TORONTO

Larger Theatres (Professional)

Come From Away (musical) by by Irene Sankoff and David Hein. On September 11th, 2001, 38 planes with 6579 passengers are stranded in Gander, Newfoundland. Runs Sep 22, 2024, to Mar 2, 2025. Royal Alexandra Theatre,  1-800-461-3333, www.mirvish.com. ★★★★★

The Lion King (musical) by Elton John et al. The stage version of the 1994 Disney animated film. Previews from Nov 2, 2024, booking to Apr 27, 2025. Princess of Wales Theatre, 651 Yonge St, 1-800-461-3333, www.mirvish.com.

Moulin Rouge! The Musical (musical) by John Logan. A stage version of the spectacular Baz Luhrmann movie musical. Runs Nov 19, 2024 to Jan 12, 2025. CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre, 1-800-461-3333, www.mirvish.com.

Titanique (musical) by Marla Mindelle et al. A musical about Rose and Jack and Céline Dion. Runs Dec 5, 2024 to Jan 12, 2025. CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre,  1-800-461-3333, www.mirvish.com.

The Wizard of Oz (panto) by Matt Murray. Dorothy and her companions navigate the strange landscapes of Oz. Runs Dec 6, 2024 to Jan 5, 2025. Elgin Theatre, www.canadianstage.com.

Smaller Theatres (Professional)

Alceste (opera) by Christoph Wilibald Gluck. Queen Alceste sacrifices herself to save her husband's life. In French with English surtitles. Runs Jan 12 only. Trinity-St Paul's Centre, http://operainconcert.com.

Alligator Pie (children) by the ensemble. The 2024 Soulpepper Academy ensemble presents stories by Dennis Lee. Runs Dec 11, 2025, to Jan 5, 2025. Young Centre, www.soulpepper.ca.

Countess Maritza (operetta) by Imre Kálmán. The wealthy Countess Maritza’s engagement is a fiction to keep suitors away but then a man she likes turns up. Runs Dec 29 & Jan 3 and 4. Jane Mallett Theatre, www.torontooperetta.com.

Dinner with the Duchess (drama) by Nick Green. A secretive violin virtuoso gives her final interview about what her legacy will be. Runs Jan 14 to Feb 2. Streetcar Crowsnest, 345 Carlaw Ave, www.crowstheatre.com.

Wights (drama) by Liz Appel. An English professor prepares for an interview to head a DEI centre at Yale. Runs Jan 7 to Feb 9. Streetcar Crowsnest, 345 Carlaw Ave, www.crowstheatre.com.

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Smaller Theatres (Student and Community)

Les Liaisons Dangereuses (drama) by Christopher Hampton. ---. Runs Jan 10 to Jan 25. [community] Scarborough Village Theatre, theatrescarborough.com.

BARRIE

Madame Minister (comedy) by Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman. A woman is treated poorly until she becomes the wife of a Cabinet Minister. Runs Nov 28 to Dec 7. Stevenson Heritage Mansion, www.tift.ca.

BRAMPTON

Swan Lake (ballet) by Andrei Litvinov. The State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine performs this ballet classic. Runs Dec 8 only. Rose Theatre, tickets.brampton.ca.

HAMILTON

A Christmas Story: The Musical (musical) by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul. A musical based on favourite 1983 movie. Runs Dec 4 to Dec 21. Theatre Aquarius, theatreaquarius.org.

KINGSTON

The Nutcracker (ballet) by Andrei Litvinov. The State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine performs this holiday favourite. Runs Dec 5 to Dec 6. Grand Theatre, www.kingstongrand.ca.

KITCHENER/WATERLOO

Swan Lake (ballet) by Andrei Litvinov. The State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine performs this ballet classic. Runs Dec 7 only. Centre in the Square, Kitchener, centreinthesquare.com.

LONDON

The Sound of Music (musical) by Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II. A novice becomes the governess of seven children. Runs Nov 22 to Dec 29. Grand Theatre, www.grandtheatre.com.

MISSISSAUGA

The Nutcracker (ballet). The State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine presents the holiday fovourite. Runs Dec 1 only. Living Arts Centre, www.mississauga.ca.

MORRISBURG

Miracle on 34th Street (comedy) by Mountain Community Theatre. A department store Santa Claus claims to be the real Santa Claus. Runs Nov 29, runs to Dec 15. Upper Canada Playhouse, uppercanadaplayhouse.com.

NIAGARA FALLS

Canadiana (revue). A celebration of Canadian music through the years. Runs May 28, 2024, booking to Dec 19, 2024. Greg Frewin Theatre, 905-356-0777, gregfrewintheatre.com.

Evolution (magic) by Greg Frewin. New large-scale illusions by Greg Frewin. Runs Oct 13, 2022, booking to Jan 4, 2025. Greg Frewin Theatre, 905-356-0777, gregfrewintheatre.com.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE

THE SHAW FESTIVAL:

The plays run in repertory from Apr 6 to Dec 22 in Niagara-on-the-Lake, two hours south from Toronto. For tickets and information phone 1-800-511-7429 or visit the website at www.shawfest.com.

At the Festival Theatre

My Fair Lady (musical) by Frederick Loewe & Alan Jay Lerner. The famous musical version of GB Shaw’s Pygmalion. Runs May 25 to Dec 22. ★★★☆☆

At the Royal George Theatre

A Christmas Carol (drama) by Tim Carroll. Another stage version of the famous story by Chalres Dickens. Previews from Nov 8, opened Nov 16, runs to Dec 22.

OAKVILLE

Big Fish (musical) by Andrew Lippa. Will looks to untangle the extraordinary yarns spun about his family’s history. Runs Dec 3 to Dec 10. [student] Studio Theatre, Sheridan College, www.sheridancollege.ca.

Mystery Show (musical) by ???. A presentation of a Tony-award winning musical set in a bygone era. Runs Dec 5 to Dec 11. [student] Macdonald-Heaslip Hall, 1430 Trafalgar Rd, www.sheridancollege.ca.

ORANGEVILLE

Sleeping Beauty… A Fairy’s Tale (panto) by Debbie Collins & David Nairn. The authors take a well-known story, fracture it and put a topsy-turvy spin on it. Runs Nov 28 to Dec 21. Theatre Orangeville, www.theatreorangeville.ca.

OSHAWA

The Adventures of Robin Hood in the 6ix (panto) by Zac Mansfield. Six actors play 100 characters in this comic retelling of the familiar story. Runs Dec 18, 2024 to Jan 5, 2025. Regent Theatre, regenttheatre.ca.

OTTAWA/GATINEAU

Misery (drama) by William Goldman. A novelist's number one fan holds him captive in her home. Runs Jan 23 to Feb 1. The Gladstone, https://thegladstone.ca.

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Bear Grease (musical) by Crystle Lightning & Henry Andrade. An Indigenized version of the well-known musical. Runs Nov Dec 10 to Dec 14. National Arts Centre, nac-cna.ca.

Cispersonnages en quête d’auteurice (comedy) by Catherine Bourgeois. Professional actors with disabilities struggle to find an idea for a future play. In French with English surtitles. Runs Dec 5 to Dec 7. National Arts Centre, nac-cna.ca.

Le Cristal du temps (comedy). Père Nicolas Noël tells marveillous stories through word and song. In French. Runs Dec 1 only. Salle Odyssée, Gatineau, www.maisondelaculture.ca.

On the Farce Day of Christmas (comedy) by Ken Levine. Wendy has her ex pose as her husband for the family Christmas dinner. Runs Dec 4 to Dec 21. [community] Ottawa Little Theatre, www.ottawalittletheatre.com.

FLOP! An Improvised Musical (musical) by Ron Pederson & Alan Kliffer. After the creative team abandons them, the performers scramble to create a new musical. Runs Dec 10 to Dec 22. Great Canadian Theatre Company, www.gctc.ca.

Madame Pylinska et le secret de Chopin (comedy) by Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt. An eccentric piano teacher introduces a young man to the music of Chopin. In French. Runs Dec 1 only. Salle Odyssée, Gatineau, www.maisondelaculture.ca.

MJ the Musical (musical) by Lynn Nottage. A musical centred on the making of Michael Jackson’s 1992 Dangerous World tour. Runs Dec 31, 2024, to Jan 5, 2025. National Arts Centre, nac-cna.ca.

Les Musiciens de l’orage (children) by Marianne Marceau & Maxime Robin. Harold tries to discover how the weather is created. In French. For ages 5+. Runs Dec 14 to Dec 15. National Arts Centre, nac-cna.ca.

The Nutcracker (ballet) by Fernand Nault. Les Grands Ballets Canadiens present the holiday favourite. Runs Dec 5 to Dec 8. National Arts Centre, nac-cna.ca.

O Christmas Tea (comedy) by Aaron Malkin & Alastair Knowles. Catastrophe strikes James and Jamesy’s Christmas tea party when the world is flooded. Runs Dec 21 to Dec 22. Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe, meridiancentrepointe.com. ★★★★★

Oh Canada Eh?! (revue). Archtypal Canadian characters sing over 70 songs from all-Canadian artists. Booking to Dec 26, 2024. Oh Canada Eh?!, 330 Kent St, ohcanadaehottawa.com.

Santa Clöz (La Comédie Musicale) (musical) by David Christensen & Luke Holloway. On Christmas Eve after a 1000 years of work, Santa decides to retire. In French. Runs Dec 21 to Dec 29. Théâtre de l'Île, Gatineau, calendrier.gatineau.cloud.

A Very Merry Mystery (comedy). What could one of Santa’s elves have in common with an event planner and a disgraced TV host? Runs Nov 22 to Dec 20. Oh Canada Eh?!, 330 Kent St, ohcanadaehottawa.com.

PETERBOROUGH

The Verandah Society: Up to Snow Good (comedy) by Megan Murphy & Kate Suhr. A combination of humorous storytelling, foot-tapping music and surpise guests. Runs Dec 11 to Dec 15. Peterborough Theatre Guild, www.4thlinetheatre.on.ca.

PORT COLBORNE

Cinderella - The Panto (panto) by Ken MacDougall. A panto version of the favourite fairy tale. Runs Dec 12 to Dec 15. Roselawn Theatre, lighthousetheatre.com.

PORT DOVER

Cinderella - The Panto (panto) by Ken MacDougall. A panto version of the favourite fairy tale. Runs Nov 28 to Dec 8. Lighthouse Festival Theatre, lighthousetheatre.com.

PORT HOPE

Rapunzel: A Merry (Hairy) Holiday Panto (panto) by Carly Heffernan. A twisted take on the story of some very, very long hair. Runs Nov 22 to Dec 23. Capitol Theatre, capitoltheatre.com.

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ST. CATHARINES

The 9th (dance) by Charles Ross. Ross enacts the entire first Star Wars Trilogy. Runs Dec 28 only. FirstOntario PAC, firstontariopac.ca.

ST. JACOBS

A Christmas Carol: The Panto (panto) by Caroline Smith. A panto version of the famous story by Charles Dickens. Runs Nov 28, 2024, to Jan 5, 2025. St. Jacobs Country Playhouse, 1-855-372-9866, www.draytonentertainment.com.

Merry & Bright (revue) by David Rogers. Holiday music, inspiring songs, Broadway anthems along with stories and humorous anecdotes. Runs Nov 12, 2024 to Jan 1, 2025. Hildebrand Schoolhouse Theatre, 1-855-372-9866, www.draytonentertainment.com.

ON TOUR IN ONTARIO

Hyprov: Improv Under Hypnosis (comedy) by Asad Mecci & Colin Mochrie. Mecci hypnotizes 20 volunteers from the audience and Mochrie turns them into an instant improv troupe. https://hyprov.com

• Jan 28: FirstOntario PAC, St. Catharines

• Jan 29: Sanderson Centre, Brantford

• Jan 30: Oakville Centre, Oakville

• Jan 31: Flato Markham Theatre, Markham