Shows That Caught Our Eye in Toronto the Week of May 22nd, 2017

On Toronto stages this week a “powerful mosaic” dedicated to Black women continues, some Bad Jews gather in battle, and office drama comes to life. Plus, of course (this is Toronto, after all), so much more. Here to pick out a few promising shows in red is our managing editor Wayne. Check them out below the cut:

Already Reviewed by Mooney on Theatre:

for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf. Soulpepper Theatre presents a play by Ntozake Shange. Through music, poetry and dance, seven women weave their stories of love, heartache, violence and joy into a powerful mosaic of the experiences of African-American women. Previews May 5, opens May 6 and runs to Jun 3, see website for times. $32-$89. At The Young Centre for the Performing Arts. Show Info.

Strictly Ballroom The Musical by Baz Luhrmann and Craig Pierce (Mirvish). A dancer defies all the rules and follows his heart to find his true calling and true love. Opens Apr 26 and runs to Jun 25, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Wed, Sat & Sun 2 pm. $31.25-$139. At The Princess of Wales Theatre. Show Info.

The Boy in the Moon by Emil Sher (Crow’s Theatre). Based on Ian Brown’s memoir, this play tells the story of a couple raising a child with profound disabilities. Previews from May 8, opens May 12 and runs to May 27, Mon-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $20-$40. At The Streetcar Crownsnest. Show Info.

Onegin by Amiel Gladstone and Veda Hille (The Musical Stage Company/National Arts Centre). High-energy indie rock adaptation of Pushkin’s poem and Tchaikovsky’s opera. Previews from May 13, opens May 17 and runs to Jun 4, Wed-Thu & Sat 8 pm (and some Tue), Fri & Sun 7 pm, mat Wed & Sun 1 pm. $35-$59. At The Berkeley Street Theatre. Show Info.

Caesar. Wolf Manor Theatre presents a remount of its reimagining of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. Five actors take on over 30 roles to put 33 wounds into one ruler in this reimagining of the Bard’s play. Opens May 17 and runs to May 28, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $15-$28. At Kensington Hall. Show Info.

Strangers, Babies by Linda McLean (Theatre PANIK). A woman who is haunted by a horrifying past decides to bring a baby into her life. Previews May 11, opens May 12 and runs to May 28, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $33-$39, stu $26. At Artscape Sandbox. Show Info.

Dom Juan by Molière (Théâtre français de Toronto). An unrepentant man with an insatiable libido goes up against moral norms in 17th-century France. Previews from May 10, opens May 12 and runs to May 28, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 3:30 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. Surtitled performances Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. $19-$49, Wed-Thu pwyc, Sat rush $20. At The Berkeley Street Theatre. Show Info.

And the rest:

Bad Jews by Joshua Harmon (Koffler Centre of the Arts). After the death of their grandfather, three twentysomething cousins gather in a tiny Manhattan apartment and fight over a precious family heirloom. Previews May 25, opens May 26 and runs to Jun 4, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $25-$30. Small World Music Centre. Show Info.

Anything Goes by Cole Porter, Howard Lindsay, Russel Crouse (Mainstage Theatre Company). A stowaway and a nightclub singer get in trouble aboard an ocean liner in this musical. May 25-28, Thu-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 1:30 pm. $35, stu $20. At Theatre Passe Muraille. Show Info.

Office Hours by Norm Foster (East Side Players). This play intertwines the lives of the employees of six different offices on a Friday afternoon. Opens May 26 and runs to Jun 10, Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $24, stu $17. At The Papermill Theatre. Show Info.

Porgy & Bess In Concert. Soulpepper Theatre Concert Series presents the songs of the Gershwin opera brought to life in a concert featuring jazz, blues and gospel singers Jackie Richardson, Alana Bridgewater, Thom Allison, Troy Adams and others. Opens May 27 and runs to Jun 3: May 27, 30, Jun 1-2 at 7:30 pm; mat May 27 & Jun 3 at 1:30 pm. $25-$69, artsworker & StagePlay (Under 30) $20.At The Young Centre for the Performing Arts. Show Info.

The Last Curlew by Tom Allen (Bird Studies Canada). Music, story-telling and dance are used to tell the story of the final migration of the last (now extinct) Eskimo Curlew. The piece was inspired by the environmental novel by the Canadian naturalist Fred Bodsworth. May 27 at 3 pm. Free. At Ukrainian Orthodox Church of St. Demetrius. Show Info.

Death of an Artist. Mortar & Pestle Production presents a company fundraise featuring an original play by Kiel Frank, dinner and drinks, silent auction, raffle, door prizes and more. May 27 at 7 pm. $40. Gerard Art Space. Show Info.

The Year of the Suddenly. Deborah Kimmett performs her part stand-up, part eulogy solo show about sibling love. May 27-28, Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 1:30 pm. $25 (all proceeds benefit Kensington Hospice). At The John Candy Box Theatre. Show Info.

Soulo Theatre Festival. Celebrating creations by solo performers, with works by Savoy Howe, Nicolle Nattrass, Marina Gwynne, Sage Tyrtle, Martha Chavez, Amir Fattal, Magdelana Borkowski and others, plus panels and workshops. May 25-28, see website for schedule. $15-$30, passes $65-$200. At The Red Sandcastle Theatre. Show Info.

I Did It My Way (In Yiddish) by Deb Filler (Smouldering Masterpiece Productions). Filler performs songs and stories about meeting Leonard Cohen and other tales from her life. Opens May 23 and runs to May 28, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 3 pm. $40, srs $30 (Sat matinee only), stu/arts workers $25. At Factory Theatre. Show Info.

Oksana G. by Aaron Gervais and Colleen Murphy (Tapestry Opera). A young Ukrainian woman escapes to Italy after being lured into the world of sex trafficking. Opens May 24 and runs to May 30, Wed, Fri and Tue 8 pm, Sun 3 pm. $50-$75. The Joey and Toby Tanenbaum Opera Centre. Show Info.

Paprika Festival. New plays, dance performances, workshop productions, experimental art and more by young artists and companies including the AMY Project, Celia Green, Jimmy Zhao and others. Opens May 22 and runs to May 28, see website for schedule. $10, staged readings free. In the Aki Studio. Tickets available online. Show Info.

Jazz Singer by Samson Raphaelson, music adapted by Michael Ross Albert (Harold Green Jewish Theatre/Dancap Productions). Against his father’s wishes, the son of a Jewish cantor longs to be a jazz performer in this musical adaptation of the 1925 play. Previews from May 23, opens May 29 and runs to Jun 18, Tue-Thu & Sat 8 pm, Sun 7 pm, mat Wed 1 pm, Sun 2 pm. $45-$80. At The Toronto Centre for the Arts. Show Info.

Anything to Declare? by Maurice Hennequin and Pierre Veber (Stage Centre Productions). Two families fret over an unconsummated marriage in 1912 Paris in this classic mistaken identities farce. Opens May 18 and runs to May 27, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat May 21 and 27 at 2 pm. $30, stu/srs $25. At Fairview Library. Show Info.

Pirate Life Children’s Theatre. Kids can dress in costume, get face paint tattoos and help discover the mystery of the treasure map in this interactive theatrical show/boat cruise. Opens May 6 and runs to Oct 8, Sat-Sun until Jun 25, daily Jun 26-Sep 4, weekends to Oct 9. Various times from 10:30 am-5 pm. $25. At Island Rogue. Show Info.

Listings based primarily on NOW! Stage Listings.