Stage Door Listings

May 2021

TORONTO

Larger Theatres

Orfeo ed Euridice (opera) by Christoph Wilibald Gluck. Orfeo travels into Hades to bring back his beloved Euridice after her death. In Italian with English surtitles. Opens May 1, runs to May 15. Four Seasons Centre, www.coc.ca. cancelled

The Resurrection (opera) by George Frideric Handel. Handel's 1708 oratorio about the events between Good Friday and Easter Sunday fully staged. In Italian with English subtitles. Runs May 27 to Jun 10. Koerner Hall, www.operaatelier.com. online

Something Rich and Strange (opera/ballet). Fully staged Baroque theatre music exploring dreams, visions and the supernatural. Opened Dec 12, 2020, runs through Jun 1, 2021. Koerner Hall, www.rcmusic.com. online

La Traviata (opera) by Giuseppe Verdi. A father disapproves of his son’s relationship with a beautiful courtesan. In Italian with English surtitles. Opens Apr 17, runs to May 14. Four Seasons Centre, www.coc.ca. cancelled

Smaller Theatres (Professional)

An Acorn (play) by Caridad Svich. The journey of a person who loses their voice one morning after an event shocks the foundation of society. Opens May 6, runs to May 17. impel Theatre & Oldham Coliseum Theatre, www.coliseum.org.uk. online ★★★★☆

Alice in Wonderland (children) by Fiona Sauder. A musical adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s fantastic tale. Available on demand starting May 7. Soulpepper Theatre Company, www.soulpepper.ca. online ★★★☆☆

Blackout (musical) by Anton Lipovetsky & Steven Gallagher. Three stories of connection that unfolded during the blackout in Toronto in August 2003. Runs May 14 to Jun 6. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley St, www.canadianstage.com.

Cloudless (drama) by José Teodoro. Five characters struggle with the mysterious disappearance of two young women off the coast of Oaxaca, Mexico. Runs to May 31. Canadian Stage Company, www.canadianstage.com. online audio

Come Home – The Legend of Daddy Hall (drama) by Audry Dwyer. Opens May 30, runs to Jun 13. Tarragon Theatre, www.tarragontheatre.com. online audio

The Great Divide (drama) by Alix Sobler. A play about a fire in 1911 in Manhattan that killed 146 workers in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. Runs May 29 to Jun 13. Meridian Arts Centre, www.meridianartscentre.com. postponed

Helen’s Necklace (drama) by Carole Fréchette. Opened Apr 25, runs to May 9. Tarragon Theatre, www.tarragontheatre.com. online audio

Lost Together (performance) by Shira Leuchter and Michaela Washburn. Audience members share a story about something they've lost and Leuchter and Washburn create an object to embody it. Runs May 25 to Jun 5. Nightwood Theatre, www.nightwoodtheatre.net.

Macbeth Muet (comedy) by Jon Lachlan Stewart & Marie Hélėne Bėlanger. A wordless puppet play version of Shakespeare Scottish play. Opened Apr 14, runs to May 2. Streetcar Crowsnest, 345 Carlaw Ave, www.crowstheatre.com. cancelled

Mayworks (festival). A festival of working people and the arts featuring dialogues, film, music, visual art and more. Opens May 1, runs to May 31. Mayworks, mayworks.ca. online

The Miller and His Wife (children) by Ann Powell & David Powell. A miller and his wife lead their family from rustic poverty to middle class comfort. Opened Apr 14, runs to May 9. Puppetmongers Theatre, puppetmongers.com. online

Paternostrum (comedy) by Michael S. Marshall. Three eccentric mechanics are faced with the reality that one of them must lose their job. Reading. Opens May 30. Mokt Theatre Company, www.paternostrum.com. online

Scorched (drama) by Wajdi Mouawad. Opens May 13, runs to May 27. Tarragon Theatre, www.tarragontheatre.com. online audio

Through the Eyes (drama) by Don Druick. A courtier tries to stay alive as he escorts the Italian sculptor Bernini through the passions and perils of the court of Louis XIV. Apr 29 to May 8. Factory Theatre, www.factorytheatre.ca. postponed

Toka (drama) by Indrit Kasapi. The story of siblings who wrestle with modern-day blood feuds in post-Communist Albania. Runs Apr 28 to May 1. lemonTree Creations, www.lemontreecreations.ca. online postponed

Topped (cabaret). Performers toy and play with gender, power, laughter, vulnerability and seduction. May 14 only. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, buddiesinbadtimes.com. online

21 Black Futures (plays). A collection of 21 monodramas written, directed and acted by Black Canadian artists. Season 1 from Feb 12; Season 2 from Feb 19; Season 3 from Feb 26. Obsidian Theatre Company, www.cbc.ca. ★★★★☆ online

Unravel (performance). Ten Canadians aged 15-30 deliver short monolgues to answer the question "What is my Jewish identity?" May 19 only. Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company, www.hgjewishtheatre.com.

Smaller Theatres (Student and Community)

The Prisoner of Second Avenue (comedy) by Neil Simon. Mel Edison, has just lost his job after many years and now has to cope with being unemployed at middle age during a recession. May 14 only. [community] The Village Players, www.eventbrite.ca. online

BARRIE

DINNER À LA ART:

A festival of play readings by national and international theatre stars. Talk Is Free Theatre, www.tift.ca. online  

Bright Lights (comedy) by Kat Sandler. A meeting of a group of people who believe they’ve suffered alien abductions. May 15 only.

The Great Gatsby (drama) by Richard Ouzounian. An adaptation of the famous novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald. May 7 only.

Heartbreak House (drama) by G. B. Shaw. A portrait from 1919 of a cultured, leisured society drifting towards destruction. May 11 only.

Riot (drama) by Andrew Moody. A drama that follows the Canadian response to the Rodney King trial results in 1992. May 13 only.

She Stoops to Conquer (comedy) by Oliver Goldsmith. Two gentlemen mistake a country house for an inn. May 9 only.

BOBCAYGEON

Early Morning Rain (revue) by Leisa Way. A tribute to the music of Gordon Lightfoot. Runs May 25 to Jun 5. Globus Theatre, 1-800-304-7897, www.lakeviewartsbarn.com. Covid safety procedures in place

HAMILTON

Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story (musical) by Alan Janes. The story of the life and music of Buddy Holly. Runs Apr 21 to May 15. Dofasco Centre, 1-800-465-7529, theatreaquarius.org. cancelled

LONDON

Boom X (performance) by Rick Miller. This mutimedia show tackles the music, culture, and politics of Generation X with Miller playing more than 100 famous people. Opened Apr 23, runs to May 7. Grand Theatre, 519-672-8800, www.grandtheatre.com. cancelled

NIAGARA FALLS

Wild Magic (magic) by Greg Frewin. Frewin performs stunning large-scale illusions including one with a white Siberian tiger. Runs May 10, 2021, booking to Nov 9, 2021. Greg Frewin Theatre, 905-356-0777, gregfrewintheatre.com. ★★★★☆ Covid safety procedures in place

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE

THE SHAW FESTIVAL 2021:

The plays run in repertory from Jul 7-Dec 23 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. Covid safety procedures in place

At the Festival Theatre

Gypsy (musical) by Jule Styne. A stage mother pushes her daughter into stardom. Previews from May 7, opens May 27, runs to Oct 10. cancelled

At the Royal George Theatre

Charley’s Aunt (comedy) by Brandon Thomas. Charley and Jacks need a friend to impersonate Charley’s aunt to impress their sweethearts. Previews from May 16, opens Jun 11, runs to Oct 10. postponed to July

ORANGEVILLE

The Rules of Playing Risk (comedy) by Kristen Da Silva. An unsociable retiree's estranged 14-year-old grandson comes to live with him. Opened Apr 16, runs to May 30. Theatre Orangeville, tickets.theatreorangeville.ca. online

The Third Life of Eddie Mann (comedy) by John Spurway. A story about life, death, baseball, watches and Oreo cookies. Opens May 14, runs to May 30. Theatre Orangeville, tickets.theatreorangeville.ca. online

OTTAWA/GATINEAU

L'Avalée des avalés (drama) by Lorraine Pintal. A young woman finds herself torn between her absent Jewish father and her alcoholic Catholic mother. In French. May 1 only. Salle Odysée, Gatineau, www.maisondelaculture.ca. Covid safety procedures in place

Dear Evan Hansen (musical) by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul. Evan pretends to be the best friend of a boy who has committed suicide. Opened Apr 27, runs to May 2. NAC, 1-866-850-2787, nac‑cna.ca.

Depuis la grève (children) by Josiane Bernier et al. A pregnant woman patiently awaits the return of her fisher husband. In French. For ages 3-6. Runs. May 22 to May 23. NAC, 1-866-850-2787, nac‑cna.ca.

STRATFORD

Instant Theatre (comedy) by Spontaneous Theatre. The audience watches the first scene of four different plays and then decides which play to continue watching to the conclusion. Thursdays, from May 6 through May 27. Revival House, 519-273-3424, www.ticketscene.ca.  Covid safety procedures in place

THE STRATFORD FESTIVAL:

To subscribe to the Stratford Festival’s streaming channel, visit www.stratfordfestival.ca/AtHome. Now streaming:

The Adventures of Pericles (romance) by William Shakespeare. Production from 2015. Runs Oct 19 to Sep 30.

Antony and Cleopatra (tragedy) by William Shakespeare. Production from 2016. Runs Oct 19 to Sep 30.

Coriolanus (tragedy) by William Shakespeare. Production from 2019. Runs Oct 19 to Sep 30.

Hamlet (tragedy) by William Shakespeare. Production from 2016. Runs Oct 19 to Sep 30.

King John (history play) by William Shakespeare. Production from 2016. Runs Oct 19 to Sep 30.

King Lear (tragedy) by William Shakespeare. Production from 2016. Runs Oct 19 to Sep 30.

Love’s Labour’s Lost (comedy) by William Shakespeare. Production from 2017. Runs Oct 19 to Sep 30.

Macbeth (tragedy) by William Shakespeare. Production from 2017. Runs Oct 19 to Sep 30.

Romeo and Juliet (tragedy) by William Shakespeare. Production from 2018. Runs Oct 19 to Sep 30.

The Taming of the Shrew (comedy) by William Shakespeare. Production from 2016. Runs Oct 19 to Apr 19.

The Tempest (comedy) by William Shakespeare. Production from 2019. Runs Oct 19 to Sep 30.

Timon of Athens (tragedy) by William Shakespeare. Production from 2018. Runs Oct 19 to Sep 30.