Toronto is home to numerous theatres running large-scale Broadway-style musicals throughout the year. The offerings for March and April 2010 include favourites like Jersey Boys, Young Frankenstein, Rock of Ages, Mamma Mia! and Grease.
Jersey Boys
The long and successful run of Jersey Boys is currently booked at the Toronto Centre for the Performing Arts until May 23. The Toronto production has won two Dora awards. In New York, the show won the 2006 Tony for Best Musical, as well as an Olivier (Best Musical) and a Grammy for the cast album. The current production stars Michael Lomenda as Nick Massi, Jeff Madden as Frankie Valli, Daniel Robert Sullivan as Tommy DeVito, and Quinn VanAntwerp as Bob Gaudio.
A limited number of $25 rush seats and $20 partial view seats are available at the theatre two hours before each performance. For tickets, contact JerseyBoysToronto.com or call 416-644-3665. A three-course pre-theatre prix fixe dinner is available at the theatre from $39.50 per person (416-644-3665 or DancapCatering.com)
Oh What a Lovely War!
From March 11 to April 10, Soulpepper Theatre presents the wry, music hall-style re-examination of Britain’s wartime experiences by iconic director Joan Littlewood, Theatre Workshop and Charles Chilton. The show uses popular tunes of the First World War in a nightmarish cabaret that comments on the desolation and madness of warfare. The show runs at the Young Centre in the Distillery District. (416-866-8666 or Soulpepper.ca)
Young Frankenstein
From March 17 to April 18, the Princess of Wales Theatre is home to Young Frankenstein, the musical version of the popular Mel Brooks comedy that originally starred Gene Wilder and Peter Boyle as the man and his monster. And yes, they're still "Puttin' On The Ritz". (416-872-1212 or Mirvish.com)
Grease
The Canon Theatre goes '50s from April 7 to 18 with Grease, the story of mismatched high school sweethearts Danny Zuko and Sandy Dumbrowski. The songs and story of the stage version differ slightly from the familar film version with John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, but it has all the same heart. This production gives a cameo as "Teen Angel " to silver-haired American Idol winner Taylor Hicks. (416-872-1212 or Mirvish.com)
Rock of Ages
At the lovely Royal Alexandra Theatre, the Canadian premiere of the popular rock homage musical Rock of Ages opens on April 20. Starring Elicia MacKenzie (Maria in Toronto's long-running The Sound of Music), as well as David W. Keeley, Peter Deiwick and Victor A. Young, the show lovingly revisits the music of bands and singers like Journey, Foreigner, Styx, Reo Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Poison, Asia and Whitesnake, with songs like "I Wanna Rock", "Waiting For A Girl Like You", "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" and the show-stopping anthem "Don't Stop Believin'". (416-872-1212 or Mirvish.com)
Mamma Mia!
From April 28 to June 6, Mamma Mia! makes a return trip to Toronto, this time at the Princess of Wales Theatre. A previous production of the show, which is based on songs of '70s pop group ABBA, like "Dancing Queen" and "Take a Chance on Me", was a surpise hit, running well beyond expectations. (416-872-1212 or Mirvish.com)
My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding
This quirky, comic fringe hit has already see a remount, and, after a short hiatus, it continues in an open-ended run at the intimate Panasonic Theatre on Yonge Street beginning February 26. Tickets are now being booked until March 21. The production, by David Hein and Irene Carl Sankoff, is based on a true story about a woman's unconventional story of finding herself. It stars Rosemary Doyle, Jackie English, David Hein, Lisa Horner, Lori Nancy Kalamanski, Robert Kennedy, David Leyshon, Kyle Orzech, Irene Carl Sankoff and Astrid Van Weiren. (416-872-1212 or Mirvish,com)
Here's what's playing in Toronto for January and February 2010.
Photo details: Quinn VanAntwerp as Bob Gaudio, Daniel Robert Sullivan as Tommy DeVito, Jeff Madden as Frankie Valli and Michael Lomenda as Nick Massi in a scene from JERSEY BOYS.
Constantine Maroulis and the company in the Broadway production of ROCK OF AGES.
Sarah B. Hood - Author of We Sure Can! How Jams and Pickles are Reviving the Lure and Lore of Local Food and Toronto: The Unknown City.
