Shows That Caught Our Eye in Toronto the Week of April 30th, 2018

Toronto live theatre for the week of April 30th, 2018. There is something for everyone on Toronto’s stages this week, with a huge selection of brand new shows! Our Editor Samantha is on hand with a few of her top picks in red. Check them out below the cut:

Already reviewed by Mooney on theatre:

Come From Away by Irene Sankoff and David Hein (Mirvish). Newfoundlanders open their homes to stranded passengers following the September 11 terrorist attacks. Previews from Feb 13, opens Feb 18 and runs to Sep 2, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Wed 1:30 pm, Sat-Sun 2 pm. $69 and up. At The Royal Alexandra Theatre. Show Info.

Fun Home The Musical Stage Company & Mirvish present the musical by Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron (based on Alison Bechdel’s best-selling graphic memoir). Alison, a 43-year-old lesbian cartoonist, struggles to untangle her complex relationship with her deceased father. Previews from Apr 13, opens Apr 17 and runs to May 6, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $39-$89. At CAA Theatre. Show Info.

The Best is Yet To Come Undone. The Second City presents the Spring 2018 MainStage sketch revue, tackling this generation’s minefield of crushing clichés and relatable revelations. Limited run, Tue-Sun see website for times. $27 & up, stu from $16. At Second City. Show Info.

Girls Like That by Evan Placey (Tarragon). A naked photo of a young woman goes viral in this play about the evolution of feminist consciousness and modern female friendships. Previews from Apr 17, opens Apr 24 and runs to May 27, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 2:30 pm (see website for other mats). $20-$60. At Tarragon Theatre. Show Info.

Prairie Nurse by Marie Beath Badian (Thousand Islands Playhouse/Factory). Two Filipino nurses deal with curious locals in 1960s small-town Saskatchewan. Previews from Apr 21, opens Apr 26 and runs to May 13, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $30-$50, preview $20. At Factory Theatre. Show Info.

Picnic in the Cemetery  by Njo Kong Kie (Music Picnic & Point View Art/Canadian Stage). This concert-theatre piece features Macau-based Folga Gaang Project and juxtaposes the macabre with the whimsical in an abstract expression of our collective journey through the passage of time. Opens Apr 26 and runs to May 6, Tue-Thu and Sat 8 pm, Fri 7 pm, Sun 1 pm. $39-$69. At The Berkeley Street Theatre. Show Info.

Selfie. Young People’s Theatre presents a play by Christine Quintana. An incident at a party shatters the connections between three friends in this play for ages 13 & up. Previews from Apr 23, opens Apr 26 and runs to May 11, see website for schedule. $19-$24. Public shows Apr 29 at 2:30 pm (relaxed performance, pwyc); Apr 6 at 2:30 pm. Members of the public are are welcome to attend weekday school performances, subject to availability; call 416-862-2222 to inquire. At Young People’s Theatre. Show Info.

And everything else:

Ma Rainy’s Black Bottom by August Wilson (Soulpepper). In 1920s Chicago, a routine music recording session becomes the front line for issues of race, power and opportunity. Previews from May 4, opens May 10 and runs to Jun 2, see website for times. $32-$96. At The Young Centre for the Performing Arts. Show Info.

Theory. Studio 180 In Development presents a reading of a play by Norman Yeung. A young professor tests the limits of free speech with her students – an experiment that quickly becomes a high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse that not only has her questioning her beliefs, but fearing for her life. May 3 at 8 pm. Admission by donation, RSVP to byron@studio180theatre.com. At Tarragon Theatre. Show Info.

Lion Womxn. The AMY Project presents a collage of monologue, movement, song, dance and poetry created and performed by woman/non-binary youth artists. May 4-5 at 7 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. Pwyc-$15, premium advanced $30. In the Berkeley Street Rehearsal Hall. Show Info.

Criminal Genius. Don’t Look Down Theatre presents a play by George F. Walker. Two hapless petty crooks get caught up in arson, kidnapping and bigger trouble than they can handle. May 3-6, Thu-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $20-$30. Tickets at artsboxoffice.ca. At Theatre Passe Muraille. Show Info.

Measure for Measure. Shakespeare BASH’d presents the Bard’s story of sexual politics, consent, power and corruption in a barroom staging. Opens May 1 and runs to May 6, Tue-Sat 7:30pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $20. Tickets available at www.ShakespeareBASHd.com. At The Junction City Music Hall. Show Info.

Speaking of Sneaking. sos collective & the RISER Project present a multidisciplinary dance/poetry pantomime created and performed by Daniel Jelani Ellis, about growing up queer in Jamaica and finding home in Canada. Previews May 2, opens May 3 and runs to May 11, Mon-Sat 9:30 pm. $5, $20, $35 or $60 – pay what you can afford. At The Theatre Centre. Show Info.

Crazy For You by Ken Ludwig, George & Ira Gershwin (Scarborough Music Theatre). An NYC playboy goes to Nevada to foreclose on a theatre and falls in love with the owner’s daughter in this 1930s musical. Opens May 3 and runs to May 19, see website for times. $23-$30. At Scarborough Village Theatre. Show Info.

A Taste of Empire. Cahoots Theatre presents 食盡天下 (A TASTE OF EMPIRE) written & directed by Jovanni Sy, translated & performed by Derek Chan. In this theatrical cooking demonstration, Derek Chan cooks a traditional Filipino dish in real time while exploring colonialism, conquest and culture. Presented in Cantonese with open captions in English and Simplified Chinese. Previews May 1, opens May 2 and runs to May 6, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $35, preview $20, Sat mat pwyc at the door ($35 adv). At Factory Theatre. Show Info.

LuLu V.7: Aspects of a Femme Fatale by Ted Witzel, Susanna Fournier, Helen Yung (the red light district/BIBT). A young femme fatale traverses Europe leaving a series of dead lovers in her wake until she meets her end at the hands of Jack the Ripper. Previews from May 1, opens May 3 and runs to May 20, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. $20-$40, Sun pwyc at the door. At Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Show Info.

Salmon Girl. Young People’s Theatre & Raven Spirit Dance present a play by Michelle Olson and Quelemia Sparrow. A young girl learns of her Indigenous forbears from animals and elders in this dance-drama for ages 5-10. Opens May 1 and runs to May 12, see website for times. $10-$34.Public shows May 6 and 12 at 2 pm. Members of the public are are welcome to attend weekday school performances, subject to availability; call 416-862-2222 to inquire. At Young People’s Theatre. Show Info.

The ’94 Club. Crave Productions presents a play by Thalia Gonzalez Kane. A group of teenage girls create a dangerous game for themselves that rapidly spirals out of control. Based on true events, The ’94 Club explores gender politics, sexuality, coming of age, queerness and the harsh realities of growing up in a small town. Previews May 1, opens May 2 and runs to May 12, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2:30 pm. $15-$30. At Tarragon Theatre. Show Info.

Pardon My French: Tales of a Parisian Mom in Canada by Iris Gardet-Hadengue (Irisistible Productions). The story of Iris, a new Canadian & business woman who mistakenly tries to run her household like a company. Apr 30 at 8:30 pm. $10, on universe.com. At The Social Capital Theatre. Show Info.

What Happened Was by Tom Noonan (Witchboy Theatre). Two vaguely acquainted co-workers meet for a first date. What begins with this deceptively simple premise soon unfolds into a sly, disturbing dissection of modern dating rituals. As these two lonely New Yorkers struggle to open up to one another, they inadvertently reveal more about themselves than they ever intended, exposing something ominous and sinister lurking just beneath the surface. Opens April 25th and runs until may 5th, Tue-Sat, 8PM. $15-$35. At The Assembly Theatre. Show Info.

Annie by Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin, Thomas Meehan (Mirvish). A plucky orphan finds a home in this family musical. Downton Abbey‘s Lesley Nicol will play Miss Hannigan. Opens April 24 and runs to June 3, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Wed, Sat-Sun 1:30 pm. $29-$229. At Mirvish Theatre. Show Info.

Shadow Girls by Keshia Palm & Claren Grosz (Pencil Kit Productions/Blank Canvas). Two women’s attempts at an intimate relationship are complicated by a fraught mutual history in this theatrical production scored entirely with overhead projector art. Previews Apr 25-26 at 8:30 pm, opens May 2 and runs to May 6, Wed-Fri & Sun 7:30 & 9:30 pm. $25, preview $20. At The Gladstone Hotel. Show Info.

There Goes The Bride by Ray Cooney and John Chapman (NAGs Players). An overworked, underpaid man stresses over his daughter’s overly lavish wedding and finally snaps on the morning of the big day in this comedy. Opens Apr 26 and runs to May 5, Thu-Sat 7:30 pm. $15-$20. At The Tranzac. Show Info.

Anna Bolena by Gaetano Donizetti (Canadian Opera Company). Sondra Radvanovsky helms this Italian opera about the final days of Henry VIII’s second wife. Sung in Italian w/ English surtitles. Opens Apr 28 and runs to May 26, see website for times. $35-$225 (box seats $350). At The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Show Info.

 

Listings based primarily on NOW! Stage Listings.