Here is what’s going on in Toronto theatre this week. There are several great shows to catch for the week of December 31st, 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
Cinderella In Muddy York by Ann Powell and David Powell (Puppetmongers). The fairy tale is reset in 1830s Toronto in this family-friendly puppet show. Opens Dec 28 and runs to Jan 5. $20-$25. Theatre Passe Muraille, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, puppetmongers.com.
Miracle On Mercer St. Second City presents all-ages seasonal comedy mixing live-action sketches with puppetry and songs. Dec 22-26, Dec 27-Jan 1. $14, family 4-pack $45. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.
Snow White: The Deliciously Dopey Family Musical by Rick Miller (Ross Petty Productions). Pop culture references permeate this holiday pantomime version of the classic fairy tale. Previews Nov 23-28. Opens Nov 29 and runs to Jan 5. $27-$85. Elgin Theatre, 189 Yonge. 1-855-599-9090, rosspetty.com.
The Nutcracker The National Ballet of Canada presents the traditional holiday ballet. Opens Dec 19 and runs to Jan 5. $52-$136. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-345-9595, national.ballet.ca.
The Second City’s Nut-Cracking Holiday Revue Second City presents sketches, songs and improv inspired by the season of merriment, mirth and last-minute shopping. Dec 26-Jan 1. $22, stu $15. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.
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 Jan 6. $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. Wed-Thu 8 pm, Fri-Sun 7:30 pm (plus Fri-Sat 10 pm). $24-$29, stu $15. Special New Year’s Eve performance plus a countdown and champagne toast with the cast. Optional dinner package available. Dec 31 7 & 10 pm. Show & toast $55, dinner package $108. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.
**Without You by Anthony Rapp (Mirvish). Rapp performs his solo show about being a part of the inaugural production of RENT. Previews Dec 13-15. Opens Dec 16 and runs to Jan 6. $45-$69, rush $29. Panasonic Theatre, 651 Yonge. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.
And the Rest…
**Awake by Laura Mullin and Chris Tolley (Expect Theatre/Spark Collective/Next Stage Theatre Festival). Based on interviews with youth, cops and moms who’ve lost sons, this fusion of dancehall, hip-hop and theatre looks at gang violence. Opens Jan 3 and runs to Jan 13. $12-$15, passes $48-$88. Factory Theatre, Mainspace, 125 Bathurst. 416-966-1062, fringetoronto.com.
Fan Fiction – Star Wars. Adam Ward & Black Swan Comedy bring the best comedy minds together to take on the crazy world of fan fiction. Original fan-generated material from authors around the world performed live by Toronto’s best comedy groups. Jan 5 at 8 pm. $7. Black Swan Tavern, 154 Danforth Ave. blackswancomedy.com.
**Liza Live! by Jennifer Walls (Total Betty Productions/Next Stage Theatre Festival). This talk show/game show cabaret looks at 60 years of the film and stage icon’s music and memories. Opens Jan 2 and runs to Jan 13. $10, passes $48-$88. Factory Theatre, Antechamber, 125 Bathurst. 416-966-1062, fringetoronto.com.
**Memorial by Steven Gallagher (Next Step Productions/Next Stage Theatre Festival). A dying man plans to attend his own memorial and expects his family to throw him a great party. Opens Jan 2 and runs to Jan 13. $12-$15, passes $48-$88. Factory Theatre, Studio, 125 Bathurst. 416-966-1062, fringetoronto.com.
Mr D Cast Live Comedy Show Toronto Centre for the Arts presents Gerry Dee performing with Bette MacDonald, Darrin Rose, Mark Forward, Naomi Snieckus, Mark Little and host Jonathan Torrens. Dec 31 7:30 pm. $59. 5040 Yonge. ticketmaster.ca.
New Year’s Eve Comedy Extravaganza Massey Hall presents Bryan Hattsmooth, Dave Hemstad, Darcy Michael, Rebecca Kohler, Winston Spear, host Harland Williams and others. Dec 31 7:30 pm. $39.50-$69.50. 178 Victoria. 416-872-4255, masseyhall.com.
**Pitch Blond by Laura Anne Harris (Convection Productions/Next Stage Theatre Festival). Famous for playing dumb blondes in movies, Judy Holliday outwits Senator McCarthy’s anti-communist inquisition. Opens Jan 3 and runs to Jan 13. $10, passes $48-$88. Factory Theatre, Antechamber, 125 Bathurst. 416-966-1062, fringetoronto.com.
**Post Eden by Jordan Tannahill (Suburban Beast/Next Stage Theatre Festival). A girl exhumes her dead pet in this fantastical play about a day in the life of a fractured suburban family. Opens Jan 3 and runs to Jan 13. $12-$15, passes $48-$88. Factory Theatre, Studio, 125 Bathurst. 416-966-1062, fringetoronto.com.
Qingming Riverside Hong Kong Dance Company and Guangdong Song and Dance Ensemble present a dance spectacle inspired by the most important scroll painting in Chinese history. Jan 4-5 at 8 pm. $48-$88. Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, 1 Front E. 1-855-872-7669, sonycentre.ca.
Rabbi Sam by Charlie Varon (TEATRON Theatre). A rabbi with new ideas shakes up a community in this comedy. Opens Jan 3 and runs to Jan 13. $31-$48, stu/srs $26-$30. Toronto Centre for the Arts, Studio Theatre, 5040 Yonge. 416-733-0545, teatrontheatre.com.
**Salt Baby by Falen Johnson (Salt Baby Productions/Next Stage Theatre Festival). An aboriginal woman’s European features cause identity issues on the reservation and in the city. Opens Jan 3 and runs to Jan 13. $12-$15, passes $48-$88. Factory Theatre, Studio, 125 Bathurst. 416-966-1062, fringetoronto.com.
Salute to Vienna. Roy Thomson Hall and Attila Glatz Concert Productions present the annual New Year’s Day concert with international champion ballroom dancers and Europaballet performing alongside live musicians. Jan 1 at 2:30 pm. $60-$145. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe. 416-872-4255, roythomson.com.
**Sudden Death by Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman (Pyretic Productions/Next Stage Theatre Festival). This play looks at the last night in the life of a violent, drug-addicted hockey player. Opens Jan 2 and runs to Jan 13. $12-$15, passes $48-$88. Factory Theatre, Mainspace, 125 Bathurst. 416-966-1062, fringetoronto.com.
The Amorous Adventures Of Anatol by Arthur Schnitzler (Tarragon Theatre). A young playboy pursues women without commitment or care in this contemporary adaptation of the 1895 play. Previews Jan 1-8. Opens Jan 9 and runs to Feb 10. $27-$53, rush $13. 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.
The Merry Widow by Franz Lehár (Toronto Operetta Theatre). A rich widow’s trip worries those who want her money in this comic operetta. Opens Dec 28 and runs to Jan 6. $66-$95. Jane Mallett Theatre, 27 Front E. 416-366-7723, torontooperetta.com.
**The Peace Maker by Natasha Greenblatt (Pomme Grenade Productions/Next Stage Theatre Festival). A young Jewish woman visits Israel and Palestine and wrestles with ideas of identity and justice. Opens Jan 3 and runs to Jan 13. $12-$15, passes $48-$88. Factory Theatre, Mainspace, 125 Bathurst. 416-966-1062, fringetoronto.com.
The Shoemaker And The Pant-O-Mimes by Rosemary Doyle and Jane Shields (Alice in Blunderland Equity Co-op Players). Actors and dancers perform a wacky take on a classic fairy tale. Opens Dec 26 and runs to Jan 6. $25, $15 stu/srs, child $10. Red Sandcastle Theatre, 922 Queen E. 416-845-9411, redsandcastletheatre.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 classic film. Previews Dec 20-Jan 12. Opens Jan 13 and runs to Mar 31. $35-$130. Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.
This Is War by Hannah Moscovitch (Tarragon Theatre). A Canadian Forces captain in a volatile region of Afghanistan must deal with a threat from within. Previews Dec 28-Jan 2. Opens Jan 3 and runs to Feb 3. $48-$53, srs $38-$43, stu $27, previews $21-$24, rush $13. Extra Space, 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.
Throne Of Games (Bad Dog Theatre Company/Next Stage Theatre Festival). Improvisers create unscripted interpretations of the HBO medieval fantasy series Game Of Thrones. Opens Jan 2 and runs to Jan 13. $12-$15, passes $48-$88. Factory Theatre, Mainspace, 125 Bathurst. 416-966-1062, fringetoronto.com.
**With Love And A Major Organ by Julia Lederer (QuestionMark-Exclamation Theatre/Next Stage Theatre Festival). This comedy depicts tragic, bold and hopelessly romantic characters with lots of heart and little social grace. Opens Jan 2 and runs to Jan 13. $12-$15, passes $48-$88. Factory Theatre, Studio, 125 Bathurst. 416-966-1062, fringetoronto.com.