Here is what’s going on in Toronto theatre this week. There are several great shows to catch for the week of July 29th, 2013. ** Shows marked with the double asterisks and in red are the ones that make me, Lauren the friendly neighbourhood Assistant Editor, wish I had access to a DeLorean complete with flux capacitor in order to travel back and forth through time to check them all out.
Already Covered by MoT
** Anything Goes by Cole Porter, Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse (Mirvish/Roundabout Theatre Company). A stowaway and a nightclub singer get in trouble aboard an ocean liner in this musical. Previews Jul 17. Opens Jul 18 and runs to Aug 25, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun and Wed 2 pm (no mat Jul 17, see website for other dates). $35-$130, rush $29. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.
Avenue Q by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx (Lower Ossington Theatre). A college grad moves to NYC and works through the transition to adulthood in this adult musical puppet show. Opens Jun 20 and runs to Oct 6, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm, Sun 4 pm (no shows Aug 4-28). $49-$60. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, avenueq.ca.
**Best Of The Fringe Theatre Festival (Fringe Toronto). Encore performances of Adopt This!, Polly Polly, Death Married My Daughter, It’s Always You: The Musical, Stealing Sam, Stop Kiss, Tales Of Whoa! and The Truth About Comets. Opens Jul 17 and runs to Jul 31, see website for schedule. $17.50. Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge. 1-855-985-2787, tocentre.com/studio/bof2013.
Buster Canfield And His Amazing Fleas by Eric Woolfe (Pocket Carnival Productions). This play for young audiences features puppets, masks, magic and a flea circus. Opens Jul 6 and runs to Aug 10, Sat at 11 am and 1 pm. $12.50-$15. Wychwood Barns, 76 Wychwood. pocketcarnival.com.
Cats by Andrew Lloyd Webber (Nu Musical Theatricals/Classic Theatre Project/Starvox Entertainment). The popular musical featuring feline frolic at the Jellicle Ball returns. Previews May 28-Jun 9. Opens Jun 11 and runs to Sep 1, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mats Sat-Sun and Wed 1:30 pm. $40-$110. Panasonic Theatre, 651 Yonge. 416-872-1212, catsto.com.
Entertaining Mr. Sloane by Joe Orton (Soulpepper). A charming lodger manipulates his hosts in this dark comedy. Previews Jul 5-15. Opens Jul 17 and runs to Aug 17, see website for schedule. $51-$68, stu $32, rush $5-$22. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens (Soulpepper). A resourceful orphan grows into a London gentleman in this classic tale. Previews Jul 6-13. Opens Jul 16 and runs to Aug 17, see website for schedule. $51-$68, stu $32, rush $5-$22. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
Shakespeare In High Park: Macbeth (Canadian Stage). The classic tragedy is performed outdoors on alternating nights with The Taming Of The Shrew. Previews Jun 26-Jul 2. Opens Jul 3 and runs to Sep 1, Tue-Sun 8 pm. Pwyc ($20 sugg). High Park Amphitheatre, 1873 Bloor W. canadianstage.com.
Shakespeare In High Park: The Taming Of The Shrew (Canadian Stage). The classic comedy is performed outdoors on alternating nights with Macbeth. ? ?. Opens Jul 3 and runs to Aug 31, Tue-Sun 8 pm. Pwyc ($20 sugg). High Park Amphitheatre, 1873 Bloor W. canadianstage.com.
The Trial Of Ken Gass by Bobby Del Rio (Sterling Studio Theatre). In a Kafkaesque series of interrogations, theatre legend Ken Gass is put on trial for crimes he is not aware of. Opens Jul 23 and runs to Aug 3, Tue-Sun 8 pm, mat Sun 2:30 pm. $10, Sun pwyc. 163 Sterling, unit 5. sterlingstudiotheatre.com.
The Wizard Of Oz adapted by Andrew Lloyd Webber (The Really Useful Group/Mirvish/Troika Entertainment/Warner Bros/Bill Kenwright). A twister sends Dorothy over the rainbow in this musical based on the film. Previews Dec 20-Jan 12. Opens Jan 13 and runs to Aug 18, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mats Sat-Sun and Wed 1:30 pm (see website for other shows). $35-$130. Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.
And the Rest…
**Angels In America: Parts I & II by Tony Kushner (Soulpepper). Seven individuals navigate NYC during the AIDS crisis in the 80s in this two-part show about human reactions to the epidemic. Previews Jul 19-30. Opens Jul 31 and runs to Sep 14, (part II opens Aug 1), see website for schedule. $51-$68, stu $32, rush $5-$22. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
Big City Improv T.K.O.! Big City Improv Festival presents 16 teams in an 8-week improv competition. Opens Jul 15 and runs to Sep 16, Mon Mondays 9:30 pm (excluding holidays). $10. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. bigcityimprovfestival.com.
**Dusk Dances presents outdoor dance featuring choreographies by Susie Burpee, Melanie Kloetzel, Carmen Romero and the Throwdown Collective. Opens Jul 30 and runs to Aug 4, Tue-Sun 7 pm. Pwyc ($10 sugg). Withrow Park, 725 Logan. 416-593-8455, duskdances.ca.
Eisa – The Rhythms Of Okinawa KaRaKoRo presents Okinawan music and dance. Jul 31 at 7:30 pm (pre-show events from 5 pm). $21. Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, 6 Garamond. 416-441-2345, jccc.on.ca.
Faking Bad Bad Dog Theatre presents serialized, unscripted shows inspired by the AMC crime series, w/ Bruce Hunter, Conor Holler, Dale Boyer and others. Opens Jul 10 and runs to Aug 7, Wed Wednesdays 9:30 pm. $12, stu $10. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. 416-551-6540, baddogtheatre.com.
Fall 2013 Mainstage RevueSecond City presents previews of a new collection of sketches, songs and improvisations. Tue-Thu 8 pm, Fri-Sun 7:30 pm (and Sat 10 pm). $24-$29, stu $15. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.
Heart-Stoppers. The Spoke Season Launch (Outside the March Theatre Company). Gala version of the monthly storytelling event features Sasha Lukac, Kate Knibbs, Julie Tepperman and others to raise funds for OtM’s new season. Jul 29, doors 7 pm. $10. Videofag, 187 Augusta. outsidethemarch.ca.
Josephine’s Itch (Just the Lady). This cabaret features songs from Kurt Weill and Jacques Brel to Cole Porter and Georgia Stitt, sung in French, German and English. Jul 31 at 8 pm. $10-$11. Tranzac, 292 Brunswick. josephinesitch.eventbrite.ca.
Legally Blonde by Laurence O’Keefe, Nell Benjamin and Heather Hach (Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts). A sorority girl makes it to law school in this musical based on the 2001 film. Opens Aug 1 and runs to Aug 10, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $22. Randolph Theatre, 736 Bathurst. randolphacademy.com.
Our Last Best Hope by David Anderson and Angela Loft (Clay & Paper Theatre). This play uses satire, puppets, mask, song and dance to address our growing indifference to realities that threaten our future. Opens Jul 25 and runs to Aug 17, Wed-Sat 7 pm. Pwyc. Dufferin Grove Park, Dufferin S of Bloor. clayandpapertheatre.org.
P-Dale Ep 4: Rise Of Los Muchos by Luis Fernandes (Unit 102 Actors Company). This multimedia theatrical series looks at the residents of Parkdale fighting gentrification. Opens Jul 31 and runs to Aug 10, Tue-Sat 8 pm. $15. Unit 102 Theatre, 376 Dufferin. facebook.com/PDaletheShow.
Princess Polly And The World’s Smallest NinjaSecond City presents an all-ages sketch revue. Opens Jun 30 and runs to Sep 1, Thu and Sun 1 pm. $14, family 4-pack $45. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.
SOLT 2013 Mini Opera Festival (Summer Opera Lyric Theatre). The opera training program presents workshop productions of Handel’s Alcina, Bellini’s I Capuleti E I Montecchi and Puccini’s La Boheme. Opens Jul 26 and runs to Aug 4, see website for schedule. $26, stu/srs $22 per show. Robert Gill Theatre, 214 College. 416-978-7986, solt.ca.
Something Is Wrong by William Rasitsan-Powell (Naught, A Theatre Company). A Greek tragedy-style Chorus questions the status quo but eventually conforms – except for one member. Opens Jul 31 and runs to Aug 3, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $15, stu $12. Pia Bouman Theatre, 6 Noble. somethingiswrongplay.blogspot.ca.
The Best Of The Second City presents classic and original sketch and trademark improvisation. Fri 10:30 pm. $24, stu $15. Second City, 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.
The Best Of The Second City presents classic and original sketch and trademark improvisation. Mon 8 pm. $14. Second City, 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.
The History Of The World (The Paradoxical Inconsistency Of ‘Now’ And ‘Then’) (Ed Roy/Toronto Arts Council). Roy performs a workshop of his solo show tracing theatre creation from then to now. Aug 2-3, Fri-Sat 8 pm. $10. Hub 14, 14 Markham. edroy.ca.
The Lover by Harold Pinter (Three Peasants Theatre). This dark comedy about an apparent love triangle looks at the other side of domestic bliss. Opens Jul 31 and runs to Aug 3, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $20, stu/srs $15. Alumnae Theatre, 70 Berkeley. 3ptheatre.ca.
The Misanthrope by Moliere (Classical Theatre Project/Guild Festival Theatre) Moliere’s classic is set on the open-air stage of marble columns, Corinthian capitals, and elegant arches adjacent to the Scarborough Bluffs. July 18 – Aug. 11, $20-$25. Scarborough Bluffs. 416-915-6750 www.guildfestivaltheatre.ca/tickets/
Theatresports Bad Dog Theatre presents the classic improv comedy competition. Opens Jul 6 and runs to Aug 24, Sat Saturdays 8 pm. $12, stu $10. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. 416-551-6540, comedybar.ca.
*Listings based on NOW stage listings*