Shows That Caught Our Eye in Toronto the Week of March 27th, 2017

Toronto’s stage offerings this week include Jewish thugs, a Superwoman, Barbra Streisand, improvised musicals, and people trapped inside a snowglobe. With so many unique choices, it might be hard to find time to see all of the shows that appeal to you! To help you in your decision-making is our editor Samantha, highlighting her most anticipated shows in red text. Check them out below the cut:

Already Reviewed by Mooney on Theatre:

Sousatzka by Craig Lucas, Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire, based on the novel Madame Sousatzka by Bernice Rubens (Teatro Proscenium/Garth Drabinsky). A young musical prodigy is torn between his mother – a political refugee from South Africa – and his eccentric piano teacher in this musical drama that crosses racial and cultural divides. Previews from Feb 25, opens Mar 23 and runs to. Apr 9, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Wed, Sat-Sun 2 pm. $60-$175. At Elgin Theatre. Show Info.

The Orange Dot by Sean Dixon (Theatrefront). Two city workers deal with boredom and existential dread while waiting to remove a blighted tree in this blend of absurdity and realism that delves into the dynamics of power, the nature of partnerships and the modern human condition. Previews Mar 16, opens Mar 17 and runs to Apr 1, Mon-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $20-$35. At The Streetcar Crownsnest. Show Info.

The Millennial Malcontent. Tarragon Theatre presents the world premiere of a new play by Erin Shields An unhappily married couple struggle in this exploration of the social posing, sexual frankness and emotional minefield of the Millennial generation. Previews from Feb 28, opens Mar 8 and runs to Apr 9. Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2:30 pm. $22-$65. At Tarragon Theatre. Show Info.

Stupidhead! by Katherine Cullen and Britta Johnson (TPM). Part stand-up, part musical comedy show about how being a human being is embarrassing. Previews from Mar 16, opens Mar 21 and runs to Apr 2, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm (no matinee on Mar 18). $17-$38, mat pwyc at the door. At Theatre Passe Muraille. 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.

A City. Necessary Angel presents a new play by Greg MacArthur, directed by Jennifer Tarver. This living diorama/tableaux vivant looks at four artists/friends who tell the story of a friend who died under mysterious circumstances, and how his death, and his life, transformed them. Previews Mar 14-15, opens Mar 16 and runs to Apr 1, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $35-$40, stu/srs $20-$25. At Artscape Sandbox. Show Info.

And the rest:

Little Pretty and The Exceptional. by Anusree Roy (Factory Theatre). Two sisters and their father prepare to open a new sari shop on Gerrard Street and try to overcome demons of their past in this exploration of family ties and mental health issues in the South Asian community. Previews from Apr 1, opens Apr 6 and runs to Apr 30, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $25-$55, previews $2-$15. At Factory Theatre. Show Info.

Any Dream Will Do: The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Angelwalk Theatre presents a showcase of story and song featuring musical theatre performers from Stratford, Toronto and Broadway. Mar 30-Apr 1,Thu-Sat 8 pm. $25-$49. At The Toronto Centre for the Arts. Show Info.

Tough Jews by Michael Albert Ross (The Storefront Theatre/The Spadina Avenue Gang). A murder in Prohibition-era Kensington Market thrusts a family of would-be criminals into the high-stakes world of American organized crime. Opens Mar 31 and runs to Apr 16, Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm (and Apr 8 & 15). $20-$25. At Kensington Hall. Show Info.

Spoon River. Soulpepper presents a theatrical work adapted by Mike Ross and Albert Schultz. A forgotten town comes back to life in this show inspired by Edgar Lee Masters’s 1915 poetry collection. Opens Mar 31 and runs to Apr 15, see website for schedule. $32-$96. At The Young Centre for the Performing Arts. Show Info.

The Return of Superlady by Katie Ford (SOULO Theatre). A woman deals with her combination of superhuman strength and human weaknesses in this dark comedy. Opens Mar 29 and runs to Apr 2, Wed-Sat 9 pm, Sun 4 & 8 pm. $15. At Red Sandcastle Theatre. Show Info.

Simply Barbra. The Civic Light-Opera Co. presents a Barbra Streisand tribute show created and performed by Steven Brinberg. Opens Mar 29 and runs to Apr 9, Wed 7 pm, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 2 pm (and Apr 8). $28. At The Zion Cultural Centre. Show Info.

Jack Charles V The Crown by Jack Charles and John Romeril (Canadian Stage). The Aboriginal theatre artist sings and tells his story of art, addiction, crime and doing time in this solo show. Opens Mar 29 and runs to Apr 8, Tue-Thu & Sat 8 pm, Fri 7 pm, mat Sun 1 pm. $39-$69. At Berkeley Street Theatre. Show Info.

Kiss. by Guillermo Calderón (Theatre Smash/Arc Production/Canadian Stage). Two couples meet for dinner to take their minds off the war around them. Previews from Mar 28, opens Mar 30 and runs to Apr 16, Tue-Thu & Sat 8 pm, Fri 7 pm, mat Wed, Sat-Sun 1 pm. $39-$69. At Berkeley Street Theatre. Show Info.

The Emancipation of Ms. Lovely by Ngozi Paul (Emancipation Arts/Crow’s Theatre). A Black woman awakens to her sexual identity as mirrored through popular culture. Previews from Mar 28, opens Mar 30 and runs to Apr 8, Mon-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $TBA. At Streetcar Crownsnest. Show Info.

A Mickey Full Of Mouse. By DJ Wightman. Two friends are trapped in a snow globe and must relive a disastrous family trip that exposes the darkest of family secrets. Opens Mar 25 and runs to Apr 8, Sat 8 pm (and Apr 7), Sun 2 pm. $20. At Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Show Info.

Our Town by Thornton Wilder (Theatre Rusticle). A stage manager paints a portrait of life in a small American town around 1900. Previews Mar 26 (2:30 pm), opens Mar 28 and runs to Apr 2, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2:30 pm. Pwyc-$28. At Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Show Info.

Confidential Musical Theatre Project. (Marion Abbott Productions). Actors perform a musical in its entirety, having met just one hour before with no rehearsals; the audience shows up not knowing what they will see. Mar 27 at 7:30 pm. $10-$30. At The LOT. Show Info.

Our Town by Thornton Wilder (Theatre Rusticle). A stage manager paints a portrait of life in a small American town around 1900. Previews Mar 26 (2:30 pm), opens Mar 28 and runs to Apr 2, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2:30 pm. Pwyc-$28. At Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Show Info.

Butcher by Nicolas Billon (Why Not Theatre). Stage thriller where an old man is dropped off at a police station wearing a foreign military uniform and Santa hat, with a meat hook around his neck. As a lawyer, a police officer, and a translator struggle to unravel the truth, they uncover a past that won’t stay buried, and a decades old quest for justice that must be served. Haunted by events a world away, no one is who they seem to be. Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun and Mar 29, 2 pm. $39-$92. At The Panasonic Theatre. Show Info.

Little Shop of Horrors. by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (LOT). A flower shop clerk raises a plant that feeds on human blood in this musical. Opens Mar 24 and runs to May 14, Fri-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat 3:30 pm, Sun 4 pm. $55-$65. At The Lower Ossington Theatre. Show Info.

S h e e t s. Veritas Theatre presents S h e e t s. by Salvatore Antonio. Through a series of dovetailing scenes set in a single hotel room, S h e e t s. explores the theme of intimacy in its many forms through the experiences of various inhabitants. Previews Mar 24-26, opens Mar 28, and runs to Apr 9, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 2 pm (and Saturday Apr 1 & 8). $30-$35. At The Theatre Centre. Show Info.

Crawlspace. Soulpepper Theatre presents a solo show by Karen Hines. A perfect little coach house turns into a real life nightmare in Karen Hines’ comic, Kafkaesque tale about the darker side of home ownership. Inspired by true events, Crawlspace moves past “cautionary” as it snakes through the brutal battleground of Toronto real estate, decorative twig orbs and the transcendence of the human soul. Previews from Mar 23, opens Mar 28 and runs to Apr 15, see website for schedule. $25-$50. At The Young Centre for the Performing Arts. Show Info. 

Boys With Cars. Written, choreographed and performed by Anita Majumdar (YPT). Solo theatre and classical Indian dance are used to explore issues around unchecked male privilege, female empowerment and what constitutes consent. Opens Mar 23 and runs to Apr 1, see website for times. $10-$24. At Young People’s Theatre. Show Info.

Mrs. Henderson Presents by Terry Johnson and Don Black (Mirvish). An eccentric UK socialite invests in and transforms London’s Windmill Theatre in 1937 in this biographical musical based on the 2005 screenplay by Martin Sherman. Opens Mar 15 and runs to Apr 23, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mats Wed, Sat-Sun 2 pm. $38-$139. At Royal Alexandra Theatre. Show Info.

The Book of Mormon by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone (Mirvish). Two naive missionaries go to a volatile region in Uganda in this religious satire musical. Opens Feb 28 and runs to Apr 16, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 7:30 pm, mat Sat 2 pm, Sun 1:30 pm. $49-$139. At The Princess of Wales 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.

Listings based primarily on NOW! Stage Listings.