April 19, 2011

Disney’s award-winning musical, The Lion King, begins its Toronto shows tonight! If you’ve not had a chance to check out this show, don’t miss your chance to witness this breathtaking spectacle; if you have seen a performance of The Lion King, this is your opportunity to experience the magic all over again! Watch as award-winning director Julie Taymore brings an African safari to life to the tune of Elton John and Tim Rice’s Oscar-winning songs, “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” and “Circle of Life.”

This Tony Award-winning Broadway production runs until June 12th at the Princess of Wales Theatre; tonight’s performance is at 7:30pm. For tickets for tonight’s show, or to see future shows, go to www.mirvish.com/shows/thelionking.

March 21, 2011

Explore your dramatic side with Second City’s weekly Drop-In Improv class! Hosted every Monday at Second City’s Training Centre at 70 Peter Street, this class is perfect for those who want to try out their improv skills without committing to a more in-depth course.

The Second City Training Centre has been in operation since the early 1970’s, and has produced celebrated alumni such as Catherine O’Hara and Mike Myers – start your own journey to comedic fame by participating in this Monday drop-in class!

Drop-In Improv gets started at 6pm every Monday and costs only $5. No preregistration is required, but this is a popular class, so plan to show up at least 15 minutes early to make sure you get a space. For more information on The Second City Training Centre, including a full list of all of the classes available, check out http://secondcity.com/training/toronto/.

March 9, 2011

Another award-winning, critically-acclaimed comedy by The Second City, This Party’s a Riot! is the latest original production written and performed by The Second City’s fantastically hilarious ensemble. As experts at “poking fun at the ever-changing world we live in,” This Party’s a Riot! promises “up-to-the-minute satire, unforgettable characters, and hilarious original songs” to please one and all.

Tickets are $24 from Tuesday to Thursday and on Sundays, or $29 on Fridays and Saturdays. Dinner and show packages are available. Purchase tickets online at The Second City’s website (dinner and show packages can only be purchased through the Box Office by calling 416-343-0011).

February 27, 2011

Based on the beloved children’s novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden musical production will bring back nostalgic memories of reading the tale of Mary, the young orphan taken in by her extended family on the Yorkshire moors.

When Mary discovers the key to a walled garden on the expansive property that is now her home, her life, and the lives of her family, are changed forever.

The Secret Garden runs until March 19, 2011 at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. Today’s performance starts at 2pm; tickets range from $55.00 (upper balcony, far sides) to $110.00 (orchestra and lower balcony). Children “who are old enough to enjoy theatre performances” are welcome at this musical, so bring the family for an unforgettable foray into The Secret Garden!

February 24, 2011

Staged at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts from February 17th until April 15th, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies.

Intertwining the worlds of an Athenian court, a troupe of amateur dramatists, and the fairy kingdom, A Midsummer Night’s Dream reminds us that, in the words of character Lysander, “the path of true love never did run smooth.”

Tonight’s performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream starts at 7:30pm. As an early-bird performance, tickets are $50.86 (including HST) for adults, and $31.65 (including HST) for students. To purchase tickets, go to the Young Centre for the Performing Arts’ website.

February 15, 2011

The seven-time 2008 Tony Award-winning musical, South Pacific, is coming to Toronto Centre for the Arts, starting tonight!

Featuring beloved songs such as, “There is Nothing Like a Dame,” “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair” and “Some Enchanted Evening,” this classic musical will warm up your winter! Set on a tropical island in the midst of World War II, South Pacific tells the tales of two couples and their struggles to maintain their happiness despite the difficulties of war and their own prejudices.

Tonight’s show gets started at 7:30pm; tickets range from $45.00 (in the Rear Balcony) to $190.00 (Front Orchestra Premium). Tickets all sold out? The show runs until April 10, 2011, so be sure to catch it while it graces the Toronto Centre for the Arts stage! To buy tickets online, go to http://www.dancaptickets.com.

February 11, 2011

In association with Nightwood Theatre, Obsidian Theatre Company presents the Toronto Premiere of the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, Ruined.

Written by Lynn Nottage, Ruined follows the story of a young woman in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as she makes her way to Mama Nadi, “a savvy businesswoman who, in the midst of a complex civil war, both protects and profits from the women whose bodies have become battlegrounds.” This intense play conveys the stories of the courageous women who “piece themselves together after the ruin.” Described as “Passionate, courageous and acutely argued” by the Chicago Tribune, you won’t want to miss your opportunity to engage the debut of this important play in our city.

Catch a performance tonight at 8pm; tickets for Friday are $30 each. For more information, go to www.nightwoodtheatre.net.

February 9, 2011

Ever wonder what a political event would look like in operatic form? In 1972, Richard Nixon visited China for five days as millions watched from their television sets; in 1987 John Adams transformed this significant political event into an opera: Nixon in China.

Outlining Nixon’s visit to Communist China, the opera follows Richard and Pat Nixon, Henry Kissinger, Jiang Qing, Chairman Mao, and Zho Enlai throughout the Americans’ time in China. The characters express their hopes for the future and their doubts surrounding the lack of breakthrough in the relationship between the two countries.

Performed at the Four Seasons Centre for the Arts, Nixon in China starts at 7:30pm tonight. For more information on other performance dates and times, and to purchase tickets for this artistic take on a politically-charged event, go to http://www.coc.ca/.