There’s a lot of great theatre going on in Toronto for the week of June 2nd, 2014. ** Shows marked with the double asterisks and in red are the ones that make Wayne, our Managing Editor, wish there were more hours in a day so he could check all of them out.

 

Already Covered By MoT…

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.

Flashdance – The Musical by Tom Hedley, Robbie Roth and Robert Cary (Mirvish). A welder dreams of becoming a professional dancer in this adaptation of the 80s film. 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.

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.

**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.

**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.

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.

 

And the rest…

Airline Icarus by Brian Current and Anton Piatigorsky (Soundstreams/Maniac Star). This modern opera is set aboard a plane and examines the joy and angst of flying. Opens Jun 3 and runs to Jun 8, Tue-Fri 8 pm, Sat 4 pm, Sun 3 pm. $20-$75.Daniels Spectrum, Ada Slaight Hall, 585 Dundas E. 416-408-0208, soundstreams.ca.

Americandream.ca by Claude Guilmain and Louise Naubert (Théâtre La Tangente). Six characters hide their personal tragedies from each other in this multidisciplinary show with English audio translation. Opens Jun 3 and runs to Jun 7, Tue-Sat 8 pm. $20-$35. Glendon Campus Theatre, 2275 Bayview. 416-947-7909, americandream.ca.

The Blues Ain’t Nothing But A Good Woman Gone Bad (Les Femmes Fatales). This burlesque revue features Saskia Smith, Bombyx Mori, Piper Hayes and others. Jun 6 at 10 pm. $14. Baltic Avenue, 875 Bloor W. facebook.com/events/777053908971271.

Cineastas by Mariano Pensotti (Luminato Festival). The lives and cinematic works of four Buenos Aires filmmakers are adapted into a mulitmedia stage show. Jun 7-9, Sat-Mon 7:30 pm. $35-$55. Edward Johnson Building, MacMillan Theatre, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-368-4849, luminatofestival.com.

Factory Wired 14 (Factory Theatre). Staged readings of new works in progress by Morro & Jasp, Joseph Jomo Pierre, Jonathan Seinen, Karen Hines, Marjorie Chan and others. Opens May 30 and runs to Jun 15, see website for schedule. Pwyc. 125 Bathurst. 416-504-9971, factorytheatre.ca.

The Glorious Ones by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (The Civic Light-Opera Co). This musical looks at the lives, loves and troubles of a comedia dell’arte troupe in 17th century Italy. Opens May 28 and runs to Jun 15, Wed 7 pm, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $28. Zion Cultural Centre, 1650 Finch E. 416-755-1717, musictheatretoronto.com.

**The God That Comes by Hawksley Workman and Christian Barry (2b theatre company). The slaves, women and outlaws of a city flee the oppressive king to worship the god of wine, sex and ecstasy in this rock and roll cabaret. Opens Jun 3 and runs to Jun 29, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. $40. Tarragon Theatre, 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.

Green Porno, Live On Stage by Isabella Rossellini and Jean-Claude Carrière (Luminato Festival). Rossellini dons animal costumes to examine the curiosities and risks of sex and reproduction in this solo show based on her short films. Jun 6-8, Fri-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $45-$85. Winter Garden Theatre, 189 Yonge. 416-368-4849, luminatofestival.com.

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.

Miss Conception: Stage To Screen (Lash Entertainment/Queer Pride 2014). Miss Conception performs a musical tribute to pop divas. Jun 6-7 at 7:30 pm. $25. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, buddiesinbadtimes.com.

Orange Is The New Burgundy by Mike Payne, Tim Evans and Paul Levia (Queen’s Players Toronto). Anchorman’s Ron Burgundy comes to Toronto and ends up in a co-ed jail in this comedy. Opens Jun 5 and runs to Jun 14, Thu-Sat 8:30 pm. $20-$25. Tranzac, 292 Brunswick. queensplayerstoronto.com.

Plaza Suite by Neil Simon (Medina Theatre Ensemble). Staged reading of Simon’s comedy play featuring three couples at a swanky NYC hotel. Jun 2 at 7:30 pm. $10. Temple Sinai Congregation, 210 Wilson. medinatheatre.blogspot.ca.

**Potluck Festival (fu-GEN). The company’s annual event features new works in progress by Leonard Cervantes, Ming-Bo Lam, Elena Juatco, Dean Vargas and Norman Yeung. Jun 8 at 7 pm. Pwyc. Factory Theatre, Studio, 125 Bathurst. fu-gen.org.

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.

Rent by Jonathan Larson (Lower Ossington Theatre). NYC artists struggle to make ends meet in the shadow of the AIDS epidemic in this musical. Opens Apr 3 and runs to Jun 8, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm, Sun 4 pm. $49-$59. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.

Reveal Me Burlesque (Red Herring Burlesque). Virgin vixens and professional peelers put on a show. May 14, doors 8 pm. Jun 4, doors 8 pm. $10. Rivoli, 332 Queen W. aprofessionaldistraction.com.

Rumors by Neil Simon (Scarborough Players). Secrets and lies derail a couple’s 10th anniversary dinner party in this comedy. Opens May 30 and runs to Jun 14, Thu-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $20. Scarborough Village Theatre, 3600 Kingston. 416-267-9292, theatrescarborough.com.

Singular Sensation: A Music Theatre Open Mic (Jennifer Walls). Sing showtunes with a live band and see previews of upcoming works at this weekly show. Mar 17-Jun 30, Mon 10 pm. Free. Statler’s, 487 Church. 416-922-0487.

Standing Room Only (The Shoe Project). Stories from South Sudan, Syria, Hungary and around the world are presented in theatrical readings. Jun 3-4 at 7:30 pm. $20-$30 (Wed is a benefit for the Canadian Civil Liberties Assoc). Arts & Letters Club, 14 Elm. govier.com/shoe.htm.

Stumble, Topple, And Stand by Nick Carney, Owen Fawcett, Katie Sly and Spencer Charles Smith (Straight Camp/Queer Pride 2014). This show features messy, queer fairy tales for all ages. Jun 8 at 2 pm. $10, free for kids under 10. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, buddiesinbadtimes.com.

A Spirit’s Face by Jeff D’Hondt (Spiderbones Performing Arts). A social worker and an addictions counsellor fall in love and unmask each other’s demons. Previews Jun 3. Opens Jun 4 and runs to Jun 14, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $10-$20.Daniels Spectrum, Aki Studio Theatre, 585 Dundas E. 416-531-1402, totix.ca.

Tracy Wright Global Archive by Denise Fujiwara, Jani Lauzon, Nadia Ross and Marcus Youssef (The Theatre Centre). This collective creation is inspired by the artists’ travels and interactions with communities around the world. Opens Jun 4 and runs to Jun 8, see website for schedule. $10, Global Archive Pass $35. 1115 Queen W. 416-538-0988, theatrecentre.org.

 

*Play listings based on NOW stage listings.