It's cold outside, but Toronto theatres are sizzling hot with an array of top Broadway shows like Jersey Boys, Rent and Little House on the Prairie. Here's a rundown of the top tickets in town for January and February 2010.
Rent
From January 12 to 24, the phenomenally popular Rent runs at the Canon Theatre with its original stars Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp. Because it's such a hit with young people, two hours before each performance, theatregoers can enter a lottery to win two of 18 of the production's front row seats, priced at just $20 each. Also, a limited number of student rush tickets will be available for $25 at the theatre two hours before showtimes. (416-872-1212 or Mirvish,com)
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)
Billy Bishop Goes to War
Soulpepper Theatre brings back a popular hit of last season with John Gray and Eric Peterson’s show about Canada’s WWI flying ace, portrayed once again by Peterson, who originally created the role. The show runs from January 22 to February 27 at the Young Centre in the Distillery District. (416-866-8666 or Soulpepper.ca)
The Light in the Piazza
Acting Up Stage Company presents the Canadian premiere of this popular musical about a mother who tours Italy in 1953 with her daughter. When the younger woman, whose mental age is that of a child, enters into a romantic relationship with a young Italian man, her mother is forced to reassess her scale of values relating to happiness, achievement and fulfillment.
The show runs from January 30 to February 21 at the Berkeley Street Theatre Downstairs. It stars Patty Jamieson, Jacquelyn French, Juan Chioran, Jeff Lillico and others. (416-368-3110 or Actingupstage.com)
Assassins
BirdLand Theatre with Talk Is Free Theatre presents Stephen Sondheim’s provocative, Tony-winning musical about the nine men who have tried throughout history to kill an American president, from John Wilkes Booth to Lee Harvey Oswald. It stars Graham Abbey, Jay Davis, Kate Hewlett, Martin Julien and others. The production runs at The Theatre Centre (1087 Queen Street West) from February 4 to 20. All tickets are $33. (Totix.ca or Birdlandtheatre.com)
Little House on the Prairie
From January 27 to February 28 the Canon Theatre is home to the musical based on the beloved books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, well known to television audiences from the TV series of the same name. In fact, this production stars Melissa Gilbert, who appeared in the TV show. (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. (416-872-1212 or Mirvish.com)
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 in March and April 2010.
Photo details: RENT – Anthony Rapp, Lexi Lawson and Adam Pascal and JERSEY BOYS – (L. to R.) Michael Lomenda as Nick Massi, Jeff Madden as Frankie Valli, Quinn VanAntwerp as Bob Gaudio & Daniel Robert Sullivan as Tommy DeVito.
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.
