Toronto theatre listings

A list of shows currently playing in Toronto theatres, with links to reviews where available

Currently playing

✅ COME FROM AWAY by Irene Sankoff and David Hein (Mirvish). The Canadian production of the homegrown, Tony Award-winning musical about how Newfoundlanders took in stranded airplane passengers during 9/11 continues. See my review here. Runs to May 4 (final extension) at the Royal Alexandra Theatre (260 King West). mirvish.com ✭✭✭✭✭

✅ = Critic's pick / ✭✭✭✭✭ = outstanding, among best of the year / ✭✭✭✭ = excellent / ✭✭✭ = recommended / ✭✭ or ✭ = didn't work for me

INSIDE AMERICAN PIE by Mike Ross and Sarah Wilson (Mirvish Productions). This new docu-concert decodes the mysteries and allusions in Don McLean’s iconic song "American Pie." Runs to March 30 at the CAA Theatre (651 Yonge). mirvish.com

✅THE LION KING by Elton John, Tim Rice, Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi (Mirvish/Disney Theatrical Group). The new open-ended run of the Tony Award-winning musical based on the Disney film about a lion cub overcoming tragedy continues. See my review here. Runs to August 30 at the Princess of Wales Theatre (300 King West). mirvish.com ✭✭✭✭

SMART (VideoCabaret). Nicky Guadagni brings the life of Elizabeth Smart (By Grand Central Station I Sat Down and Wept) to life. Runs to March 30 at the VideoCabaret — Deanne Taylor Theatre, 10 Busy. See info here.

STRANGER SINGS! THE PARODY MUSICAL by Jonathan Hogue (Stranger Sings!). The Off-Broadway musical parody of the popular Netflix series gets a new production with an all-Canadian cast. Runs to April 26 at the Randolph Theatre (736 Bathurst). strangersingscanada.ca

THERE IS VIOLENCE AND THERE IS RIGHTEOUS VIOLENCE AND THERE IS DEATH OR, THE BORN-AGAIN CROW by Caleigh Crow (Buddies in Bad Times/Native Earth Performing Arts). Jessica Carmichael directs Crow’s Governor General’s Award-winning play about a young Indigenous woman harnessing her political rage. Runs to March 29 at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre (12 Alexander). buddiesinbadtimes.com

TRIDENT MOON by Anusree Roy (Crow’s Theatre/National Arts Centre). Nina Lee Aquino directs this play — shortlisted for the prestigious Susan Smith Blackburn Prize — set in India in 1947, in which three Muslim women have been abducted by three Hindu women and are all trapped inside a transport truck in a divided country. Runs to March 30 at Crow’s Guloien Theatre (345 Carlaw). $65-$100. crowstheatre.com

Related story: Artists to watch on Toronto stages this winter

The terrific indie company bluemouth inc. return with *Game of Life. Photo by Francesca Chudnoff*

Opening this week

TRUCK by Graham Isador (Pressgang in association with Factory Theatre). Isador (White Heat, the terrific podcast Short Sighted) directs his new play set in 2038, about technology and the value of work. March 26 to 30 at the Factory Studio Theatre (125 Bathurst). factorytheatre.ca

GAME OF LIFE by Lisa Humber, Mariel Marshall, Stephen O’Connell and Lucy Simic (bluemouth inc.) This exploration of mortality and the urgency of time includes two parts, a live performance (Elephant) and an interactive video installation (LUCY AI). March 27 to 29 at the Theatre Centre, 1115 Queen West. theatrecentre.org

MANDY PATINKIN IN CONCERT: BEING ALIVE (Massey Hall). The Tony Award- and Emmy Award-winning performer presents a concert featuring songs by Irving Berlin, Stephen Sondheim, Cole Porter, Harry Chapin and others. March 27 at Massey Hall (178 Victoria). masseyhall.mhrth.com

A PUBLIC DISPLAY OF AFFECTION by Jonathan Wilson (Studio 180 in association with Crow’s Theatre). Mark McGrinder directs the premiere of Wilson’s (My Own Private Oshawa) solo show about the lives, loves and landmarks of his queer youth on the streets of Toronto. Previews from March 25, opens March 28 and runs to April 20 at Crow’s Studio Theatre (345 Carlaw). crowstheatre.com

Opening soon

Saul Rubinek brings back his acclaimed performance in *Playing Shylock* for a week. *Photo by Dahlia Katz*

April

✅PLAYING SHYLOCK by Mark Leiren-Young (Starvox Entertainment). After an acclaimed run last fall at Canadian Stage, the great Saul Rubinek returns in Leiren-Young’s insightful, timely play about an actor caught up in a cancelled production of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. April 1 to 6 at the CAA Theatre (651 Yonge). mirvish.com

POCHSY IV: UNPLUGGED by Karen Hines (VideoCabaret). Hines brings the latest installment of her savage and very funny series to town. April 4 to 20 at VideoCabaret (10 Busy). See info here.

FEAST by Guillermo Verdecchia (Tarragon). Soheil Parsa directs Verdecchia’s new play about a businessman with a chaotic family life who seeks a rare meal consisting of endangered species. Previews from April 1, opens April 9 and runs to April 27 at the Tarragon Mainspace (30 Bridgman). $15-$72. tarragontheatre.com

BENEVOLENCE by Kevin Matthew Wong (Tarragon, in association with Why Not Theatre and Broadleaf Creative). Wong stars in his new play, a multigenerational Chinese-Canadian tale spanning continents and migrations. Previews from April 8, opens April 16 and runs to May 4 at the Tarragon Extraspace (30 Bridgman). tarragontheatre.com

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