Here is what’s going on in Toronto theatre this week. There are several great shows to catch for the week of May 14, 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
A FLORENTINE TRAGEDY/GIANNI SCHICCHI by Alexander Zemlinsky/Giacomo Puccini (Canadian Opera Company). Zemlinsky’s satire based on an unfinished Oscar Wilde play is presented with Puccini’s comedy about a greedy family members scheming over a will. Opens Apr 26 and runs to May 25. $12-$318. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-363-8231, coc.ca.
BAOBAB by Hélène Ducharme (Théâtre Motus/SÔ Company). An ancient tree gives birth to a boy who is destined to save a village from drought in this story inspired by West African legends. Opens May 7 and runs to May 17. $15-$20. Young People’s Theatre, Studio, 165 Front E. 416-862-2222, youngpeoplestheatre.ca.
BEYOND THE CUCKOO’S NEST by Edward Roy (Young People’s Theatre). This drama for ages 13-18 follows three youths who meet at a drop-in group for teens with mental health issues. Previews May 7-8. Opens May 9 and runs to May 17. $15-$20. 165 Front E. 416-862-2222, youngpeoplestheatre.ca.
BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL by Jeff Whitty, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tom Kitt and Amanda Green (Mirvish). This musical comedy looks at high school rivalries and friendship in the world of competitive cheerleading. Opens May 2 and runs to Jun 3. $35-$130, rush $25. Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria. mirvish.com.
BROTHERS KARAMAZOV by Fyodor Dostoevsky (Wordsmyth Theatre). Four women play the roles of the brothers in this adaptation of the Russian novel. Previews Apr 26. Opens Apr 27 and runs to May 20. $29, preview $20. Odyssey Studio, 636 Pape. wordsmyth.ca.
**KIM’S CONVENIENCE by Ins Choi (Soulpepper). A Korean family in Toronto struggles with a bitter past and reconciliation. Opens May 17 and runs to Jun 9. $22-$68. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
LIVE WRONG AND PROSPER Second City presents its latest revue of sketches, songs and improvisations. Wed-Sat 8 pm, plus Fri & Sat 10:30 pm, Sun 7 pm. $24-$29, stu $15. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.
LOVE NOTWITHSTANDING by Grant Tilly (A Vancouver Apt. Co-op). Two young artists agree to a time-limited relationship, but find their modern ideas at odds with their emotions. Previews May 9. Opens May 10 and runs to May 20. $20, stu/srs $15. Red Sandcastle Theatre, 922 Queen E. 416-845-9411, redsandcastletheatre.com.
LUBA, SIMPLY LUBA by Diane Flacks, Luba Goy and Andrey Tarasiuk (Pleiades Theatre/Red Boots Canada). Actor/comic Goy shares her own story of growing up in a Ukrainian immigrant family and finding radio and TV success. Previews May 7-8. Opens May 9 and runs to May 26. $33. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley. 416-368-3110, canadianstage.com.
SEMELE by GF Handel (Canadian Opera Company). Handel’s opera based on the Greek myth about an ill-fated love affair is fused with ancient Chinese myths and legends in this adaptation. Opens May 9 and runs to May 26. $12-$318. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-363-8231, coc.ca.
THE REAL WORLD? by Michel Tremblay (Tarragon Theatre). A playwright draws on his family as the raw material for his first work. Previews Apr 24-May 1. Opens May 2 and runs to Jun 3. $21-$51. 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.
**THE TALES OF HOFFMANN by Jacques Offenbach (Canadian Opera Company). The dark reminiscences of a drunken poet come to life as he recalls his lost loves. Opens Apr 10 and runs to May 14. $12-$318. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-363-8231, coc.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 Sep 30. $35-$130, rush $29. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King W. 416-872-1212,mirvish.com.
WEST SIDE STORY by Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim (Dancap Productions). A young man falls in love with a rival gang member’s sister in this musical. Opens May 8 and runs to Jun 3. $51-$180. Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge. 416-644-3665, dancaptickets.com.
YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU by George S Kaufman and Moss Hart (Soulpepper). An eccentric clan experiences unusual order when their daughter finds a fiancé from a conservative family. Previews Apr 19-25. Opens Apr 26 and runs to Jun 21. $51-$68, stu $32; rush $22/stu $5. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
And the rest…
ANTIBIOTIC DeviationDance presents a work inspired by children who participated in a ‘Healing Through Dance’ program in Colombia. Opens May 16 and runs to May 18. $20, stu/srs $15.Winchester Street Theatre, 80 Winchester. wix.com/deviationdance/home.
AUTOGEDDON by Heathcote Williams (Pandemic Theatre/Happy Trails Productions). An alien visitor observes the behaviour of humans and their cars. Opens May 17 and runs to May 27. $15-$25, May 20 pwyc. Dancemakers Centre for Creation, 55 Mill, bldg 58, studio 313. pandemictheatre.eventbrite.ca.
CHAPPIE JOHNSON AND HIS (ALMOST) ALL COLORED ALL STARS by Joe Sealy and Robin Breon (J Sealy/R Breon). Workshop reading/singing of a new work-in-progress musical about baseball in 1939. May 14 at 8 pm. Free. Hart House Theatre, 7 Hart House Circle. rhbreon3@hotmail.com.
COEXISDANCE SERIES #45 presents dance improvisers performing with AIM Toronto musicians. May 19 at 8 pm. $10. Arraymusic Studio, 60 Atlantic. coexisdance.wordpress.com.
DANCE MARATHON Harbourfront World Stage and bluemouth inc present an interactive, duration-based performance event inspired by Depression-era dance contests, today’s reality TV and the cult of celebrity. May 18-19 at 7 pm. $15-$35. Enwave Theatre, 231 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.
**DIRT (Soulpepper). In this collective creation, the Academy uses urban stories, movement and multimedia to explores dirt in literal and figurative terms. Previews May 18-22. Opens May 23 and runs to May 26. $20. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
DIVE by Nik Beeson and Richard Sanger (Mermaid Collective/Festival of Ideas and Creation). A mermaid takes the audience deep into her world in this voice salon and sound installation. Opens May 12 and runs to May 20. $20-$40. 321 Sackville. 416-927-1534, dive.mermaidproject@gmail.com.
HOME by David Storey (Soulpepper). The social interaction between five characters reveals their desire to belong and maintain human contact. Previews May 8-16. Opens May 17 and runs to Jun 20. $51-$68, stu $32; rush $22/stu $5. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
ISLANDS by Graham Porter (draft89 theatre collective). In 2512, the survivors of a nuclear cataclysm try to keep civilization going in this play about the clash between utopia and human nature. Previews May 16. Opens May 17 and runs to Jun 2. $30. Theatre Centre, 1087 Queen W. 416-538-0988, draft89.com.
LA VOIX HUMAINE/BLUEBEARD’S CASTLE (Opera Five). Opera is combined with dance, visual art, performance art and more in this double bill. Opens May 15 and runs to May 18. $20. Arts & Letters Club, 14 Elm. operafive.com.
LES ADIEUX III (Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre). Adrian Kramer, a graduating artist of the COC Ensemble Studio, sings from Schubert’s song cycle Die Schöne Müllerin. Opens May 17 at noon. Free. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. coc.ca.
LOST IN YONKERS by Neil Simon (Harold Green Jewish Theatre). Marion Ross stars in Simon’s play about two boys who must live with their harsh grandmother. Previews May 12-16. Opens May 17 and runs to Jun 10. $42.50-$79.50. Jane Mallett Theatre, 27 Front E. 416-366-7723, hgjewishtheatre.com.
OLD & YOUNG AND RECKLESS TOGETHER MOonhORsE Dance Theatre presents a tribute to Canadian choreographers Peggy Baker, Anna Blewchamp and Danny Grossman. May 18-19. $22, stu/srs $18. The Citadel, 304 Parliament. eventbrite.com/event/3079443699/eorg.
PANAMERICAN ROUTES/RUTAS PANAMERICANAS (Aluna Theatre). This festival of theatre for human rights features multidisciplinary works by Canadian and Latin American artists, including dance-theatre piece Urban Odyssey by Loco 7, Parting Memories by Violeta Luna, Carmen Aguirre’s Blue Box and more. Opens May 15 and runs to May 27. $15-$30, festival pass $100. Theatre Passe Muraille, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, alunatheatre.ca.
PINOCCHIO DANS MA VALISE by Cie Vox Théâtre (Theatre Direct). The classic tale of fantasy and friendship is told through puppetry and live music. May 19-20 at 11 am & 2 pm (Sat in English, Sun in French). $10-$15. 76 Wychwood. 416-537-4191, theatredirect.ca.
**RENT by Johnathan Larson (Theatre Sheridan). New York artists struggle to make ends meet in the shadow of the AIDS epidemic in this musical. Previews May 15. Opens May 16 and runs to Jun 3. $40-$60, stu rush $25. Panasonic Theatre, 651 Yonge. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.
RHINO RAMA! A PARKDALIAN VARIETY SHOW (Sion Irwin-Childs). An interactive evening of fun, competition and performance. May 17 at 8 pm. $7. Rhino, 1249 Queen W. DanceTODanseFestival@hotmail.com.
**STOCKHOLM by Bryony Lavery (Seventh Stage Theatre Productions/Nightwood Theatre). Problems arise in a couple’s rosy relationship in this play about the lines between love and lust, aggressor and victim. Previews May 11-13. Opens May 15 and runs to Jun 3. $15-$30.Tarragon Theatre, Extra Space, 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, seventhstageproductions.com/theatre.
SWAN LAKE Bolshoi Ballet presents the original revival choreography by Marius Petipa as composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Opens May 15 and runs to May 19. $71-$255. Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, 1 Front E. 1-855-872-7669, sonycentre.ca.
THE ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO (Cow Over Moon Children’s Theatre). The classic story of the wooden boy that comes to life is brought to the stage. Opens May 14 and runs to May 21. $15, child $10. Unit 102 Theatre, 376 Dufferin. 905-510-8210, cowovermoon.ca.
THE EMERGENCY MONOLOGUES by Morgan Jones Phillips (Drinking Well). Phillips performs his solo play about the life of an urban paramedic. Feb 24 at 8 pm. Mar 24 at 8 pm. May 18 at 8 pm. $15. Cameron House, 408 Queen W. emergencymonologues.com.
THE GREEN DOOR CABARET SERIES (Lower Ossington Theatre). This series features cabaret performances by various artists. Opens May 11 and runs to Jun 9. $20-$30. 100A Ossington. lowerossingtontheatre.com/cabaret.
THE LORD OF DEATH Wu Ming Dance Project presents a multimedia solo dance performance inspired by The Tibetan Book Of The Dead. May 18 at 8 pm. $20, stu/srs $16. George Ignatieff Theatre, 15 Devonshire. 416-978-8849, uofttix.ca.
THE MEDIEVAL MASQUERADE (Salon Noir). This variety show feature’s Jarboe and includes music, magic, readings and more. May 20 at 8:30 pm. $30-$35. Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas W. morbidoutlook.com/salonnoir.
TORONTO INTERNATIONAL CIRCUS FESTIVAL (Zero Gravity Circus/HarbourKIDS). This all-ages weekend features aerial acrobatics, stunts, cabaret acts, comedy, music and clowns, plus workshops and interactive kids’ programs. May 19-21. Free. Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, tocircusfestival.com.
TRUE STORIES, MADE UP PLAYS (Sage Tyrtle). Improv troupes act out plays based on true stories. Mar 31 at 10 pm. Apr 28 at 10 pm. May 19 at 10 pm. Free. Black Swan, 154 Danforth. tyrtle.com.
*Listings based on NOW stage listings*