Shows That Caught Our Eye This Week
This week in Toronto theatre brings you a mix of outdoors shows (hope it won’t rain!) and Panamania (Cultural programming honouring the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games). I’ve highlighted the shows that we’d especially love to see this week in red text. Perhaps they’ll also strike your fancy, or you may find something else that’ll tickle your interest.
Already Reviewed by Mooney on Theatre:
How to Kill a Comedian. Second City presents its Spring 2015 Mainstage revue. Tue-Thu 8 pm, Fri-Sun 7:30 pm, plus Sat 10 pm. $25-$45, stu $16-$18. http://secondcity.com
Kinky Boots. by Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper (Mirvish). A man inherits a shoe company and teams up with a drag queen in this musical based on the 2005 film. Previews from Jun 16, opens Jun 28 and runs to Sep 27, see website for schedule and prices. Show Info
And the Rest…
887 by Robert Lepage (Ex Machina/Panamania). This production explores the collection and recall of memories in the digital age of data storage, and how theatre – an art based on the exercise of memory – is still relevant today. Opens Jul 14 and runs to Jul 19, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $30-$100. Show Info
Big Summer Bash. Famous People Players presents family fun with face painting, hot dogs, a performance of the black light theatre show Under The Big Top and other activities. July 18 from 11 am-3 pm. $35. Show Info
Cabaret by Joe Masteroff, John Kander and Fred Ebb (StageWorks Toronto). An American writer falls for a nightclub singer in Nazi-era Berlin. Opens Jul 16 and runs to Jul 26, Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun (and Jul 25) at 2 pm. $25. Show Info
Coexisdance #73. Colin Anthony’s monthly duet series with dance improvisers alongside musical performers from the Association of Improvising Musicians Toronto. The format is two sets of 10- or 11-minute pieces, each piece having no more than two dancers, no more than two musicians, and at least one of each. July 18 at 8 pm. $10. Show Info
Gimme Shelter. by Ravi Jain (Why Not Theatre/Panamania). As millions around the world are displaced due to climate change, this play looks at individual responsibility to action in the face of global problems. Opens July 13 and runs to July 25, July 13-18 and 23-25 at 8 pm. $30, stu $20 Show Info
Hamlet: The Bard’s Bus Tour by William Shakespeare (Driftwood Theatre). The classic tragedy is presented in a new adaptation in this touring production. Opens July 9 and runs to Aug 16, all shows at 7:30 pm. (See website for cities and dates around southern Ontario.) Pwyc, $20 suggested/reserved. Show Info
Home for Boys by Robin Taylor Wright (UC Follies). Two boys’ friendship is threatened by the arrival of a third at a group home in this comedic drama. Previews Jul 15, opens Jul 16 and runs to Jul 19, Wed-Sun 9 pm. $12, stu $10, preview pwyc. Outdoors in the UC Quad. Show Info
La Imaginación del futuro (Teatro La Re-sentida/Panamania). This dark comedy asks what might have happened if Salvador Allende had modern communication experts at his disposal when Augusto Pinochet launched his coup. Jul 12-15, Sun-Wed 7:30 pm. $20-$40. Show Info
It Comes in Waves. by Jordan Tannahill (Necessary Angel/blue mouth inc/Panamania). Embark by canoe on a deeply personal journey through loss and celebration in this immersive, site-specific work. Previews Jul 13-14, opens Jul 15 and runs to Jul 24, Mon-Sat 7:40 pm. $30-$47. Starts at Harbourfront Canoe + Kayak Centre (283A Queens Quay West). All transportation costs to the Island are covered by the ticket price. Show Info
LEO Panamania and Y2D Productions present a solo physical theatre piece that challenges our sense of gravity and reality through the interplay of acrobatics and high-tech video projection. Jul 17-19, Fri-Sat 7 pm, mat Sat-Sun 1 pm. $20-$35. Show Info
Love, Dishonor, Marry, Die, Cherish, Perish by David Rakoff (Studio 180/Panamania). Concert staging of Rakoff’s part novel, part epic poem portrait of life in the 20th century. Jul 16 at 8 pm. $25. Show Info
Monday Nights by Byron Abalos, Colin Doyle, Darrel Gamotin, Richard Lee and Jeff Yung (6th Man Collective/Theatre Centre). Five guys meet up at a basketball court every week in this immersive and interactive theatrical performance. Previews from Jul 10, opens Jul 13 and runs to Jul 26, Mon & Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $25, stu/srs $22, preview $17, Sun pwyc. Show Info
Newsies. Mirvish presents the Tony Award-winning musical by Alan Menken, Jack Feldman and Harvey Fierstein. A charismatic NYC newsboy leads a ragged band of youth in a strike against a greedy publishing titan in this musical inspired by the “Newsboy Strike” of 1899. Previews Jul 8, opens Jul 9 and runs to Aug 30, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Wed, Sat-Sun 1:30 pm. $35-$130. Show Info
The Postman by David Ferry and Laurence Dean Ifill (Appledore Productions/Panamania). This multi-disciplinary, site-specific walking theatre work explores the life and times of Albert Jackson, Toronto’s first black postman, through theatre and music. Opens Jul 12 and runs to Jul 26, see website for times. $13. Show Info
Romeo and Juliet. Guild Festival Theatre presents William Shakespeare’s timeless romance on the open-air Greek Stage in Guild Park Show Info
The Second City Fall 2015 Mainstage Revue. Previews of Second City’s latest sketch comedy revue. Preview performances begin July 14. Tickets starting at $25. Performances every Tuesday to Sunday. Official Opening in August (date tbd). Tue-Thu 8 pm, Fri-Sun 7:30 pm. $25, stu $16-$18. Show Info
Shakespeare in High Park: Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare (Canadian Stage/York U MFA Program). The tale of ambition, lust and betrayal is performed outdoors on alternating nights with The Comedy Of Errors. Previews from Jul 2, opens Jul 16 and runs to Sep 6, see website for schedule. Pwyc ($25 reserved). Show Info
Shakespeare in High Park: Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare (Canadian Stage/York U MFA Program). With the most recent graduates of the York University-Canadian Stage MFA program, and one sparkling cast, here’s your opportunitiy to take in this summer tradition under the stars in the High Park Amphitheatre. Show Info
Stripped Canvas. Blazing Bombshell Burlesque presents a sexy art history lesson with performances by Bombyx Mori, Miss Mitzy Cream, Esther de Ville, Scarlett LaFlamme and others. Jul 18 at 10 pm (doors/art exhibit from 9 pm). $15-$20. Show Info
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Rick Miller and Craig Francis (KDOONS Network/WYRD Productions/Panamania). This modern adaption of the classic Jules Verne undersea adventure connects the wonder of the Victorian era with today’s scientific and water related issues. Jul 11-15, Sat-Tue 8 pm, Wed 2 pm. $40. Show Info
Under the BigTop; Famous People Players presents a black light theatre show for all ages about the magic of the circus. Opens Jun 26 and runs to Oct 28, Tue-Sat, call/see website for times. Show Info
The Watershed by Annabel Soutar (Crow’s Theatre/Porte Parole/Panamania). This play follows an artist and a nation struggling to chart a sustainable course between economic growth and environmental stewardship. Previews from Jul 7, opens Jul 12 and runs to Jul 19, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (and Jul 18) at 2 pm. $15-$42 Show Info
Your Hood’s a Joke Toronto Comedy All-Stars presents a turf war hosted by Danish Anwar. Jul 18 at 10 pm. $10. Show Info
Listings based primarily on NOW! Stage listings.