Shows That Caught Our Eye in Toronto the Week of December 4th, 2017

With the holiday season approaching, what better time to give the gift of entertainment to a loved one? Toronto audiences are spoiled for choices this week, with several new shows premiering on our stages. Our assistant editor Jess is here to choose her most anticipated shows (in red). Check them out below the cut:

Already reviewed by Mooney on theatre:

Bat out of Hell The Musical. Mirvish presents the rock ‘n’ roll musical by Jim Steinman (producers: David Sonenberg, Michael Cohl, Randy Lennox and Tony Smith). A young rebel falls in love with the daughter of a powerful man in a post-apocalyptic world in this rock ‘n’ roll musical. Previews from Oct 14, opens Oct 25 and runs to Dec 24, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Wed 1:30 pm, Sat-Sun 2 pm. $29-$139. At Ed Mirvish Theatre. Show Info

Beauty and the Beast. Young People’s Theatre’s Production of Disney’s Beauty And The Beast. Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Howard Ashman & Tim Rice, Book by Linda Woolverton. The musical based on the Disney film about hope and being your authentic self  is brought to the stage. For ages 5 and up. Previews from Nov 6, opens Nov 9 and runs to Dec 31, see website for schedule. $10-$49. At Young People’s Theatre. Show Info.

Grease The Musical by Jim Jacob and Warren Casey (Irregular Entertainment). The original high-school musical set in the 1950s deals with themes of first love, friendship and themes of identity. Previews from Nov 1, opens Nov 9 and runs to Dec 10, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Wed, Sat-Sun 1:30 pm. $29-$159. At The Winter Garden Theatre. Show Info.

Marine Life by Rosa Laborde (Aluna Theatre/Tarragon). An ecological activist is caught between her own environmental extremism and falling in love with a man who has a secret dependency on plastic. Previews from Nov 8, opens Nov 16 and runs to Dec 17, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat & Sun 2:30 pm. $22-$60. Tarragon Theatre. Show Info.

Mr. Shi and his Lover by Wong Teng Chi and Njo Kong Kie (Macau Experimental Theatre/Music Picnic/Point of View Art Assoc). Chinese opera and vintage pop are used to tell the story of an espionage scandal in which a French diplomat falls in love with a mysterious opera singer. Previews from Nov 7, opens Nov 15 and runs to Dec 17, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat & Sun 2:30 pm. $22-$60. At Tarragon Theatre. Show Info.

A&R Angels by Kevin Drew (Crow’s Theatre). Two songwriting angels who write music to uplift people worry that they’ve lost the hitmaker’s touch in this rock fable. Broken Social Scene band member Drew stars in the play along with Billy Talent front man Ben Kowalewicz. Previews from Nov 20, opens Nov 23 and runs to Dec 9, Mon-Sat 8 pm, mat Wed & Sat 2 pm. $20-$50. At Streetcar Crowsnest. Show Info.

Unholy by Diane Flacks (Nightwood Theatre). Four women – a progressive Muslim lawyer, an Orthodox Jewish spiritual leader, an excommunicated nun and a lesbian atheist pundit – debate religion and misogyny. Previews from Nov 23, opens Nov 25 and runs to Dec 10 Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. $25-$35, Sun pwyc. At Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Show Info.

And everything else:

Les Zinspirés: six degrés de séparation. (Théâtre français de Toronto). Works by five young authors (Catalina Lu, Maxime Cardinal, Anca Maglaviceanu, Armando Muheto and Adèle Lukusa) that set out to bridge the gaps between us. In French, some shows w/ English subtitles. Opens Dec 1 and runs to Dec 9, see website for schedule. Pwyc-$26. At The Berkeley Street Theatre. Show Info.

It’s A Wonderful Life by Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Frank Capra and Jo Swerling (Scarborough Players). Stage adaptation of the quintessential holiday film about the love story between George and Mary Bailey, which takes a turn when George is trapped by distressing circumstances while trying to do the right thing. Clarence, an endearing angel who is earning his wings, comes to his aid. Opens Dec 1 and runs to Dec 16. Thu-Sat 8 pm (no evening show Dec 16), mat Dec 3, 10 & 16 at 2 pm. $24. At Scarborough Village Theatre. Show Info.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Joe Cascone and James P Doyle (The Civic Light-Opera Co.). Homage to L. Frank Baum’s original with nods to the Broadway musical, the MGM film and modern adaptations like The Wiz and Wicked. Opens Nov 29 and runs to Dec 10, Wed 7 pm, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 2 pm (and Dec 9). $28. At Zion Cultural Centre. Show Info.

Candide by Mark Ravenhill (George Brown College Theatre School). A relentless optimist faces a barrage of misfortune across different eras and parallel universes. Opens Feb 7 and runs to Feb 17, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat 1:30 pm (and Feb 14). $10-$25. tickets.youngcentre.ca. At The Young Centre for the Performing Arts. Show Info.

Charlie: Son of Man by Adrian Yearwood (Echo Productions). This play puts a modern twist on the events surrounding the rise and fall of murderer Charles Manson. Manipulation achieved by 60s sex and drugs is replaced with today’s drug of choice: smartphones. Opens Nov 30 and runs to Dec 9, Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. $25-$28. At Walmer Centre Theatre. Show Info.

Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax. Mirvish presents the musical based on the classic children’s book. Music and lyrics by Charlie Fink, adapted by David Grieg. The classic fable about greed, pollution and protecting the earth comes to life in a musical for ages 5 and up. Previews from Dec 9, opens Dec 17 and runs to Jan 21, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Wed, Sat-Sun 1:30 pm (and Dec 14 & 28). $59-$139. At The Royal Alexandra Theatre. Show info.

Munsch on the Moon. George Brown College Theatre School presents a children’s theatre show based on the stories of Robert Munsch. Dec 2 and 9, 10:30 am and 1 pm. $10-$25 at tickets.youngcentre.ca. At The Young Centre for the Performing Arts. Show Info.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (Soulpepper). Michael Shamata’s adaptation of the classic holiday ghost story gets a staging. Previews from Dec 7, opens Dec 10 and runs to Dec 24, see website for schedule. $35-$95. At The Young Centre for the Performing Arts. Show Info.

Peter Pan. Soulpepper and Bad Hats Theatre present a musical reimagining of JM Barrie’s classic tale, suitable for ages 3 and up. Previews from Dec 8, opens Dec 10 and runs to Dec 31, see website for schedule. $25-$45. At The Young Centre for the Performing Arts. Show Info.

The Hungriest Woman in the World by Shannon Bramer (Pencil Kit Productions). A woman inadvertently escapes from the loneliness of real life into a seductive world of theatre and art. Opens Dec 6 and runs to Dec 17, Wed-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $25, stu $17, mat $20 adv, pwyc at the door. Each performance of The Hungriest Woman In The World will be preceded by 10-minute play Paul And Petandra by Deanna Kruger. At Theatre Passe Muraille. Show Info.

Heisenberg by Simon Stephens (Canadian Stage). In a crowded London train station, an unexpected kiss drives life-changing events for two strangers. Previews from Nov 28, opens Nov 30 and runs to Dec 17, Tue-Thu and Sat 8 pm, Fri 7 pm, mat Wed, Sat-Sun 1 pm. $39-$69. At The Berkeley Street Theatre. Show Info.

Instant by Erin Shields (Young People’s Theatre/Geordie Productions). Three young people striving to be noticed find themselves in the midst of a social media controversy. For ages 12 & up. Opens Nov 28 and runs to Dec 15, see website for schedule. $19-$24. At Young People’s Theatre. Show Info.

Listings based primarily on NOW! Stage Listings.