The week started off a little rainy, didn’t it? Brighten it up with some theatre! Here’s a list of the shows playing in Toronto during the week of July 28th, 2014. All shows marked with two asterisks and coloured red are highly recommended by our Editor, Samantha.

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 Jun 26 and runs to Aug 3, see website for schedule. $49-$59. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.

The Importance Of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde (Guild Festival Theatre). Two bachelors’ lies catch up with them in this comedy. Opens Jul 17 and runs to Aug 10, Wed-Sun 7:30 pm, mat Sun 2 pm. $25, srs $20, kids under 12 free. Guild Park, Greek Theatre, 201 Guildwood Pkwy. 416-915-6750, guildfestivaltheatre.ca.

**Shakespeare In High Park: As You Like It (Canadian Stage/York University Dept of Theatre). The tale of spontaneous love and friendships 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 brutal revenge 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. 416-368-3110, canadianstage.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.

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.

 

And the rest…

1,000 Monkeys Playwriting Festival (Red Sandcastle Theatre). Readings of plays created in 24 hours by playwrights who were locked in the theatre over the weekend. Aug 3-4, Sun 8 pm, Mon 2 pm. Pwyc.922 Queen E. 416-845-9411, redsandcastletheatre.com.

Adventures In Slumberland (Frolick). This all-ages show about a young boy’s dream world features puppets, music, masques and more. Opens Jul 2 and runs to Aug 30, Wed-Sat 11:11 am, 12:12, 1:11 and 2:22 pm (weather permitting). Pwyc. Olympic Island Lagoon Theatre, near Centre Island ferry dock, over the bridge. frolick.ca.

Big Bad Wolf (Vs Lord Underwearface Von Schtinker) Second City presents a family musical that takes a new look at a fairy-tale character. Opens Jul 2 and runs to Aug 28, Wed-Thu 1 pm. $14, family 4-pack $45. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.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 Aug 3, 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.

**High Life Lee MacDougal (Beyond The Round). Dark comedy about four morphine addicts and an attempted bank robbery. Opens Jul 29 and runs to Aug 2, Tue-Sat 8 pm, 2 mat Sat. $19.75. Scotiabank Studio Theatre, 6 Noble. highlifetoronto.bpt.me.

HorseCapades (Canadian National Exhibition). Riders and horses perform barrel racing, trick riding and hip-hop dressage, plus an interactive program with the horses. Opens Jul 27 and runs to Aug 14, daily from 11 am to 2 pm (no show Aug 2). Free. CNE Horse Palace, Exhibition Place, 15 Nova Scotia. theex.com.

Into The Woods by James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim (Randolph Academy). Characters from fairy tales reunite in a musical about wishes and consequences. Opens Jul 31 and runs to Aug 9, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $22. Randolph Theatre, 736 Bathurst. randolphacademy.com.

Irie Festival Dance Immersion Summer Showcase Beyond Sound Empijah, EsieMensah, Carribbean Dance Theatre, MandingFoliKan Don, and Tsingory Dance of Madagascar perform. Aug 3 4 pm, Sun. Free. Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen W. toronto.ca.

Island Soul Harbourfront Centre and Festival KompaZouk presents Ballet Creole, Dance Caribe, Melorize, MapouGinen and others in performances and dance workshops. Aug 1-4, see website for schedule. Free. Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.

**Julius Caesar Project by William Shakespeare (Spur-of-the-Moment Shakespeare Collective). An all-female cast performs the classic play but sets it in a women’s prison. Jul 29 at 8 pm. $10. Red Sandcastle Theatre, 922 Queen E. 416-845-9411, juliuscaesarproject.bpt.me.

Pinkalicious The Musical by Elizabeth Kann, Victoria Kann and John Gregor (Vital Theatre). A girl turns pink after eating too many cupcakes in this family musical. Opens Jun 22 and runs to Sep 28, Sun 1 pm (no shows Aug 10, 17 & 24). $30-$40. Lower Ossington Theatre, 100A Ossington. lowerossingtontheatre.com.

Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare (Humber River Shakespeare Company). The tragic tale of ill-fated young love is presented outdoors. Jul 29-30, Tue-Wed 7 pm. Pwyc. Old Mill Inn, 21 Old Mill Rd. 416-209-2026, humberrivershakespeare.ca.

SOLT 2014 Opera Workshop (Summer Opera Lyric Theatre). The opera training program presents workshop productions of Vanessa (S Barber & G Menotti), The Magic Flute (WA Mozart) and Madame Butterfly (JL Long & D Belasco). Opens Aug 1 and runs to Aug 10, see website for schedule. $28, stu/srs $22 per show. Robert Gill Theatre, 214 College. 416-366-7723, solt.ca.

Super-Diviner: A Psychic Performance By RM Vaughan (Outside the March Theatre Company). Multimedia artist and author RM Vaughan will perform occult-based readings for visitors. Opens Jul 29 and runs to Jul 31, Tue-Thu from 6:40 pm (approximately). Free. Videofag, 187 Augusta. videofag.com.

The Carnegie Hall Show The National Theatre of the World presents the improv variety show w/ Matt Baram, Naomi Snieckus& Chris Gibbs and guests Sandy Jobin-Bevans, Ron Pederson and Sharron Matthews. Opens Jul 30 8 pm. $18-$20, stu $10. Drake Hotel, Underground, 1150 Queen W. julycarnegiehallshow.bpt.me.

The Little Mermaid Jr. (Lower Ossington Theatre). The Disney Broadway production is adapted for younger audiences. Opens Aug 2 and runs to Aug 31, see website for schedule. From $30. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.

**Ward’s Island Fire Parade (Shadowland Theatre). This celebration of light and dark features a community parade with puppets and lanterns accompanied by stilt performers and a live band. Aug 1, gather at 8:30 pm. Pwyc. Ward’s Island, Toronto Islands. shadowlandtheatre.ca.

 

Listings based on NOW! stage listings.