Shows That Caught Our Eye the Week of July 20th, 2015
This week in Toronto theatre brings you some Fringe encores, 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 our editor Samantha would 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…
Animal Nature by David Anderson, Tamara Romanchuk, Anna Sapershteyn (Clay & Paper Theatre) A tale with giant puppets and an epic papier-mâché fight for the future of the planet. Preview Jul 22, runs Jul 23 to Aug 16, 7:30 pm. Pwyc, $10 suggested. Show Info
** The Best of Fringe Toronto Festival Presented by the Toronto Fringe Festival and Toronto Centre for the Arts. Eight of the best shows from this year’s Fringe Fest get encore performances: Meet Cute, A Man Walks Into A Bar, My Big Fat German Puppet Show, Pool (No Water), Gavin Crawford: “Friend” “Like” #Me, God’s Beard, Morro And Jasp Do Puberty and People Suck. July 15-29, see website for schedule. $17.75. at Toronto Centre for the Arts 5040 Yonge Show Info
** Betroffenheit by Crystal Pite and Jonathon Young (Canadian Stage/Panamania). This dance/theatre hybrid explores the state of shock and bewilderment experienced in the wake of a disaster. Jul 23-25, Thu and Sat 8 pm, Fri 7 pm. $24-$99. 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
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
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
Mistatim Red Sky Performance presents a play as part of Pan Am/Parapan Am Games cultural programming. A young man seeks to tame a wild horse in this coming-of-age story. Jul 23-25, Thu-Sat 12:30 pm. Free. 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
Niágara text by Guillermo Verdecchia (Propeller Arts Projects/Panamania). Based on the poem by Cuban exile José María Heredia, this story of betrayal and escape fuses storytelling, imagery and music. Jul 23-26, Thu-Sun 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $38. In Ada Slaight Hall 585 Dundas E Show Info
Panamania Live Dance Toronto 2015 Committee presents outdoor dance performance as part of PANAMANIA. Including Greta Hodgkinson’s Venom, Kaha:Wi Dance Theatre, Debra Brown’s Pulse, Peggy Baker’s FluxDelux, Canada’s National Ballet School, Alejandro Ronciera and more. Jul 10-Aug 12, at Nathan Phillips Square (100 Queen West) and Pan Am Park (100 Princes’ Blvd). See website for dates and times of individual shows. Free. 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
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
Listings based primarily on NOW! Stage listings.