Playlistings in Toronto for the week of February 12th

Shows That Caught Our Eye in Toronto the Week of February 12th, 2018

This week’s selections feature some racy Valentine’s Day shows for you and your sweetie. If you’re more of a revolutionary, check out one of the Black History Month appropriate shows. There is much to choose from, so here to help you chose is our Managing Editor Wayne, with a few of his top picks in red. Check them out below the cut:

Already reviewed by Mooney on theatre:

The Watah Theatre Double BillThe Watah Theatre presents a workshop staging of Once Upon A Black Boy by d’bi.young anitafrika and the world premiere of I Cannot Lose My Mind by Najla Nubyanluv. Opens Jan 30 and runs to Feb 17, Tue-Sat 8:30 pm, mat Sat 2:30 pm. $25-$30. At The Streetcar Crowsnest. Show Info.

Bang Bang by Kat Sandler (Factory Theatre). A white playwright uses the police shooting of an unarmed Black man as inspiration to write a hit play that draws interest for a movie deal. Previews from Jan 27 (Sat, Tue-Wed 8 pm, Sun 7 pm), opens Feb 1 and runs to Feb 18, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $30-$50, preview $20. At Factory Theatre. Show Info.

And everything else:

Black Men In Theatre. Piece of Mine Arts presents six new works by five bold artists. Theatre, dance, music and visual arts woven into stories by Troy Crossfield, Kobèna Aquaa-Harrison, Peter Bailey, Dennis Langley and Jonathan C Pearce. Feb 15-17, Thu-Sat 7:30 pm. $25, two-day pass $40. For more info visit: pieceofminearts.com. At The Fairview Library. Show Info.

Hairspray: The Broadway Musical. SMC Troubadours present the musical by Mark O’Donnell, Thomas Meehan, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. A quirky 60s teen becomes popular and looks to change the world. Feb 15-17, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $15, stu $10. At Hart house Theatre. Show Info.

Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth (The Company Theatre/Outside the March/Starvox). An aging daredevil fights the community council bent on bulldozing his land and putting up condos. Previews from Feb 13, opens Feb 15 and runs to Mar 10, Mon-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Wed & Sat 1:30 pm. $25-$60, at crowstheatre.com. At The Streetcar Crowsnest. Show Info.

Fierce by George F Walker (Criminal Girlfriends). Two women who share troubled pasts and a mutual distaste of politeness square off in this drama. Previews from Feb 15, opens Feb 17 and runs to Mar 3, Mon-Sat 8 pm. $15-$25, preview pwyc. At The Red Sandcastle Theatre. Show Info.

One Thing Leads To Another. Young People’s Theatre presents it’s popular show for babies, by by Maja Ardal, Audrey Dwyer, Mary Francis Moore and Julia Tribe. Young play-goers experience everyday objects being transformed into fabulous, theatrical phenomena. Recommended for ages 3-12 months but suitable for up to 24 months. Opens Feb 17 and runs to Mar 3, see website for times. $20, babies/youth 18 & under $5. At Young Person’s Theatre. Show Info.

Cottagers And Indians by Drew Hayden Taylor (Tarragon). Comedy/drama looking at conflicts between native traditional water usage and property owners in cottage country. Previews from Feb 13, opens Feb 21 and runs to Mar 25, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2:30 pm (see website for other mats). $20-$60. At Tarragon Theatre. Show Info.

Come From Away by Irene Sankoff and David Hein (Mirvish). Newfoundlanders open their homes to stranded passengers following the September 11 terrorist attacks. Previews from Feb 13, opens Feb 18 and runs to Sep 2, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Wed 1:30 pm, Sat-Sun 2 pm. $69 and up. At The Royal Alexandra Theatre. Show Info.

Veni Vidi Valentine. Skin Tight Outta Sight Rebel Burlesque and Boylesque TO present oiled up gladiators, vestal virgins and Bacchanalia in this burlesque revue set in ancient Rome. Feb 14 at 7:30 pm. $25-$130, at venividivalentine.eventbrite.ca. At Revival Bar. Show Info.

Rhubarb Festival. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre presents the 39th edition of Canada’s longest-running new works festival. Rhubarb transforms Buddies into a hotbed of experimentation, with artists exploring new possibilities in theatre, dance, music and performance art. Artists include Lois Weaver, Tamyka Bullen, Waawaate Fobister, lo bil, Kwaku Okyere, Monica Garrido, Pearle Harbour, Esie Mensah, LAL, Vivek Shraya and many others. Feb 14-25. Wed-Sun evening pass $20, Emerging Creators Unit Presentations are pwyc. At Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Show Info.

Dis Merci by Catherine Bourgeois (Volcano/Progress Festival). Four people planning a welcoming party for a refugee family quickly veer into prejudice, stereotypes and dysfunction in this dance-theatre piece. Feb 14-17, Wed-Thu & Sat 7 pm, Fri 8:30 pm. $25 (three-show Progress pass $60). At The Theatre Centre. Show Info.

Little Gem by Elaine Murphy (Toronto Irish Players). The story of a year in the lives of three women of three generations in one family. Previews Feb 15, opens Feb 16 and runs to Mar 3, Thu-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $23-$25, opening $50 (reception follows performance, preview $10 min. At Alumnae Theatre. Show Info.

The Rover by Aphra Behn (Ryerson School of Performance). A group of 17th-century Englishmen travel to hot foreign climes during carnival season looking for love and a good time. Opens Feb 9 and runs to Feb 14, Fri-Sat & Mon-Wed 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $20, stu/srs $15. At Ryerson Theatre. Show Info.

The Secret Garden. Young People’s Theatre presents a play by Paul Ledoux, adapted from the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Neglected in her uncle’s gloomy manor, a young girl finds takes refuge in a mysterious hidden garden. Previews from Feb 5, opens Feb 8 and runs to Mar 17, see website for schedule. $10-$45. Recommended for ages 6-12, runs approx. 85 minutes. At The Young People’s Theatre. Show Info.

Prohibition, A Concert. Soulpepper Theatre presents songs and stories of gangsters, flappers, booze and jazz in the “dry” days of the Roaring Twenties with Mike Ross. Feb 9-14, Fri, Mon & Wed at 7:30 pm, mat Sat & Wed 1:30 pm. $25 & up. At The Young Centre for the Performing Arts. Show Info.

Jewel by Joan MacLeod (Shotgun Juliet). A widow explores the strength of love and constraint of grief three years after her husband died on Valentine’s Day 1982, when the Ocean Ranger oil rig sank off the coast of Newfoundland. Opens Feb 7 and runs to Feb 14, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 2 pm. $20, stu/arts workers $15. At The Red Sandcastle Theatre. Show Info.

The Abduction From The Seraglio by WA Mozart (Canadian Opera Company). Cultures collide in Mozart’s singspiel about the story of European captives of a Muslim pasha in the Ottoman Empire. Sung in German w/ English surtitles. Opens Feb 7 and runs to Feb 24, see website for schedule. $22-$350.  At The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. 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 Performing Arts. Show Info.

Hang by debbie tucker green (Obsidian Theatre). This drama delves into the heart of a woman’s unthinkable decision. Directed by Philip Akin and choreographer Kimberley Rampersad. Previews from Feb 6, opens Feb 9 and runs to Feb 28, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $20-$35. At The Berkeley Street Theatre. Show Info.

Ipperwash by Falen Johnson (Native Earth Performing Arts/Blyth Festival). An Anishinaabe corporal visits Camp Ipperwash military base and sees how damage done by forced evictions in 1924 still reverberates through the communities. Previews from Feb 4, opens Feb 7 and runs to Feb 18, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $25, stu/srs $22, preview $15-$20. At Daniel’s Spectrum. Show Info.

Progress: International Festival of Performance and Ideas. SummerWorks and the Theatre Centre present progressive and transgressive performances, workshops and conversations. Works include MDLSX by Motus, minor matter by Ligia Lewis, Race Cards by Selina Thompson, LOST in TRANS by Dickie Beau and more. Feb 1-18, see website for schedule. $25, three-show pass $60. At The Theatre Centre. Festival Info.

Acha Bacha by Bilal Baig (Buddies in Bad Times/Theatre Passe Muraille). This play boldly explores the intersections between queerness, gender identity and Islamic culture in the Pakistani diaspora. Previews from Jan 30, opens Feb 6 and runs to Feb 18, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $17-$38 (weekend mats pwyc at the door; $22.50 in advance). At Theatre Passe Muraille. Show Info.

Rumours by Fleetwood Mac. Coal Mine Theatre presents a theatrical concert performance of the 1977 album. Conceived and guided by Ted Dykstra. Previews from Feb 4, opens Feb 7 and runs to Feb 25, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 2 pm. $42.50, preview $25. At The Coal Mine Theatre. Show Info.

Into The Woods by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine (Encores by Encore). Characters from fairy tales are shown what would happen should all of their wishes come true. Feb 24-25, Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 and 7:30 pm. $29-$31.25. At The Toronto Centre for the Arts. Show Info.

Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi (Canadian Opera Company). A father’s anger and vengeance lead to murder and tragedy in this Italian opera. Opens Jan 20 and runs to Feb 23, see website for schedule. $22-$350. At The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Show Info.

The Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum, Harold Arlen and EY Harburg (LOT). A Kansas farm girl travels over the rainbow to discover the magical power of home in this musical based on the classic film. Opens Dec 8 and runs to Feb 18, Fri-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat 3:30 pm, Sun noon and 4 pm. $55-$75. At The Lower Ossington Theatre. Show Info.

King Charles III by Mike Bartlett (Studio 180 Theatre/Mirvish). Following the death of the queen, Charles attempts to reassert the crown’s power in this future history play. Previews Feb 10, opens Feb 15 and runs to Mar 4, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sat-Sun 2 pm. $39-$92, at mirvish.com. At The CAA Theatre. Show Info.

Listings based primarily on NOW! Stage Listings.