Here is what’s going on in Toronto theatre this week. There are several great shows to catch for the week of October 15th, 2012: ** Shows marked with the double asterisks and in red are the ones that make Wayne, our Managing Editor, wish he could exist in multiple parallel universes so he could check them all out.

Already Covered by MoT

AMALUNA (Cirque du Soleil). Acrobatics, music, dance and design are used to look at femininity, renewal, rebirth and balance on a mystical island governed by women. Opens Sep 6 and runs to Nov 4. $58.50-$158.50, stu/srs/child from $43.50. Grand Chapiteau Tent, Port Lands, Commissioners at Cherry. cirquedusoleil.com/amaluna.

BLOODLESS: THE TRIAL OF BURKE AND HARE by Joseph Aragon (Theatre 20). This macabre musical tells the true story of two 19th-century Irish serial killers who sold corpses to anatomy schools in Edinburgh. Previews Oct 9-11. Opens Oct 12 and runs to Oct 28. $49-$69. Panasonic Theatre, 651 Yonge. 416-872-1212, theatre20.com.

DIE FLEDERMAUS by Johann Strauss II (Canadian Opera Company). A woman gets revenge on her philandering husband in this comic operetta. Opens Oct 4 and runs to Nov 3. $12-$325. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-363-8231, coc.ca.

I ON THE SKY by Yves Simard (DynamO Théâtre). A woman who had to abruptly leave behind her entire life wanders in a park in this story about exile, isolation and hope. Previews Oct 9. Opens Oct 10 and runs to Oct 21. $10-$20. Young People’s Theatre, 165 Front E. 416-862-2222, youngpeoplestheatre.ca.

IL TROVATORE by Giuseppe Verdi (Canadian Opera Company). A troubadour and his rival woo a noblewoman while a gypsy plots revenge in this tragic opera. Opens Sep 29 and runs to Oct 31. $12-$325. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-363-8231, coc.ca.

LA CAGE AUX FOLLES by Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein (Mirvish). A gay man and his drag queen partner prepare to meet the conservative parents of their son’s fiancée. Previews Oct 10-11. Opens Oct 12 and runs to Nov 18. $35-$130. Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

**MORRO AND JASP: TWO MUCH FUN by Heather Marie Annis, Byron Laviolette and Amy Lee (Up your Nose and In your Toes (U.N.I.T.) Productions). The Fringe-fest famous clown sisters perform Morro And Jasp Do Puberty and Of Mice And Morro And Jasp for live taping. Oct 19 at 8 pm. $20. Factory Theatre, Studio, 125 Bathurst. 416-504-9971, morroandjasp.com.

NO GREAT MISCHIEF by David S Young (Tarragon Theatre). Haunted by stories and songs of their Scottish ancestry, two brothers seek to reconcile their past. Previews Sep 11-18. Opens Sep 19 and runs to Oct 21. $48-$53, srs $38-$43, stu $27, rush $13. 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.

SAUCISSE: A FOO MUSICAL by Helen Donnelly (Foo Productions). A skeptical nomadic peddler and a New-Age pig form an unlikely friendship in this solo clown show. Opens Oct 10 and runs to Oct 20. $20, child $10. Pia Bouman School for Ballet, Studio Theatre, 6 Noble. fooandfriends.com.

SISTER ACT by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner, Alan Menken and Glenn Slater (Whoopi Goldberg/Stage Entertainment/Troika Entertainment). A wannabe diva who witnessed a murder hides from the mob in a convent in this musical comedy. Previews Oct 2-3. Opens Oct 4 and runs to Nov 4. $35-$130. Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

**TEAR THE CURTAIN! by Jonathan Young and Kevin Kerr (Electric Company/Arts Club Theatre/Canadian Stage). A 1930s theatre critic falls for a movie star and gets caught between warring mobsters in this play that goes between screen and stage. Previews Oct 7. Opens Oct 9 and runs to Oct 20. $24-$99. Bluma Appel Theatre, 27 Front E. 416-368-3110, canadianstage.com.

**THIS MUST BE THE PLACE: THE CN TOWER SHOW by the Architect Theatre Collective (Theatre Passe Muraille). This multidisciplinary creation explores the social and cultural changes in Toronto during the tower’s construction in the 70s. Previews Oct 4-6. Opens Oct 9 and runs to Oct 27. $30-$35, previews $15. 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, passemuraille.on.ca.

WAR HORSE based on a novel by Michael Morpurgo, adapted by Nick Stafford (National Theatre of Great Britain/Mirvish). An English boy sets out to find his horse after it’s sold to the cavalry and shipped off to France during WWI. Previews Feb 10-27. Opens Feb 28 and runs to Nov 4. $35-$130, rush $29. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

And the rest…

ANTIGONE DEAD PEOPLE by Evan Webber (Small Wooden Shoe). The ghosts of the Greek myth’s characters seek to act out a different story 2,000 years later in this multimedia production. Oct 18-19. $15. Tranzac, 292 Brunswick. smallwoodenshoe.org.

DRACULA, A LOVE STORY by Sharyl Hudson and Bill Sewers (Brant Theatre Workshop). Follow actors through the castle’s historic halls in this adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel. Opens Sep 27 and runs to Nov 9. $39. Casa Loma, 1 Austin Terrace. 647-725-1826, casaloma.org.

ENERGY DESCENT ACTION THEATRE (Transition Toronto). This theatre-based community event engages the audience to help create an action plan for ending dependence on fossil fuel. Oct 21 at 2:30 pm. $9.70-$12. Trinity St. Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor W. energydescentactiontheatre.eventbrite.ca.

HONESTY by Jordan Tannahill (Suburban Beast/Koffler Centre of the Arts). A solo performer works at the store and tells the stories of the city’s working class in this performance intervention. Two 90-minute acts with one-hour intermission. Opens Oct 16 and runs to Nov 4. Free. Honest Ed’s, 581 Bloor W. kofflerarts.org.

IN VINO VERITAS by Teige Reid (Pubcrawl Theatre). Reid performs a monologue show about the twists of fate that haunt the denizens of a small pub. Oct 19 at 7 pm. Nov 16 at 7 pm. Dec 14 at 7 pm. Jan 18 at 7 pm. Feb 15 at 7 pm. Mar 22 at 7 pm. Apr 19 at 7 pm. May 17 at 7 pm. $20. Fox & Fiddle, 27 Wellesley E. pubcrawltheatre.com.

LOVERS by Brian Friel (Fly on the Wall Theatre). Staged reading of the comedic play about a teenaged couple and a middle-aged couple. Oct 14-15. Pwyc. Fionn MacCool’s Pub, 181 University. 416-363-1944.

MISS CALEDONIA by Melody A Johnson (Lunkamud/Tarragon Theatre). A 1950s farm girl dreams of being an actress in the big city in this musical solo show. Previews Oct 13-23. Opens Oct 24 and runs to Nov 22. $48-$53, srs $38-$43, stu $27, previews $21-$24, rush $13. Tarragon Theatre, Extra Space, 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.

MY NAME IS RACHEL CORRIE adapted by Katherine Viner and Alan Rickman (Hart House Theatre). This play is based on the writings of the American student who died trying to stop the demolition of a Palestinian home in Gaza. Opens Oct 17 and runs to Oct 20. $25, stu/srs $10-$15. 7 Hart House Circle. 416-978-8849, harthousetheatre.ca.

NAZI HUNTER: THE SIMON WIESENTHAL STORY by Tom Dugan (Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company). Dugan performs his solo show about the Holocaust survivor who brought more than 1,000 Nazi war criminals to justice. Previews Oct 9-10. Opens Oct 11 and runs to Oct 18. $30-$60. Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge. hgjewishtheatre.com.

OPERANATION 9: SWEET REVENGE (Canadian Opera Company). This funder for the COC features live music by Nelly Furtado and the Arkells plus interactive installations and visual arts. Oct 18 at 9 pm. $150. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-363-8231, operanation.ca.

P-DALE EP 2: THE NEXT DAY IS THE HARDEST DAY OF ALL by Luis Fernandes (Unit 102 Actors Company). This multimedia theatrical series looks at the pre-gentrified residents of Parkdale. Opens Oct 17 and runs to Oct 27. $15. Unit 102 Theatre, 376 Dufferin. p-dale.com.

PERFORMING OCCUPY TORONTO by Rosamund Small (Docket Theatre). This verbatim theatre piece based on interviews charts last year’s events in the park on the anniversary of the Occupy Toronto action. Oct 15 at 7 pm (pre-show from 6 pm). Free. St James Park, King E between Church and Jarvis. dockettheatre.com.

RAPA 20th Anniversary Gala Dinner And Concert (Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts). This event celebrating the company’s anniversary and the launch of the Randolph Theatre features live performances, dinner and more. Oct 15 at 6:30 pm. $250. Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Concert Hall, 100 Front W. randolphacademy.com.

THE FINE ART OF MURDER (Mysteriously Yours… Dinner Theatre). This dinner-theatre whodunit features a Sherlock Holmes mystery. Opens Sep 21 and runs to Dec 29. $66-$71. 2026 Yonge. 416-486-7469, mysteriouslyyours.com.

THE HOURS THAT REMAIN by Keith Barker (New Harlem Productions). Haunted by her sister’s disappearance, a woman seeks answers and closure. Opens Oct 19 and runs to Nov 3. $21, mats $11-$16. Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre, Aki Studio Theatre, 585 Dundas E. 1-800-204-0855, thehoursthatremain.ca.

**THE NORMAL HEART by Larry Kramer (Studio 180 Theatre). A group of friends refuse to let doctors, politicians and the press bury the truth about the AIDS epidemic in early 80s NYC. Previews Oct 19-20. Opens Oct 23 and runs to Nov 18. $30-$49, stu $25, limited Sun pwyc. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander. 416-872-1212, studio180theatre.com.

THE PICTURE OF HAPPINESS (Brad Hampton). Hampton and pianist Patti Loach use storytelling and songs to tell the story of a man who discovers an old photo that holds a family secret. Oct 19-20 at 8 pm. $30-$35. Gallery Fontana Swing, 245 Carlaw, unit 102B. thepictureofhappiness.com.

THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW by Richard O’Brien (Lower Ossington Theatre). A newly engaged couple stumble upon a freaky castle in this classic rock musical. Opens Oct 19 and runs to Nov 3. $35-$45. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.

TRANSLATIONS by Brian Friel (Toronto Irish Players).  Tensions arise in 1833 when the British Army comes to change Irish place names to English ones in a small town. Opens Oct 18 and runs to Nov 3. $20, stu/srs $18, opening night $50, Oct 25 pwyc ($10 min). Alumnae Theatre, 70 Berkeley. 416-440-2888, torontoirishplayers.com

WHAT YOU WANT: TORONTO by Andrew Templeton (MachineFair/Bring the Buzz). Eight unique presentations of the playwright’s works What You Want: Vancouver and What You Want: Toronto explore true stories of both cities. Opens Oct 18 and runs to Nov 3. Pwyc (except Oct 29 workshop: $25, stu $20). Theatre Passe Muraille, Backspace, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, machinefair.ca.