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 ✭✭✭✭✭
THE DARKEST DARK by Jim Millan and Ian MacIntyre, adapted from the book by Chris Hadfield and Kate Fillion (Young People’s Theatre). Back by popular demand, Jim Millan directs this play inspired by astronaut Hadfield’s childhood experiences on Stag Island, Ontario, in the summer of 1969. See my review of the 2023 staging here. Runs to March 16 at YPT’s Ada Slaight Stage, 165 Front East. youngpeoplestheatre.org ✭✭✭
JUST FOR ONE DAY by John O’Farrell (Mirvish). Luke (& Juliet) Sheppard directs the North American premiere of this new musical about the Live Aid concert of 1985, featuring songs by Bob Dylan, David Bowie, U2, Queen, Madonna, The Who, The Police and others. See related story. Runs to March 15 at the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre (244 Victoria). mirvish.com
✅KIM’S CONVENIENCE by Ins Choi (Soulpepper in association with the American Conservatory Theatre and Adam Blanshay Productions). Weyni Mengesha directs the return of Choi’s record-breaking comedy, which inspired the well-known CBC/Netflix sitcom, with Choi himself playing the lead part of Appa, the strict Korean immigrant running a downtown Toronto variety store with his family. See related story. Runs to March 9 at the Baillie Theatre, Young Centre for the Performing Arts (50 Tank House). soulpepper.ca
✅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 ✭✭✭✭
✅THE MERCHANT OF VENICE by William Shakespeare (Shakespeare BASH’d). Julia Nish-Lapidus directs a fine cast headed by Alon Nashman in the Bard’s problem play about love, prejudice and mercy. See my review here. Runs to February 23 at the Theatre Centre, BMO Incubator (1115 Queen West). shakespearebashd.com ✭✭✭✭
PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS by Duncan Macmillan (Coal Mine Theatre). Diana Bentley directs the Canadian premiere of Macmillan’s acclaimed play about an actress who enters rehab and has to deal with her own problems and those in the outside world. Runs to March 2 at Coal Mine Theatre (2076 Danforth). coalminetheatre.com
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
✅TABLE FOR TWO by Akosua Amo-Adem (Soulpepper/Obsidian). Djanet Sears directs acclaimed actor Amo-Adem’s debut full-length play, about a Ghanian-Canadian woman’s experiences with dating apps. See my review here. Runs to March 2 at the Michael Young Theatre, Young Centre for the Performing Arts (50 Tank House). soulpepper.ca ✭✭✭✭
THE WOLF IN THE VOICE by Martin Julien and Brian Quirt (Tarragon in association with Nightswimming). Neema Bickersteth, Jane Miller and Taurian Teelucksingh star in this world premiere production about singers and the mysteries of the human voice. See my review here. Runs to February 23 at the Tarragon Extra Space (30 Bridgman). tarragontheatre.com ✭✭✭
Related story: Artists to watch on Toronto stages this winter
Opening this week
FAT HAM by James Ijames (Canadian Stage). Philip Akin directs Peter Fernandes in Ijames’s Pulitzer Prize-winning reimagining of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, set at cookout in the American South. Opens February 19 and runs to March 9 at the Berkeley Street Theatre (26 Berkeley). canadianstage.com
BLIND DATES by Vivian Chong (Theatre Passe Muraille). Marjorie Chan directs the world premiere of Chong’s play about dating, crushes, rejections and self growth. In previews, opens February 20 and runs to March 9 at Theatre Passe Muraille (16 Ryerson). passemuraille.ca
JACQUELINE by Luna Pearl Woolf and Royce Vavrek (Tapestry Opera). Michael Hidetoshi Mori directs this chamber opera about the rise and fall of Jacqueline du Pré, told through her relationship with her cello. February 20 to 23 at the Betty Oliphant Theatre (404 Jarvis). tapestryopera.com
DIMANCHE by Julie Tenret, Sicaire Durieux and Sandrine Heyraud (Chaliwaté Company/Focus Company/TO Live). This acclaimed show by the Belgian company is a dreamlike portrait of humanity told through physical theatre, puppetry and video. February 21 to 22 at the Meridian Arts Centre, 5040 Yonge. tolive.com
Related story: Artists to watch on Toronto stages this winter
Opening soon
HYPOTHETICAL BABY by Rachel Cairns (Nightwood Theatre/The Howland Company). Courtney Ch’ng Lancaster directs this remount of Cairns’s autobiographical solo show about choice, change and loss. Previews from February 22, opens February 25 and runs to March 8 at the Factory Mainspace (125 Bathurst). $15-$50. NightwoodTheatre.net
March
21ST-CENTURY BROADWAY (Toronto Symphony Orchestra). Aisha Jackson (Waitress, Frozen), Derek Klena (Jagged Little Pill, Anastasia), Javier Muñoz (Hamilton, In the Heights) and Ali Stroker (Oklahoma!) take to the stage in this concert of contemporary musical-theatre favourites, conducted by the TSO Pops’ Steven Reineke. March 4 to 5 at Roy Thomson Hall (60 Simcoe). tso.ca
LET’S ASSUME I KNOW NOTHING AND MOVE FORWARD FROM THERE by Kelly Clipperton (Clipperton/Naomi Campbell/support of Factory). Naomi Campbell directs Renaissance Man Clipperton’s one-man-lady-cabaret show featuring personal stories and songs from his decades-long catalogue, all backed by a five-piece band. Previews March 4, opens March 5 and runs to March 16 at the Factory Studio Theatre (125 Bathurst). $27-$52. factorytheatre.ca
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. Previews from March 4, opens March 7 and runs to March 30 at Crow’s Guloien Theatre (345 Carlaw). $65-$100. crowstheatre.com
THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE by William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin (Shifting Ground Collective). Led by a team of many predominantly neurodiverse artists, Jennifer Walls directs a talented cast in this charming musical about middle-schoolers competing in a spelling competition. Previews from March 6, opens March 8 and runs to March 15 at Native Earth’s Aki Studio (585 Dundas East). shiftinggroundcollective.com
CARRIED BY THE RIVER by Diana Tso (Red Snow Collective). William Yong directs this play about a woman who travels to China after her mother’s death and discovers long-buried family truths. Previews from March 8, opens March 11 and runs to March 23 at the Tarragon Extraspace (30 Bridgman). tarragontheatre.com
LADIES OF THE CANYON: JONI AND THE CALIFORNIA SCENE by Hailey Gillis and Raha Javanfar (Soulpepper). The ensemble of Soulpepper musicians, lead by Gillis and Javanfar, explore the fabled Laurel Canyon neighbourhood of the 1960s and 70s through the music and life of Joni Mitchell and fellow musicians like Steven Stills, Jackson Browne and Mamma Cass Elliot. Opens March 13 and runs to March 23 at the Michael Young Centre, Young Centre for the Performing Arts (50 Tank House). soulpepper.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. Previews from March 9, opens March 13 and runs to March 29 at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre (12 Alexander). buddiesinbadtimes.com
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
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
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