Playlistings in Toronto for the week of February 13th

Shows That Caught Our Eye in Toronto the Week of February 13th

Hello loves! This week’s listings — appropriately for Valentine’s Week — feature tales of historical romance, parodies of fairytale romances, and of course a bit of burlesque! Toronto has an almost endless selection of shows this week, and to help you in your decision-making is our publisher Megan. She’s chosen a fews shows that caught her eye in red text. Check them out below the cut:

Already Reviewed by Mooney on Theatre:

Kim’s Convenience by Ins Choi (Soulpepper). The popular play about a Korean family in Regent Park struggling with their past returns to the stage. Previews Feb 8, opens Feb 9 and runs to March 4 see website for times. $32-$89. At The Young Centre for the Performing Arts. Show Info.

James and the Giant Peach by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul and Timothy Allen McDonald (Young People’s Theatre). An orphan finds adventures in a magical fruit in this musical based on the Roald Dahl book. Previews from Feb 6, opens Feb 9 and runs to Mar 18, see website for schedule. $10-$41. At Young People’s Theatre. Show Info.

The Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare (Groundling Theatre). The King of Sicilia descends into a world of jealousy, murder and conspiracy. Previews Jan 17-19, opens Jan 20 and runs to Feb 19, see website for schedule (runs in rep with Measure For Measure). $29-$79. At The Winter Garden Theatre. Show Info.

The Magic Flute by WA Mozart (Canadian Opera Company). The classic opera offers a both comic and profound exploration of the trials of growing up, seeking ideals and finding love. Opens Jan 19 and runs to Feb 24, see website for schedule. $35-$235 (box seats $350). At the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Show Info.

The Audience by Peter Morgan (Mirvish/Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre). This play imagines the meetings between Queen Elizabeth II and various British prime ministers over the course of 60 years. Opens Jan 17 and runs to Feb 26, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Wed, Sat-Sun 2 pm. $35-$119. At The Royal Alexandra Theatre. Show Info.

Götterdämmerung by Richard Wagner (Canadian Opera Company). Deceit, betrayal and revenge drive the drama in this conclusion of the Ring cycle operas. Opens Feb 2 and runs to Feb 25, see website for schedule. $35-$235 (box seats $350). At Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Show Info.

John by Annie Baker (The Company Theatre). A young couple struggling to stay together meet a cheerful innkeeper. Previews Jan 29, opens Jan 31 and runs to Feb 19, see website for schedule. $20-$47. At Berkeley Street Theatre. Show Info.

Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare (Groundling Theatre). The classic tale is staged in a gender-twist production. Previews Jan 24, 25 and 27, opens Jan 28 and runs to Feb 19, see website for schedule (runs in rep with The Winter’s Tale). $29-$79. At The Winter Garden Theatre. Show Info.

In On It by Daniel MacIvor (emerGENce Theatre). A dying man tries to plan for the end, a pair of lovers try to make it work and two men try to write one play in this set of intertwined stories. Opens Feb 8 and runs to Feb 12, Wed-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $17-$22. At Theatre Passe Muraille. Show Info.

How Black Mothers Say I Love You by Trey Anthony (Trey Anthony/Girls in Bow Ties). This drama looks at Caribbean mothers who make the hard choice to leave children behind and go to work in Canada. Previews from Feb 4, opens Feb 9 and runs to Mar 5, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $25-$55. At Factory Theatre. Show Info.

Superior Donuts by Tracy Letts (Coal Mine Theatre). A donut shop owner and his young employee swap jokes and social commentary as they navigate their cross-racial, cross-generational friendship in the Uptown neighbourhood of Chicago. Previews from Feb 5, opens Feb 8 and runs to Feb 26, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 2 pm. $35, preview/rush $25. At The Coal Mine Theatre. Show Info.

And the rest:

One Step at a Time. Andrew Prashad presents his original show using monologues, original songs and tap dance to share his family’s story of caring for a son with Spina Bifida, raising two daughters and maintaining a career as a performing artist. Feb 18 at 7 pm. $25-$30 (proceeds to Sick Kids Fdn & Erin Oak Kids). At Randolph Theatre. Show Info.

Breath in Between by Anton Piatigorsky (Crow’s Theatre). Surreal love story about the murderer of two willing victims (who respond to his web ad) and the woman he meets soon afterwards. Previews from Feb 18, opens Feb 22 and runs to Mar 11, Mon-Sat 8:30 pm, mat Sat 2:30 pm. $20-$40. Streetcar Crownsnest. Show Info.

What A Dream It Was. Presented by Ahuri Theatre and the Bottom’s Dream Collective. The audience is invited to participate in artistic activities including music, visual art, live performance and sensory experiences in this interactive theatrical playground inspired by Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Feb 17-19, Fri-Sun 10 am-noon and 2-4 pm. Pwyc at the door; $25, youth $15 reserved. At Al Green Theatre. Show Info.

The Night Joe Dolan’s Car Broke Down by Padraic McIntyre (Toronto Irish Players) On a stormy night, a singer makes a surprise visit to a rural Irish pub. Previews Feb 16, opens Feb 17 and runs to Mar 4, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Feb 19 at 2 pm. $25, stu/srs $22; gala opening night reception and play $50, preview pwyc ($10 min). At Alumnae Theatre. Show Info.

John & Waleed by John Millard and Waleed Abdulhamid (TPM/Cahoots Theatre). This documentary-style concert/storytelling hybrid show explores how musical traditions from the opposite ends of the earth reveal more likeness than differences. Previews on Feb 16, opens Feb 17 and runs to Mar 5, Thu-Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 2 pm. $17-$38, mat pwyc at the door. At Theatre Passe Muraille. Show Info.

Deceitful Above All Things by Genevieve Adam (The Storefront Theatre/Favour The Brave Collective). Two women fight to carve out a play for themselves in the untamed wilderness of 17th-century Quebec in this historical romance. Opens Feb 16 and runs to Feb 26, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $25, stu/srs/arts workers $15, Sat mat pwyc. At Factory Theatre Studio. Show Info.

The Big ‘What Now?’ by Sandra Shamas (Everything But the Kitchens Inc). Comic artist Shamas performs a solo show about her personal exploration of life after age 50. Opens Jan 25 and runs to Feb 5, Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm; and Feb 15-19, Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $45-$55. At Fleck Dance Theatre. Show Info.

City Stories. (Spacing Magazine Radio/Pressgang Theatre). Writers and performers tell their best city story for a live podcast taping, including Kye Fox, DM St. Bernard, Amy Cunningham, Shawn Hogan and others. Co-hosted by Spacing Radio’s Glyn Bowerman and Pressgang Theatre’s Graham Isador. Feb 15 at 8 pm. $10. At The Garrison. Show Info.

Lost & Found (Gambler Productions). Showcase of solo theatre pieces by Michael Lewis MacLennan, Jen Farr, John Rowntree and Francis Masaba. Opens Feb 15 and runs to Feb 19, Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $20, stu $15. At Red Sandcastle Theatre. Show Info.

Rhubarb Festival. Buddies presents the 38th edition of the new works and experimentation festival featuring theatre, dance, music and performance art. Highlights include The Rhubarb Haunted House performance installation, sketch comedy by Manifest Destiny’s Child, short works by local Black playwrights and more. Feb 15-26, see website for schedule. Wed-Sat $20 evening/day pass, Emerging Creators Unit Presentations pwyc. At Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Show Info.

Scenes From a Tree by Nathalie Derome, Amélie Dumoulin and Karine Sauvé (Young People’s Theatre/Des mots d’la dynamite). Play designed for tots aged 18 months to 4 years about growing up and putting down roots. Opens Feb 15 and runs to Feb 26, see website for schedule. $19-$24. At Young People’s Theatre. Show Info.

The Valentine’s Rag Bag Cabaret. Crowning Monkey presents comedy, burlesque, circus, magic and more with singer/songwriter Oh Susanna, Carla Collins, burlesque performers Rhapsody Blue and El Toro, illusionist Keith Brown and others. 8 pm. $30, adv $25. A portion of the proceeds will go to deserving charitable projects in Kenya. At The Village Healing Centre. Show Info.

Voulez-Vous Valentine: The Nude Wave Of Burlesque. Skin Tight Outta Sight/Boylesque TO present a burlesque revue that nods at French New Wave cinema. Live music by Big Rude Jake and performances by Tanya Cheex, Sauci Calla Horra, Honey B Hind, CoCo LaCreme and others. Feb 14 at 7:45 pm (doors 6 pm). $25-$35, VIP $60 includes refreshments. At Revival. Show Info.

Disenchanted by Dennis Giacino (Starvox Entertainment). Snow White, Cinderella and other storybook princesses go rogue and say what they really think about how they’ve been portrayed in this subversive musical. Feb 14 at 7 and 9:30 pm. $35-$100, available at ticketfly.com. At The Great Hall. Show Info.

Five Faces for Evelyn Frost by Guillaume Corbeil (Canadian Stage/Théâtre français de Toronto). Five friends vie to increase their online status by revealing their innermost secrets on the internet. Previews from Feb 14, opens Feb 16 and runs to Mar 5 (in English. Also runs Mar 21-25 in French w/ English surtitles) Tue-Thu & Sat 8 pm, Fri 7 pm, mat Sat-Sun 1 pm. $39-$69, under 30 from $15, Tue pwyc. At Berkeley Street Theatre. Show Info.

Cabaret. Mirvish presents Roundabout Theatre Company’s production of the musical by John Kander, Fred Ebb and Joe Masteroff. An American writer falls for a nightclub singer in Nazi-era Berlin in this musical. Opens Feb 14 and runs to Feb 19, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Wed, Sat-Sun 2 pm. $38-$150. At Princess of Wales Theatre. Show Info.

My Night With Reg. Mirvish presents Studio 180 Theatre’s production of a play by Kevin Elyot. In the summer of 1985, old friends and new ones gather at a party that will change their world forever. Opens Feb 10 and runs to Feb 26, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun (and Feb 22) 2 pm. $39-$92. At Panasonic Theatre. Show Info.

The Bodyguard by Alexander Dinelaris, music by Whitney Houston (Mirvish). A former secret service agent fall for the pop star he’s hired to protect in this musical based on the 1992 film that starred Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner. Opens Feb 11 and runs to Apr 9, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Wed, Sat-Sun 2 pm. $38-$139. At Ed Mirvish Theatre. Show Info.

Peace by Velina Hasu Houston (Ryerson School of Performance). Two nations on the brink of war hope to live in peace – something that each side defines in its own way – in this adaptation of Aristophanes’ comedy. Feb 10-15, Mon-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $20, stu/srs $15. Ryerson Theatre. Show Info.

Peace River Country by Maria Milisavljevic (Tarragon). The health, land and way of life of a close-knit rural family becomes increasingly threatened by big corporations and government. Previews from Feb 7, opens Feb 15 and runs to Mar 19, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2:30 pm. $22-$65. At Tarragon Theatre. Show Info.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream / As You Like It by William Shakespeare (George Brown Theatre). Two romantic comedies about young lovers are performed in rep. Opens Feb 8 and runs to Feb 18, see website for times. $20, srs $15, stu/child $8. At Young Centre for the Performing Arts. Show Info.

Mary Poppins by Richard Sherman, Robert Sherman and Julian Fellowes (LOT). This musical is based on the PL Travers book and the 1964 film. Opens Feb 10 and runs to Apr 2, Fri-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat 3:30 pm, Sun noon & 4 pm. $55-$65. At The Lower Ossington Theatre. Show Info.

Thank You For Being A Friend: The Ultimate Golden Girls Experience. Joseph Patrick presents an evening of laughter, taboo-pushing dialogue, put-downs and familiar friends as Miami’s most famous retirees – Dorothy, Sophia, Rose and Blanche of TV’s Golden Girls sitcom – reunite in puppet form in this comedic live tribute show. Opens Feb 10 and runs to Mar 5, Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 3:30 pm. $70-$80. At The Toronto Centre for the Arts. Show Info.

Listings based primarily on NOW! Stage Listings

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