Shows That Caught Our Eye in Toronto the Week of September 12th.

This week, we have a whole rush of new shows opening up! Whether you’re heading back to school or just looking forward to the start of fall, the theatre scene in the city is brimming with new productions. We’re spoiled for choice here in Toronto, so to make things easier, our editor Lin is here to pick out her most-anticipated in red text!

Already Reviewed by Mooney on Theatre:

Matilda: the Musical by Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin (Mirvish/Royal Shakespeare Company/The Dodger). A gifted girl uses her imagination and sharp mind to fight against the cruel and cynical people in her life in this musical based on the novel by Roald Dahl. Opens Jul 5 and runs to Oct 16, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm. mat Wed, Sat-Sun 1:30 pm (no performances Sep 6-11). $38-$139. Show Info.

Luzia by Daniele Finzi Pasca and Julie Hamelin Finzi (Cirque du Soleil). Acrobats, musicians, dancers, storytellers and more are used to tell a story inspired by the monarch butterfly’s journey from Canada to Mexico. Opens Jul 28 and runs to Oct 2, see website for schedule. $49 & up. Show Info.

Killer Tunes. Presented by Mysteriously Yours Dinner Theatre. Music superstars gather at an awards show in this interactive dinner theatre whodunnit. July 8 to Sep 17, Fri-Sat 7:30 pm (dinner from 6:30 pm), see website for matinees. $45-$87. Show Info.

Thank You For Being a Friend (Joseph Patrick/LOT). Dorothy, Sophia, Rose and Blanche of TV’s Golden Girls take the stage in puppet form in this tribute show. Opens Jul 29 and runs to Sep 24, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Tue, Sat-Sun 1:30 pm. $60-$80. Show Info.

West Side Story by Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim (LOT). A young man falls in love with a rival gang member’s sister in this musical. Opens Aug 11 and runs to Sep 18, Thu-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 3:30 pm. $55-$65. Show Info.

And the rest:

 

 

Dames At Sea by George Haimsohn, Robin Miller and Jim Wise (The Civic Light-Opera Co). This musical parodies the flashy Busby Berkley 1930s movie musicals. Opens Sep 7 and runs to Sep 18, Wed 7 pm, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (and Sep 17) 2 pm. $28. Show Info.

Les Belles-Soeurs by Michel Tremblay (Bloor West Village Players). Working-class women in a poor Montreal neighbourhood discuss their lives, religion and small joys. Opens Sep 9 and runs to Oct 1, see website for schedule. $24, under 30/srs $20. Show Info.

 

West Side Story by Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim (LOT). A young man falls in love with a rival gang member’s sister in this musical. Opens Aug 11 and runs to Sep 18, Thu-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 3:30 pm. $55-$65. Show Info.

Kingdom by Meghan Greeley (Contra Theatre). Nora lives imprisoned in a room for most of her life with a young girl as a companion. When her captor shows signs of slipping and forgetting his own complex rules, Nora considers the possibility of escape. Opens Sep 7 and runs to Sep 14, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. $22, mat pwyc. In the WorkSpace. Show Info.

Old Times by Harold Pinter (Unit 102 Actors Co). An old friend visits a married couple, sparking memories and startling revelations. Previews Sep 6-7, opens Sep 8 and runs to Sep 24, Tue-Sat 8 pm, plus Sep 18 (no show Sep 21). $25 (cash only).

Aunt Dan and Lemon. Shadowtime Productions presents Wallace Shawn’s Obie-winning play. A reclusive British invalid looks back on her chats with a passionate American scholar whose colourful stories and seductive opinions provided her with an escape from her unhappy family life in this morality tale and black comedy. Previews Sep 14, opens Sep 15 and runs to Sep 25, Wed-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $30, stu/srs $25, preview $15. Show Info.

She Said/He Said by Anne-Marie Woods (Imani Enterprises). Spoken word, theatre and comedy are combined in this tragi-comic and complex look at relationships and Black identity. Opens Sep 14 and runs to Sep 18, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat Fri-Sat 1 pm, Sun 3 pm. $25, stu/srs $20. In the Aki Studio. Show Info.

The Plough and the Stars by Sean O’Casey (Abbey Theatre). Dublin residents seek shelter from the violence in the wake of the 1916 Easter Rising. Opens Sep 14 and runs to Sep 18, Wed-Thu and Sat 8 pm, Fri 7 pm, Sun 1 pm. $39-$99. Show Info.

The Container by Clare Bayley (Theatre Fix). Five migrants who paid to be smuggled into England try to survive their journey in this site-specific play being performed inside a shipping container outside the theatre. Previews from Aug 31, opens Sep 4 and runs to Sep 18, Thu and Fri 6 & 9 pm, Sat and Sun 6 & 9 pm, plus Aug 31 at 6 pm, Sep 7 at 9 pm. $39-$44 stu $29-$34, previews $25. *due to weather there have been some schedule changes; see website for updated info.* Warning: Confined space, dark, mature language and subject matter. THE CONTAINER is performed inside a restricted space that is neither accessible nor suitable for those with claustrophobia. EXTREMELY limited seating. Show Info.

Pearle Harbour’s Sunday School by Justin Miller and Sandra Balcovske, musical accompaniment by Steven Conway. Miller performs a musical cabaret featuring a blend of drag and bouffon clown about the perils and parables of being a progressive ally. Opens Sep 8 and runs to Sep 18, Thu-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $20, stu $15. Show Info.

Matt & Ben by Mindy Kaling and Brenda Withers (Short Stack Collective). All-female production of the play about the original Hollywood bromance started during the creation of the film Good Will Hunting. Sep 15-17 at 8 pm. $15. Show Info.

Bed Post: The Live Erotic Magazine & Social. Sex and sexuality variety show including erotic readings, burlesque, real life sex stories, raunchy comedy, ask a sexpert and more. 8 pm. $10. 2nd floor. Show Info.

Pearls & Poison, Or the Appropriate Amount of Rouge by Yolanda Ferrato, with Karyn Guenther and contributions from Keshia Palm (Intersection Theatre). Three interwoven cautionary tales set in the early 1900s about otherwise ordinary women who find extreme solutions for problems. Inspired by the violence of children’s rhymes and the macabre works of artists such as Edward Gorey and Hillaire Belloc. Sep 16-18, Fri-Sun 8 pm, mat Sun 4 pm. $20, stu $15. Show Info.

Tideline. Hart House Theatre, Canadian Rep & ENSEMBLE: Canadian Youth Theatre present a play by Wajdi Mouawad. A man must confront family secrets and feelings of displacement after the sudden death of the father he barely knew. Opens Sep 16 and runs to Oct 1, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat Oct 1 at 2 pm. $28, srs $17, stu $12-$15. Show Info.

David’s Friend. Nora Burns performs a comedic musical solo show about friendship, love, loss, cruising, disco, NYC drag queens and AIDS in a restless city during a reckless time. Sep 16 at 9 pm. $10-$20. Show Info.

Salt by Erin Vandenberg (Lark & Whimsy Theatre Collective). This drama explores the impact of addiction and mental illness on the relationship between two teenage sisters and their alcoholic mother. Previews Sep 17-18 (Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 1:30 pm), opens Sep 20 and runs to Sep 28, Tue-Sun 7:30 pm, mat Sep 21 & Sep 24 at 1:30 pm. $25, previews $15. Show Info.

The One More Night Festival (Brick & Mortar). Theatre festival featuring works by independent artists, focus groups on issues in the theatre community and a celebration of the new Commons theatre venue. Plays include Pangea, Knots, Oasis Love, 4.48 Psychosis and more. Sep 11-18, see website for schedule. Plays $15, some events free. Show Info.

Kill Your Parents in Viking, Alberta by Bryce Hodgson and Charlie Kerr (Blood Pact Theatre/Storefront Theatre). Three estranged siblings meet in the middle of a brutal to sign the will of their recently deceased grandmother. Opens Sep 9 and runs to Sep 25, Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $20-$25. Limited Wed pwyc, in person only. Show Info.

Listings based primarily on NOW! Stage Listings.