Merry Christmas!
Here are some of the line-ups of entertainment going on in Toronto as well as other events of interest.
Elgin & Wintergarden Theatres
Currently playing is the Quebec production of “The Elvis Story.” Following the show is “Jack & The Beanstock,” a traditional Christmas English Pantomime produced by Ross Petty, who is also one of it’s stars. England’s “King of Pantomime” producer Paul Elliot, who started the tradition in Canada and now mounts up to 30 “pantos” each Christmas season in England, is supplying the sets and the costumes. Elliot is also the producer of “Jolson” (touring the U.S. later in 1998) and “Buddy” which is being performed every day and night somewhere in the world. The other stars are Jeff Hyslop, Camilla Scott and Heath Lamberts.
Royal Alexandra Theatre
The Broadway smash hit “Rent” starts November 25, and I will undoubtedly play there until the middle of 1998. The cast is mad up of new performers, but further information about replacements can be made calling Mirvish Productions at (416) 593-0351 of faxing (416) 593-9221.
Princess of Wales Theatre
Producer Paul Elliot’s “Buddy” opened to terrific raves again, and is being held over until early January 1998. This is a specifically mounted production for Toronto, but “Buddy” continues to play around the world in various productions. For casting information contact Paul Elliot’s office at E & B Productions by calling 011-44-171-836-2769 or faxing 011-44-171-379-4892.
“Buddy” is followed by the Russian spectacular, “Slava’s Snowshow,” direct from a triumphant tour of Europe, including London. We’ve been told of such miracles as the whole auditorium getting a snowfall and the audience ending up knee deep in the snow! This is a real coup for producer David Mirvish.
“Chicago” then comes in for an eight week engagement. This revival has been hailed on Broadway and on the road as the triumph of the past season and continues to be sold out every night on Broadway.
July 15 sees the start of an extraordinary engagement of “Les Miserables” This engagement will be the only one in North America to star Colm Wilkinson, who originated the role of Valjean in the original London West End Production.
Pantages Theatre
“Phantom of the Opera” marked its eighth anniversary last September and there is still no end in sight. Livent is constantly replacing members of the cast for this production, as well as their touring ones. For casting information contact Frank Scardino, Livent, (416) 324-5449 or fax (416) 324-9797.
Ford Centre of Performing Arts
“Showboat” is currently playing a return engagement and is one of three companies Livent has on the road for a three-year tour. They are expanding into Australia and Asia with even more companies. Livent also originated “Ragtime” which played Toronto and is still playing in Los Angeles to incredible rave reviews. The show opens in New York on December 26, at Livent’s new Ford Centre of the Performing Arts, and another production will open at Livent’s Ford Centre in Chicago in the fall of 1998. Rumor has it, that the production of this hit show will also play Europe and Australia.
Harbourfront Centre
This entertainment complex, built on unused land and buildings on Toronto’s downtown waterfront continues to come up with incredible dance programming including S.O.A.P. Dance Theatre, Frankfurt, Canada’s Danny Grossman Dance Co., Ballet British Colombia, Britain’s DVS Physical Theatre, Israel’s Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Co., India’s Chandralekha, Japan’s H*Art*Chaos and the Toronto’s companies of Toronto Dance Theatre and Dancemakers.
Theatre companies from around the world will be featured in their World Stage Festival later in 1998. This program has become world renown with acting companies vying to enter.
Toronto Truck Theatre
On hundred seats and a production of “The Mousetrap”. So, what makes it worth mentioning in this report? In 1998 it celebrates the 20th year of its run!!! Certainly, the record for any show in Canada, and surpassed in the US only by “The Fantasticks”.
Roy Thomson and Massey Hall music halls
The Toronto Symphony has its home at Roy Thomas Hall with a year-round program which includes guest artists such as Jessye Norman, Mercedes Ellington, conductors Victor Feidbrill, Andrew Davies, Erich Kunzel and programs directed by home conductor Jukka Pekka Saraste such as “Handel’s Messiah”, “George Gershwin’s 100th Anniversary” and “Children’s Christmas”.
Other shows coming to these two halls include mezzo soprano Cecilia Bartoli, tenor Ben Heppner, Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, Canadian Brass Annual Christmas Concert, Amsterdam’s Royal Concertbouw Orchestra, Irish National Orchestra, Toronto’s Children’s Chorus Christmas Concert, Vienna Boy’s Choir, Celtic Christmas, Dunvant Flamenca, Brazil’s Bale Folclorico da Bahia, Roger Whittaker, Rita MacNeil, Peking Acrobats, Engelbert Humperdink, House of Blues and Colours of Christmas.
George Weston Recital Hall
This is part of the complex that houses the Ford Theatre of the Performing Arts. Just a few of the many artists booked…Ora Hanoy, Claire Bloom, James Galway, Harlem Spiritual Ensemble, Ashley MacIsaac, Marvin Hamlisch, Blind Boys of Alabama, Chuck Mangione, Wynton Marsalis, Chuck Corea & Gary Burtin, John Pastorelli and Louis Lorte to name only a few.
Stratford Festival
Their 1998 season which starts in May includes “Julius Caesar”, “Man of La Mancha”, “A Man for All Seasons”, “Two Gentlemen of Verona”, “Prime of Miss Jean Brodie”, “Much Ado About Nothing”, “The Miracle Worker”, “The Miser”, “The Cherry Orchard”, “The Winter’s Tale”, “The Night of the Iguana”, and “Waiting for Godot”.
Shaw Festival
Their 1998 starts in April and includes “Major Barbara”, “You Can’t Take it With You”, “Lady Windermere’s Fan”, “The Lady’s Not for Burning”, “John Bull’s Other Island”, “Joy”, and “Foggy Day”, a new musical based on the 1937 movie “A Damsel in Distress”. Also scheduled are “The Shop at Sly Corner”, “Brothers in Arms”, “Waterloo and Passion” and “Poison and Petrification”.
Second City
Chicago’s famed comedy improve has just moved into a new theatre in the Entertainment District, just north of the waterfront and the Skydome, but won’t have an official opening until sometime in January. They are currently holding over the good-bye show from the old location which is “Last Tango on Lombard Street”. Incidentally, Skydome is the large 60,000 baseball/concert venue with a retractable roof. Currently home to the Raptors, our Basketball team, their new home will be open sometime in early 1999. U2 recently played for two nights but the only upcoming concert we are aware of at the time of writing is the Rolling Stones concert on January 9.
Young Peoples Theatre
This theatre is aimed at pre-teens but seems to attract an adult audience as well. Some of their current and future productions include “Jacob Two-Two’s First Spy Case”, “the Other Side of the Closet” (about teenage homosexual problems), “Can You See Me Yet?”, “Minibugs and Microchips”, “Castle Rocks”, “Jumping Mouse”, “Old Friends”, “Annie” and more.
Canadian Stage
Considered to be Toronto’s civic theatre, this producing entity almost always uses Canadian Actors. Their upcoming season includes “Molly Sweeney”, “A Delicate Balance”, “Wingfield Unbound” (a new Canadian work), and the “Cherry Orchard”.
“Claptrap”, a new work anout the hilarious backstage and on stage antics by a company of actors and the tyranny of their director is written by Tim Wood. Mr. Wood is responsible for the award winningcomedy “B-Movie” and “The Play”.
Just announced today was the Canadian Stage’s triumph in stealing the stage version of the movie “Trainspotting” from the Broadway attempts. The play was a huge success in London’s West End.
Buddies in Bad Times
This is North Americas largest gay and lesbian theatre, presenting entertainment year round. Currently playing is “Martin Yesterday” followed by “Dyke City”, “All in the Timing”, and “Naked Power Play”.
In February, they will hold the Rhubarb festival which is a variety of shows, mainly lesbian and gay themes, playing five different spaces at one time.
The Warehouse/Guvernment Complex
New home to rock groups. Coming up acts include Great Big Sea, Rockbitch, Duran Duran, Dogstar (Keanu Reeve’s group) and Hall & Oates.
Is it any wonder that Toronto is considered the second or third largest (depending on who you ask) theatre city in the world? No space to mention dozens of nightclubs, discos and lounges. We will cover this in an upcoming column.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone involved with DIRT ALERT and all their readers.
