Shows That Caught Our Eye in Toronto the Week of September 11th, 2017
Happy Monday Toronto! Gracing our fair city’s stages this week are stories about Brown femme super queerdos, odd couples, artists, and so much more! Our managing editor Wayne is here with his select picks in red. Check them out below the cut:
Already reviewed by Mooney on theatre:
Pippi: The Strongest Girl in the World by Astrid Lindgren (Fourth Gorgon Theatre). In this adaptation, Pippi is surprised by her pirate crew who show up to take everyone on a musical sailing adventure. Kids can dress in costume, get face paint tattoos and help discover the mystery of the treasure map in this interactive theatrical show/boat cruise. Opens Aug 23 and runs to Oct 8, Sat-Sun until Jun 25, daily Jun 26-Sep 4, weekends to Oct 9. Various times from 10:30 am-5 pm. $25. $25. At Pirate Life Toronto. Show Info.
And everything else:
The Seat Next to the King by Steven Elliott Jackson (Minmar Gaslight/Theatre Centre). In September of 1964, a chance meeting between a Black man and a white man reveals the bond they share and the ties connecting them to America’s most powerful leaders Previews from Sep 17, opens Sep 20 and runs to Oct 1, Tue-Sat 8:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2:30 pm. $29, stu/srs $22, previews $17. At the Theatre Centre. Show Info.
Letters to the Universe by Shaunga Tagore (The Universe Collective). Dance, text and projections tell the story of a brown, femme super-queero’s magical life story as she time travels through portals, alternate dimensions. Sep 14-17, Thu-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $27. At The Theatre Centre. Show Info.
Songbuster: An Improvised Musical. The cast creates an hour-long musical from suggestions provided by the audience. With numerous musical credits to the casts’ name and 40+ years of comedy experience between them, the cast of Songbuster have a strong history of entertaining audiences with music and comedy. Sep 14, Oct 12, Nov 16 and Dec 7 at 8 pm. $20 at the door. At Buddies in Bad Times. Show Info.
The Odd Couple. Jaybird Productions presents the comedy play by Neil Simon. Marital troubles force two male friends – one who likes things neat and one who is messy – to become roommates in this comedy. Sep 14-17, Thu-Sat 7 pm, Sun 2 pm. $25. At The Toronto Centre for the Arts. Show Info.
Waiting for Godot. Soulpepper Theatre Company presents the classic tragicomedy by Samuel Beckett. On a bare road in the middle of nowhere, two world-weary friends wait. While anticipating, they speculate, quarrel, joke and ponder life’s greater questions. As dusk approaches, two figures appear on the horizon. Soulpepper revisits one of the most significant plays of the 20th century. Previews from Sep 8, opens Sep 14 and runs to Oct 7, see website for schedule and tickets. $32-$96.At The Young Centre for Performing Arts. Show Info.
Picture This. Soulpepper Theatre Company presents a play by Morris Panych and Brenda Robins. For a group of struggling artists, a visiting Hollywood producer could be the key to a glamorous career in show business. Their dreams all hinge on filming a Napoleonic saga in only two weeks. From the team behind Soulpepper’s Parfumerie comes a comedy of epic proportions. Previews from Sep 9, opens Sep 15 and runs to Oct 7. See website for schedule and tickets. $32-$96. At The Young Centre for Performing Arts. Show Info.
ASMRtist (Alma Matters Productions/Pink Door Productions). This production blends performance, sound and video and explores Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) as an accessible way to calm anxiety. Opens Sep 7 and runs to Sep 16, Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun 4 pm. $15-$35, Sep 8 pwyc. At Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse. Show Info.
VOLTA by Bastien Alexandre (Cirque du Soleil). Theatrical spectacle about the freedom to choose and the thrill of blazing your own trail featuring music, dance, acrobatic arts and BMX bike stunts. Opens Sep 7 and runs to Nov 12, Wed-Sat 8 pm (and some Tuesdays), mat Sat 4:30 pm (and some Fridays), Sun 1:30 & 5 pm. $49-$300. At Big Top (Lakeshore/Cherry Street). Show Info.
Mockingbird Close by Trevor Schmidt (INpulse Theatre). Buried secrets come to light for a seemingly perfect family in a seemingly safe neighbourhood when a little boy disappears. Opens Sep 8 and runs to Sep 16, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat Sep 10 & 16 at 2 pm. $15-$20. At Red Sandcastle Theatre. Show Info.
Dreamgirls by Tom Eyen and Henry Krieger. (LOT). A Black female trio from Chicago become superstars in this musical based on the aspirations and successes of R&B acts of the 60s and 70s. Opens Sep 8 and runs to Nov 19, Fri-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat 3:30 pm, Sun 4 pm. $55-$75. At Lower Ossington Theatre. Show Info.
Nunsense by Dan Goggins (The Civic Light-Opera Co.). A group of nuns stage a fundraising variety show in this irreverent musical revue. Opens Sep 6 and runs to Sep 17, Wed 7 pm, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 2 pm (and Sep 16). $28. At Zion Cultural Centre. Show Info.
Bandits in the Valley. Tapestry Opera presents a site-specific multimedia opera by playwright Julie Tepperman and composer Benton Roark. Set in 1860s Toronto, it tells the story of a local bandit group, aided by a troupe of travelling Gilbert & Sullivan players, who attempt to steal a mysterious object from a wealthy citizen’s home in the Don Valley. Opens Sep 2 and runs to Sep 30, Sat-Sun various times, see website (no show Sep 17). Free (ticket required). At Todmorden Mills. Show Info.
Listings based primarily on NOW! Stage Listings.