the need for self-expression. Previews Apr 30-May 3. Opens May 5 and runs to May 28, Mon-Sat 8 pm, mat Wed & Sat 2 pm. $29-$74, rush $5-$23. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

Through The Gaze Of A Navel by Emelia Symington Fedy (East End Performance Crawl). A self-proclaimed self-help expert takes the audience on a journey in this part theatre event, part yoga class. Opens May 24 and runs to Jun 1, see website for schedule. $15. Yogathletix, 911 Queen E. crowstheatre.com.

Vitals by Rosamund Small (Outside the March/Theatre Passe Muraille). A Toronto paramedic deals with life, death and bureaucracy in this show based on interviews with EMS workers. Previews Apr 29-30. Opens May 1 and runs to Jun 1, Tue-Sun 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $25-$30. Starts at Roncesvalles & Garden Aves, 149 Roncesvalles. 416-504-7529, outsidethemarch.ca.

Watching Glory Die by Judith Thompson (Canadian Rep Theatre). Thompson performs in her solo show about three women linked by shared helplessness in the face of tragedy. Previews May 15-16. Opens May 17 and runs to Jun 1, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $30-$42, previews $18. Berkeley Street Theatre, Upstairs, 26 Berkeley. 416-368-3110, canadianrep.ca.

Who’s Your Daddy? by Johnny O’Callaghan (East End Performance Crawl). A film shoot in Africa leads to an adoption in Uganda for a single, down-and-out actor. Opens May 23 and runs to Jun 1, see website for schedule. $15. Loft Apt, 10 Hastings. crowstheatre.com.

 

And the rest…

**The Art Of Traditional Head-Tying by Kanika Ambrose (East End Performance Crawl). A woman returns to Dominica 20 years after immigrating to Canada in this solo show. Opens May 23 and runs to May 29, see website for schedule. $15.Ralph Thornton Centre, 765 Queen E. crowstheatre.com.

The Ballad Of The Young Offender by Patrick John Constello (East End Performance Crawl). This solo show looks at the xenophobia, racism and fear-mongering that followed the birth of rock and roll. Opens May 23 and runs to Jun 1, see website for schedule. $15. Sidemart Theatrical Grocery, 1362 Queen E. crowstheatre.com.

East End Performance Crawl (Crow’s Theatre). Theatrical fest featuring Mike Daisey’s Dreaming Of Rob Ford, Bronwyn Steinberg’s Occupy Me, the Soulo Festival, storytelling and more. Opens May 21 and runs to Jun 1, see website for schedule and prices. Various venues on Queen East from Broadview to Greenwood. crowstheatre.com.

East O’ The Sun And West O’ The Moon by Norbert Palej and KT Bryski (Canadian Children’s Opera Company). A farm girl saves her hungry family by befriending a bear in this adaptation of a Norwegian folk tale. May 30-Jun 1, Fri-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $35, srs $20, stu $15. Enwave Theatre, 231 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, canadianchildrensopera.com.

Face Value: Leslieville by Tracey Hoyt (East End Performance Crawl). Improv artist Hoyt explores a selection of unforgettable Leslieville characters. Opens May 22 and runs to Jun 1, see website for schedule. $15. Pentimento Fine Art Gallery, 1164 Queen E. crowstheatre.com.

Flashdance – The Musical by Tom Hedley, Robbie Roth and Robert Cary (Mirvish). In this stage adaptation of the 1983 film, a welder dreams of becoming a professional dancer. Previews May 27. Opens May 28 and runs to Jun 8, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm, see website for Sun and other times. $36-$130. Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

FPP 40-Year Anniversary (Famous People Players). The blacklight theatre company performs the show Going Bananas and pays tribute to supporters Johnny Bower, Art Eggleton and Ron James at this gala. May 31 at 6 pm. $94. FPP Dine and Dream Theatre, 343 Evans. 416-532-1137, fpp.org.

The Harolds (Harold Awards). The 20th annual awards for Toronto theatre artists are presented. May 26 at 7:30 pm. $10-$15. Cadillac Lounge, 1296 Queen W. haroldawards.com. *editor’s note: This may not be a performance per se, but if you happen to go to a lot of indie theatre scene in Toronto it’s a heck of a lot of fun to go to and get a bit of a ‘behind the scenes’ peek at things.*

The Harrowing by Scott Douglas (Clock Tower Theatre). Brute force meets cunning and intellect as a man tries to resist his torturer in this psychological drama. Opens May 29 and runs to Jun 7, Thu-Sat 7 pm, Sun 2 pm. $15-$20. The Storefront Theatre, 955 Bloor W. 647-660-0010, secureaseat.com.

In Case We Disappear by Vanessa Smythe (East End Performance Crawl). Smythe performs her part spoken-word, part stand-up musical solo show. Opens May 24 and runs to Jun 1, see website for schedule. $15. The Purple Purl, 1162 Queen E. crowstheatre.com.

InspiraTO Festival (Theatre InspiraTO). The annual festival of 10-minute plays presents works by Steven Simoncic, Nina Kaye, Dominik Loncar, Julie Cohn and others, plus site-specific plays on Queen East. Opens May 29 and runs to Jun 7, see website for schedule. $20, stu $15; festival pass $50, stu $40. Alumnae Theatre, 70 Berkeley. theatreinspirato.ca.

**Love And Human Remains by Brad Fraser (Witchboy Theatre). Frustrated young adults look for sex and love while a serial killer roams the city. Opens May 21 and runs to Jun 7, Tue-Sat 8 pm. $20. Unit 102, 376 Dufferin. witchboytheatre.com.

Medicine by TJ Dawe (East End Performance Crawl). Dawe tells of his experiences ingesting a shamanic plant at a Peruvian retreat. May 29-Jun 1, Thu-Fri 7 pm, Sat 5 pm, Sun 6 pm. $15. Loft Apt, 10 Hastings. crowstheatre.com.

Occupy Me by Bronwyn Steinberg (East End Performance Crawl). An anxious zen seeker grapples with the Occupy movement and seeks nirvana in India. Opens May 27 and runs to Jun 1, see website for schedule. $15. The Flying Yogi, 245 Carlaw. crowstheatre.com.

The Parliamentarians by Phil Rickaby (Red Sandcastle Theatre). The new Prime Minister’s weekend tryst with a call girl is ruined when a political opponent shows up at the hotel. Opens May 28 and runs to Jun 1, Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $20. 922 Queen E. 416-845-9411, redsandcastletheatre.com.

Promises To A Divided City (Mammalian Diving Reflex/Theatre Centre). This interactive performance takes audiences on a tour through our city examining its social and economic dynamics. May 30-31, Fri various start times between 7 and 9:40 pm, Sat various start times between 4 and 7:20 pm. $15, stu/srs $10. Theatre Centre, 1115 Queen W. 416-538-0988, theatrecentre.org.

**Puppet Allsorts: The Night Of Shorts (Toronto Puppetry Collective). An adult puppet show is presented. May 26 at 7 pm. $15-$20. 3030 Dundas West, 3030 Dundas W. puppetallsorts.com.

**Queer Bathroom Stories by Sheila Cavanagh (Libido Productions/Queer Pride 2014). Based on hundreds of interviews of LGBTQ people, this play examines sex and gender politics in public washrooms. Previews May 31-Jun 1. Opens Jun 3 and runs to Jun 15, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. $20-$25. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, buddiesinbadtimes.com.

The Sonnet Show: A Night Of 14 (Humber River Shakespeare Company). Five original 14-minute plays based on a 14-line sonnet are performed. May 30 at 7 pm. $30. Montgomery’s Inn, 4709 Dundas W. 416-209-2026, humberrivershakespeare.ca.

SOULO Theatre Festival (Tracey Erin Smith). Performances of one-person shows by Sage Tyrtle, Rachelle Eli, Sébastien Heins, Martha Chaves and others, plus panels and workshops. May 22-25, see website for schedule. $15, opening night $50; panels & workshops $20. Red Sandcastle Theatre, 922 Queen E. soulo.ca.

Stars Of David based on a book by Abigail Pogrebin (Harold Green Jewish Theatre/Angelwalk Theatre). The book about Jewish identity based on interviews with Gloria Steinem, Leonard Nimoy, Fran Drescher and others is adapted to a musical production. Previews May 10-13, Sat and Tue 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. Opens May 14 and runs to Jun 1, Tue-Thu and Sat 8 pm, Sun 7 pm, mat Thu 1 pm, Sun 2 pm. $25-$65. Toronto Centre for the Arts, Studio Theatre, 5040 Yonge. 416-733-0545, hgjewishtheatre.com.

**TEASE by Amy Keating, Julie Tepperman and others (East End Performance Crawl). Viewer and performer share an intimate encounter in this site-specific show limited to five people per performance. Opens May 23 and runs to May 31, Wed-Sun 11:25 am, noon and 1 pm. $15. Jilly’s, meet at 696 Queen E. crowstheatre.com.

Three Minute Therapy (East End Performance Crawl). Emelia Symington Fedy offers advice help alongside an egg timer. May 27, from noon to 3 pm. Free. Arts Market, 1114 Queen E. crowstheatre.com.

Toronto Festival Of Clowns (Adam Lazarus/Dave McKay). Clowns, bouffons and physical theatre performers include 2 Man No Show, Guayoyo Creative Collective, Foo Productions, Morro & Jasp and others. Opens May 28 and runs to Jun 1, see website for schedule. $15, pass $65-$115. Pia Bouman Studio, and Brockton Collective, 442 Dufferin, 6 Noble. torontofestivalofclowns.com.

A Very Chris-terical 90s Cabaret (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre). Chris Tsujiuchi performs with Colin Asuncion, Hilary Wilson, Kevin Wong and others. May 30-31 at 8 pm. $20-$25. 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, buddiesinbadtimes.com.

**Play listings based on NOW stage listings.