There’s a lot of great theatre going on in Toronto for the week of June 30th, 2014. ** Shows marked with the double asterisks and in red are the ones that make Wayne, our Managing Editor, wish there were more hours in a day so he could check all of them out.

Already Covered By MoT…

**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. Opens Jun 12 and runs to Jul 12, see website for schedule. $29-$74, rush $5-$23. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca. 

Avenue Q by Robert Lopez, Jeff Marx and Jeff Whitty (Lower Ossington Theatre). A college grad moves to NYC and copes with grown-up problems in this adult musical puppet play. Opens Jun 26 and runs to Aug 3, see website for schedule. $49-$59. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.

Company by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth (Theatre 20). A series of vignettes tell the story of a man unable to commit, his three girlfriends and the married couples who are his friends. Previews Jun 21-25. Opens Jun 26 and runs to Jul 13, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Wed 1:30 pm, Sat-Sun 2 pm. $30-$89. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley. 416-368-3110, theatre20.com.

Hedwig And The Angry Inch by John Cameron Mitchell (Lower Ossington Theatre). An East German transgender rocker moves to America to start a band and find love. Opens Jun 26 and runs to Jul 12, see website for schedule. $50. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.

Sixteen Scandals Second City presents its spring revue about our unhealthy fascination with political train wrecks, media fiascos and red-carpet meltdowns. Mar 6-Aug 10, Tue-Thu 8 pm, Fri-Sat 7:30 & 10 pm, Sun 7:30 pm. $25-$29, stu $16-$18. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.

**Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose (Soulpepper). Jurors argue over the case of a young man accused of killing his father in a capital murder case. Previews Jun 11-16. Opens Jun 17 and runs to Jul 19, Tue-Sat 8 pm, see website for mats. $29-$74, rush $5-$23. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

 

And the rest…

200% Vodka The Social Capital presents a weekly show by the Black Swan Comedy Rep Company. Mon 8 pm. Pwyc.Black Swan, 2nd floor, 154 Danforth. 416-903-5388, blackswancomedy.com.

A Nurse’s Worst Nightmare Comedy Bar presents a solo show in the making by Zabrinna Chevannes, also w/ Paul Hutcheson, Sandra Battaglini and Morgan Jones Phillips. Jul 6 7 pm. $10. 945 Bloor W. 416-551-6540, comedybar.ca.

Big Bad Wolf (Vs Lord Underwearface Von Schtinker) Second City presents a family musical that takes a new look at a fairy-tale character. Opens Jul 2 and runs to Aug 28, Wed-Thu 1 pm. $14, family 4-pack $45. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.

**Borne by Judith Thompson and the ensemble (RARE Theatre Company/Soulpepper). Nine performers who use wheelchairs tell their own stories and blow up myths about living with a disability. Opens Jun 27 and runs to Jul 19, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $49, stu $25. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

Canada Day Extravaganza Harbourfront Centre presents the Common Steps Dance Battle, featuring different types of street dance, swing dance performances and dance lessons and workshops. Jun 27-Jul 1, see website for schedule. Free. 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.

From The Handbook coexisDance presents three remounted works and two new works alongside spoken poetry and music. Jul 5 at 8 pm. $10. Majlis Art Garden, 163 Walnut. coexisdance.wordpress.com.

Holodeck Follies The Dandies present the monthly improvised Star Trek variety show w/ Debs & Errol, the Rocket Scientists and Garrett Jamieson. Opens Jul 2 8 pm. $8. Black Swan, Social Capital, 154 Danforth.

I’m Dying Bud: A Legitimate Piece of Canadian Friggin’ Theatre by Donald Kehoe and Bryn Pottie (Express Lane Theatrics). This comedy explores life and death in small-town Ontario. Jun 29-30, Sun-Mon 8 pm, mat Sun 3 pm. $5/pwyc. The Box, 89 Niagara. brownpapertickets.com/event/713674.

Moon Over Buffalo by Ken Ludwig (Scarborough Theatre Guild). A theatre troupe wants to impress a Hollywood director but their interpersonal conflicts get in the way in this comedy. Opens Jun 26 and runs to Jul 12, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Jul 6 and 12 at 2 pm. $20, stu/srs $17. Scarborough Village Theatre, 3600 Kingston. 416-267-9292, theatrescarborough.com.

PS: We Are All Here Toronto Dance Community Love-In presents experimental contemporary dance by Meryem Alaoui, Valerie Calam, Amelia Ehrhardt, Sonya Stefan, Pamela Tzeng and others. Opens Jul 4 and runs to Jul 11, Thu-Sat 8 pm. $15, series pass $50. Pia Bouman School for Ballet, Studio Theatre, 6 Noble. tolovein.com.

Reveal Me Burlesque (Red Herring Burlesque). Virgin vixens and professional peelers put on a show. Jul 2, doors 8 pm. $10. Rivoli, 332 Queen W. aprofessionaldistraction.com.

Scott Thompson Puff Mama presents the actor/comic in a live show. Jul 4-5, Fri-Sat 9 pm. $20. Underground Cafe, 670 Queen E. ticketfly.com.

**Shakespeare In High Park: As You Like It (Canadian Stage/York University Dept of Theatre). The classic comedy is performed outdoors on alternating nights with Titus Andronicus. Previews Jun 26-Jul 1. Opens Jul 3 and runs to Aug 30, Thu, Sat and Tue 8 pm. Pwyc ($20 sugg). High Park Amphitheatre, 1873 Bloor W. canadianstage.com.

**Shakespeare In High Park: Titus Andronicus (Canadian Stage/York University Dept of Theatre). The tragedy is performed outdoors on alternating nights with As You Like It. Previews Jun 27-Jul 2. Opens Jul 4 and runs to Aug 31, Fri, Sun and Wed 8 pm. Pwyc ($20 sugg). High Park Amphitheatre, 1873 Bloor W. canadianstage.com.

Singular Sensation: A Music Theatre Open Mic (Jennifer Walls). Sing showtunes with a live band and see previews of upcoming works at this weekly show. Mar 17-Jun 30, Mon 10 pm. Free. Statler’s, 487 Church. 416-922-0487.

South Asia Calling Harbourfront Centre presents a cultural festival including bharatanatyam and kathak workshops, performances by Menaka Thakkar Dance Company, dance films and more. Jul 4-6, see website for schedule. Free. 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.

Spamalot by Eric Idle, John Du Prez and Neil Innes (Lower Ossington Theatre). The Monty Python-based musical retells the story of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Opens Jun 19 and runs to Aug 3, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm, Sun 4 pm. $49-$59. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.

Sunday Night Live The Sketchersons present a weekly sketch and live music show. Sun 9 pm. $10. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. comedybar.ca.

Terrific Women The Ossington presents comedy styled as a 70s cable access show w/ Elvira Kurt, the Sufferettes, Danz Altvater, Merv Hartlen and hosts Steph Kaliner & Sara Hennessey. Jul 1 9 pm. Pwyc. 61 Ossington. theossington.com.

The Best Of The Second City presents classic and original sketch and improvisation. Mon 8 pm. $14. Second City, 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.

The Bull and The Rose Flamenco Juerga Toronto presents a show exploring the contrasts of love and individuality through Andalusian music and dance featuring Virginia Castro Durán. Jul 2 at 7:30 pm. $20, stu $15. Red Sandcastle Theatre, 922 Queen E. 416-845-9411, redsandcastletheatre.com.

**Toronto Fringe Festival (Fringe Toronto). The fest offers more than 140 shows featuring plays, dance, comedy and kids’ shows, plus art, music and multidisciplinary events. See nowtoronto.com/fringe for listings and reviews. Opens Jul 2 and runs to Jul 13, various venues, dates and times, see website for details. $10 (adv $12), FringeKids plays $5 for kids; passes $45-$85. 416-966-1062, fringetoronto.com.

Trying Something New This performance art showcase features Basil AlZeri, Lo Bill, Simla Civelek, Francesco Gagliardi and Claude Wittmann. Jul 5 at 8 pm. Pwyc. Artscape Youngplace, 180 Shaw. 416-530-2787, artscapeyoungplace.ca.

 

Play listings based on NOW! stage listings.