Here is what’s going on in Toronto theatre this week. There are several great shows to catch for the week of September 17th, 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.
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 musical puppet show. Opens Jun 22 and runs to Oct 7. $45-$60. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.
DANNY AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA by John Patrick Shanley (Sterling Studio Theatre). Two of society’s rejects meet in a bar in this look at love and loneliness. Previews Sep 11. Opens Sep 12 and runs to Sep 22. $15, preview $10. 163 Sterling, unit 5. secureaseat.com/danny.
**DEATH OF A SALESMAN by Arthur Miller (Soulpepper). Having lost his job in his twilight years, a man confronts his failure to achieve the American dream. Previews Sep 5-7. Opens Sep 8 and runs to Oct 6. $32-$68. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS LIVE: CAMPAIGN 1: THE LEGEND OF T’RANNAhH Bad Dog Theatre presents an unscripted adventure comedy based on the popular role-playing game. Opens Aug 22 and runs to Sep 19. $12, stu $10. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. 416-551-6540, baddogtheatre.com.
FERAL CHILD by Jordan Tannahill (Suburban Beast/Canadian Stage). An Oshawa housekeeper’s encounter with a teenage boy unearths memories of her son’s disappearance during the Bosnian war. Previews Sep 6 at 8 pm. Opens Sep 7 and runs to Sep 22. $22, stu $17. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley. 416-368-3110, suburbanbeast.ca.
HIDING WORDS (FOR YOU) by Gein Wong (Eventual Ashes). Theatre, poetry, music, dance and more are used to tell a story of Chinese women fighting for equal rights from 1850 to today. Previews Sep 13-14. Opens Sep 15 and runs to Sep 23. $24, stu/srs $20, previews $15. Enwave Theatre, 231 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.
JULIE SITS WAITING by Tom Walmsley and Louis Dufort (Good Hair Day Productions/Theatre Centre). A woman who’s married to a police officer and a priest discover intimacy and disaster in this modern opera. Opens Sep 14 and runs to Sep 23. $30-$40, Sun pwyc. Theatre Passe Muraille, Backspace, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, fideskrucker.com.
MEMORY IN THE MUD (Words In Motion). This movable drama and tour tells the stories of brick makers, POWs and Depression-era transients who spent time at the Brick Works. Opens Jul 11 and runs to Sep 29. $20, child $10. Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview. ebw.evergreen.ca/whats-on/memory-in-the-mud.
POMME IS FRENCH FOR APPLE JFL42 presents Liza Paul and Bahia Watson in their show about women’s most embarrassing moments. Sep 23 9 pm. JFL42 pass: $99 or $149. Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen W. jfl42.com.
SPEED-THE-PLOW by David Mamet (Soulpepper). Movie industry big shots use sex and schemes to succeed in Hollywood. Previews Jul 5-14. Opens Jul 16 and runs to Sep 22. $51-$68, stu $32; rush $22, stu $5. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
THE BIG BANG by Jed Feuer and Boyd Graham (Civic Light Opera Company). Two theatre producers try to stage the history of civilization in this musical comedy. Opens Sep 12 and runs to Sep 22. $28. York Woods Library Theatre, 1785 Finch W. 416-755-1717, civiclightoperacompany.com.
**THE CRUCIBLE by Arthur Miller (Soulpepper). A small, devout Massachusetts town is thrown into chaos with accusations of witchcraft in 1692. Previews Jul 25-Aug 8. Opens Aug 9 and runs to Sep 22. $51-$68, stu $32; rush $22, stu $5. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
THE ROYAL COMEDIANS by Mikhail Bulgakov (Soulpepper). This play looks at the life of French dramatist Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, better known as Molière. Previews Jul 24-Aug 6. Opens Aug 7 and runs to Sep 21. $51-$68, stu $32; rush $22, stu $5.Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
THE SUNSHINE BOYS by Neil Simon (Soulpepper). Two vaudeville veterans must overcome their mutual dislike to reunite for a TV special. Previews Jul 14-25. Opens Jul 26 and runs to Sep 22. $51-$68, stu $32; rush $22, stu $5. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.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.
WE’VE TOTALLY (PROBABLY) GOT THIS! Second City presents its fall 2012 revue featuring new sketches, songs and improv about stress and juggling priorities. Tue-Thu 8 pm, Fri-Sun 7:30 pm (plus Fri-Sat 10 pm). $24-$29, stu $15. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.
And the rest…
ABILITIES ARTS FESTIVAL (AAF). The festival celebrating diversity, inclusion and accessibility features a multimedia Nuit Blanche installation, stories told through podcast plays, film and more. Opens Sep 20 and runs to Oct 11. $8-$25, many events free.Various venues. abilitiesartsfestival.org.
**BETWEEN THE SHEETS by Jordi Mand (Nightwood Theatre). A parent-teacher interview unravels into a high-stakes drama about family. Previews Sep 18-19. Opens Sep 20 and runs to Oct 7. $13-$40. Tarragon Theatre, Extra Space, 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, nightwoodtheatre.net.
COEXISDANCE SERIES 49 CoexisDance Duet Series presents dance improvisers performing with AIM Toronto musicians. Sep 22 at 8 pm. $10. Parkdale Prana Room, 1273A Queen W. coexisdance.wordpress.com.
FEBRUARY by Lisa Moore (Alumnae Theatre). A woman deals with the death of her husband when an offshore drilling unit sinks off the Newfoundland coast. Opens Sep 21 and runs to Oct 6. $20, Wed 2-for-1, Sun pwyc. 70 Berkeley. 416-364-4170, alumnaetheatre.com.
HOMEBODY… LESSONS IN PRAIRIE LIVING Shannon Litzenberger Contemporary Dance and DanceWorks CoWorks present an intimate portrait of Litzenberger’s childhood in rural Saskatchewan using dance, film and storytelling. Sep 20-23. $25, stu $20.Winchester Street Theatre, 80 Winchester. 416-204-1082, danceworks.ca.
HOTEL ALBERGO (Lady Luck Productions). This interactive, family-friendly dinner theatre show is inspired by the city’s Italian culture. Sep 23 at 2 pm. $50-$125, child $40-$65. Capitol Event Theatre, 2492 Yonge. 416-671-2226, ladyluckproductions.ca.
HURLYBURLY by David Rabe (Column 13 Actors Company). Four men working in the film industry of 80s LA reflect on their lives while enduring their vices. Previews Sep 19-20. Opens Sep 21 and runs to Sep 29. $15, previews pwyc. Unit 102 Theatre, 376 Dufferin. 416-536-0048, column13.org.
KATHAK MAHOTSAV 2012 Rina Singha Kathak Dance Organization and Harbourfront NextSteps present a celebration of kathak dance with duets and solos by Hemant and Vaishali Panwar, Parul Gupta, Sayanee Chavda and others. Sep 20-23. $30.50, stu/srs $25. Harbourfront Centre, Studio Theatre, 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.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, previews $21-$24, rush $13. 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.
OBAABERIMA by Tawiah M’Carthy (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre). Imprisoned in Canada, a young Ghanaian talks of his journey across continents, genders, races and sexualities. Previews Sep 15-19. Opens Sep 20 and runs to Oct 7. Pwyc-$37. 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, buddiesinbadtimes.com.
**PROUD by Michael Healey (Sue Edworthy). A conservative Prime Minister trains a rookie MP to promote his agenda in the third of Healey’s trilogy of plays about Canadian values. Previews Sep 20-21. Opens Sep 22 and runs to Oct 6. $25-$40, Mon pwyc. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley. 416-368-3110, proudtheplay.com.
QUEEN WEST PROJECT by Deborah Pearson and Allison Cummings (Theatre Passe Muraille). Participants wear headphones to hear text, music and instructions while travelling down Queen West with dancers to learn about the neighbourhood. Opens Sep 12 and runs to Sep 22. $25-$30. MOCCA, 952 Queen W. 416-504-7529, passemuraille.on.ca.
**ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD by Tom Stoppard (Hart House Theatre). This absurdist comedy follows the antics of two minor characters from Hamlet. Opens Sep 21 and runs to Oct 6. $25, stu/srs $10-$15. 7 Hart House Circle. 416-978-8849, harthousetheatre.ca.
SHINE: AUTUMN EQUINOX Miko Sobreira presents an evening of dance, salsa, theatre, clown, music and comedy to welcome the autumn equinox. Sep 21-22 at 8 pm. $10. Studio DANZoN, 2480 Dundas W, suite 104. miko@movementcentre.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 HARLETTES: THE SHOWGIRL MUST GO ON (The Harlettes/Les Coquettes). Classic burlesque with both troupes, Mysterion, Pastel Supernova and more. Sep 23 at 8 pm. $15-$30. Revival, 783 College. lescoquettes.com.
THE SWEET SPOT (Burrows Ink). This evening features a multimedia cabaret of erotic poetry, burlesque, music, comedy and more. Sep 23 at 6:30 pm. $15-$20. El Mocambo, 464 Spadina. burrowsink.com.