Well. The Toronto Fringe Festival is officially over, and we’re all suffering from theatre withdrawal. But you don’t have to! Check out the list of shows playing in Toronto for the week of July 14th, 2014, and get your theatre fix. All shows marked with two asterisks and coloured red are highly recommended by our Managing Editor, Wayne.
Already covered by Mooney on Theatre …
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 Jun 26 and runs to Aug 3, see website for schedule. $49-$59. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.
Sixteen Scandals – Second City presents its spring revue about our unhealthy fascination with political train wrecks, media fiascos and red-carpet meltdowns. Mar 6-Aug 10, Tue-Thu 8 pm, Fri-Sat 7:30 & 10 pm, Sun 7:30 pm. $25-$29, stu $16-$18. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.
**Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose (Soulpepper). Jurors argue over the case of a young man accused of killing his father in a capital murder case. Previews Jun 11-16. Opens Jun 17 and runs to Jul 19, Tue-Sat 8 pm, see website for mats. $29-$74, rush $5-$23. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
And the rest…
**Assassins by Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman (StageWorks Toronto). Historical figures who tried to assassinate American presidents meet in this dark musical. Opens Jul 17 and runs to Jul 27, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (and July 26) 2 pm. $25. George Ignatieff Theatre, 15 Devonshire. 416-803-5287, stageworkstoronto.com.
Borne by Judith Thompson and the ensemble (RARE Theatre Company/Soulpepper). Nine performers who use wheelchairs tell their own stories and blow up myths about living with a disability. Opens Jun 27 and runs to Jul 19, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $49, stu $25. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
CoexisDance Series 64 presents dance improvisers performing with AIM Toronto musicians. Jul 19 at 8 pm. $10. Majlis Art Garden, 163 Walnut. coexisdance.wordpress.com.
The Company We Keep (Theatre 20). The Emerging Artist Ensemble and Composium perform. Jul 20 at 7 pm. $25.Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge. theatre20.com.
Dinosaur Zoo Live (Erth Visual & Physical/Mirvish). Large-scale dinosaur puppets and other creatures bring to life the prehistoric world in this all-ages theatrical presentation. Opens Jul 8 and runs to Jul 20, Tue-Fri 7:30 pm, Sat 6:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun and Wed 11 am and Sat-Sun 3 pm. $25-$35. Panasonic Theatre, 651 Yonge. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.
Final Frontier Bad Dog Theatre presents improv inspired by the Star Trek universe w/ Etan Muskat, Jess Bryson and others. Jul 16 at 8 pm. $12, stu $10. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. 416-551-6540, baddogtheatre.com.
Kwame Nkrumah’s Rise And Fall by Kwame Stephens (Habari Africa Festival/Batuki Music Society). Multimedia and live music are used to tell the story of the Ghanian leader and Africa’s first black president. Jul 19 at 7 pm. Free. Harbourfront Centre, Brigantine Room, 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.
One Flew Over The Cubicle by Janice Israeloff (Red Sandcastle Theatre). A woman looks for meaningful work while caring for her father with Alzheimer’s in this solo show. Jul 18-20, Fri-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $15, mat pwyc. 922 Queen E. 416-845-9411, redsandcastletheatre.com.
**Porch View Dances Kaeja d’Dance presents dance by residents on their own porches guided by pro choreographers Peter Chin, Lauren Cook, Allen Kaeja and Louis Laberge-Côté. Opens Jul 16 and runs to Jul 20, Wed-Sat 7 pm, Sun 4 pm. Pwyc.Starts at London & Euclid streets, ends in Vermont Square Park (843 Palmerston). kaeja.org.
Red Light Green Light DNA Theatre. Choreographers Hillar Liitoja and Magdalena Vasko present a robust take on the kids’ game performed by male dancers. Previews Jul 18-19. Opens Jul 20 and runs to Jul 27, Tue-Sat 8 pm (and July 20), mat Sun July 27 at 3 pm. $27, stu/srs $17, previews/mat pwyc. Theatre Centre, 1115 Queen W. 416-538-0988, tickets.ticketwise.ca/event/3850601.
Return To Grace (Mirvish). This theatrical tribute show looks at every phase of Elvis Presley’s career in concert. Opens Jul 8 and runs to Jul 20, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun and Wed 1:30 pm. $30-$99. Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.
**Shakespeare In High Park: As You Like It (Canadian Stage/York University Dept of Theatre). The classic comedy is performed outdoors on alternating nights with Titus Andronicus. Previews Jun 26-Jul 1. Opens Jul 3 and runs to Aug 30, Thu, Sat and Tue 8 pm. Pwyc ($20 sugg). High Park Amphitheatre, 1873 Bloor W. canadianstage.com.
**Shakespeare In High Park: Titus Andronicus (Canadian Stage/York University Dept of Theatre). The tragedy is performed outdoors on alternating nights with As You Like It. Previews Jun 27-Jul 2. Opens Jul 4 and runs to Aug 31, Fri, Sun and Wed 8 pm. Pwyc ($20 sugg). High Park Amphitheatre, 1873 Bloor W. canadianstage.com.
Soulpepper Cabaret Series (Soulpepper). The company presents the Song/Book Series, cabaret performers and more in this weekly series. Opens Jun 7 and runs to Jul 26, Sat 8:30 pm. $20, stu $15. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
Spamalot by Eric Idle, John Du Prez and Neil Innes (Lower Ossington Theatre). The Monty Python-based musical retells the story of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Opens Jun 19 and runs to Aug 3, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm, Sun 4 pm. $49-$59. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.
Wolf Sounds Peanut Butter People. This dance-theatre creation features five actors with Down syndrome dealing with desire, isolation and attempts at conformity. Opens Jul 18 and runs to Jul 27, Fri-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. $20-$25, stu $15-$20. The Box Studio, 89 Niagara. brownpapertickets.com/event/706413.