July 19, 2011

A rock musical from Michael Greif (the director of Rent), Next to Normal recounts the story of a turbulent family’s suburban blues. Featuring 30 original songs by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, this production won a 2009 Tony Award for Best Score and starts Alice Ripley, who has also won a Tony Award for her performance.

This isn’t your average Broadway musical; the story is about a woman with bipolar disorder and depression, the cast is made up of only six people, and it is a sung-through rock musical. Next to Normal has been credited with “push[ing] Broadway in new directions” (Rolling Stone), and has been described as “an emotional powerhouse of a musical about a family trying to take care of themselves and each other” (nexttonormal.com).

The show opens tonight at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts at 7:30pm and will run until the end of the month. Tickets range in price from $34 to $129 and can be purchased at www.dancaptickets.com.

July 12, 2011

A Toronto theatre tradition, this year’s Canadian Stage Dream in High Park features The Winter’s Tale, William Shakespeare’s fairytale of Bohemia and Sicilia. This tale has been described as both a psychological drama and a comedy, so regardless of your favourite Shakespearean genre, this play will be enjoyable for you and any fortunate companion(s) you bring along! After all, with gates opening at 6pm (the play starts at 8pm), this is the perfect opportunity for you to pack a picnic, relax on the hillside, and take in the beauty of High Park and a fantastic outdoor theatre performance with friends and family!

Admission is PWYC (with a suggested minimum donation of $20 for adults) and free for children 14 and under. To learn more about Dream in High Park, go to www.canadianstage.com/dream.

July 11, 2011

The Toronto Fringe is underway; this is your opportunity to catch some of the zaniest, most interesting, most hysterical, most heart-wrenching dramas of the Toronto theatre year!

So how exactly do you “fringe?” Start at the Fringe Club, located right behind Honest Ed’s, where you’ll hear all the Fringe buzz, have the opportunity to check out free activities, and enjoy the free nightly cabaret. Next, stay up to date at www.fringetoronto.com to find up to the minute reviews; you can also find out show times/dates for all the plays at this handy website, a must for any Fringe-goer. Miss one of the most popular shows? Two Best of The Fringe extensions will give you the opportunity to catch the sell-outs you long to see. No matter how you fringe, be sure to arrive on time – there are absolutely no latecomers admitted to shows.

The Toronto Fringe Festival continues until July 17, 2011. You can buy tickets and learn everything there is to know about the Fringe (well, almost!) at www.fringetoronto.com.