Wayne Leung (1981-2019)
Wayne was the Managing Editor of Mooney on Theatre from 2012 - 2019 and will be sorely missed. His death from an apparent heart attack was a loss not just to Mooney on Theatre, but also to the Toronto Theatre Community at large. You can read our publisher Megan Mooney's tribute to him here here.
Wayne was a writer, editor and corporate communications professional who was thrilled to be a part of the Mooney on Theatre team. Wayne loved theatre ever since his aunt brought him to a production of Les Misérables at the tender age of ten . . . despite the fact that, at that age, the show’s plot was practically indiscernible and the battle scenes scared the bejeezus out of him. Wayne’s current list of likes ran the gamut from opera, ballet and Shakespeare to Broadway musicals, circus and Fringe theatre. Outside of the theatre Wayne’s interests included travel, technology and food.
Mirvish presents the 2013 Tony Award winner for Best Play Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike in Toronto
If you’re a fan of classical theatre, the title of Christopher Durang’s play Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike might lead you to expect an irreverent parody of a Chekhov play. The show does heavily reference the Russian playwright’s body of work; Durang borrows the names of familiar Chekhov characters, there are references to a cherry orchard and one of the characters randomly decides to start referring to the character Vanya as “Uncle Vanya” for no particular reason.
However, even if you know nothing about Chekhov, Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike is still accessible and enjoyable as a madcap comedy centred on three middle-aged siblings. Despite its highbrow reference material the show plays out in the tone and style of a network sitcom. It reminded me of the TV show Frasier in that it’s well-written and funny even if you don’t get all in-jokes and literary references.
The Second City opens its Spring 2015 Mainstage show How to Kill a Comedian in Toronto
Spring is finally in the air. This week the temperature finally crested above freezing, Toronto’s snowbanks are melting away and its winter-beaten citizens are slowly emerging from hibernation. After that utterly miserable winter we all deserve a good laugh so it’s the perfect time for The Second City to premiere its Spring Mainstage revue. Continue reading Review: How to Kill a Comedian (The Second City)→
An all-Canadian production of Matilda the Musical in Toronto anchors Mirvish’s 2015-16 season
Without much fanfare or any public event Mirvish quietly sent out a press release today announcing its 2015-16 season. An open-ended engagement of Matilda the Musical featuring an all-Canadian cast anchors their season which brings Broadway hits such as Motown the Musical, If/Then and the 2014 Tony Award winner for Best Musical, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder to Toronto. Mirvish will also present a new, re-staged production of The Phantom of the Opera as a bonus show.
Check out all the details of the new season, the Off-Mirvish season at the Panasonic Theatre and the bonus shows below.
Which shows are you most looking forward to seeing?
Kat Sandler presents her latest play Liver, a dark comedy at Toronto’s Storefront Theatre
