Musical Theatre in Toronto Fall Winter 2009 2010
Autumn Theatre Season Brings Broadway Tickets to Toronto Stages
Sep 7, 2009
Toronto is known as a musical theatre destination; tickets to top shows are easier to get than on Broadway, and the calibre of performances is high. Here's what's coming up on the music theatre calendar for the fall and winter of 2009 to 2010.
The Sound of Music continues its successful run at the Princess of Wales Theatre. The first big new show of the fall is The Boys in the Photograph, a drama of youth during "the Troubles" of the 1960s in Belfast. It's written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ben Elton, and runs from September 22 to November 1 at the Royal Alexandra Theatre.
The Mirvish season continues with a string of shows that are certain to be popular, beginning with a return of the rough-and-ready dance spectacle Stomp from October 20 to 25 at the opulent Canon Theatre on Yonge Street.
From November 7 to 29, the quirky Fringe hit My Mother’s Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding plays the Panasonic Theatre, which until recently hosted the Queen-inspired show We Will Rock You. It will be followed in quick succession by the following shows. (Many will run at the Canon; some venues have not yet been announced.)
- December 8 to January 10: Fiddler on the Roof, starring Chaim Topol: a farewell performance by the original West End Tevye; he also starred in the film version.
- January 19 to 24: Rent: The Broadway Tour
- January 26 to February 28: Little House on the Prairie
- March 15 to April 18: Young Frankenstein
- April 7 to 18: Grease starring American Idol’s Taylor Hicks as "Teen Angel"
- April 27 to June 27: Mamma Mia!
The year-long run of Jersey Boys continues indefinitely at the Toronto Centre for the Performing Arts. On Hallowe'en night, the dark satire The Toxic Avenger, about a toxic mutant superhero, begins a run at the Music Hall on Danforth. Tickets are on sale until at least January 3.
Other Toronto Musicals to Watch For
Free local Toronto papers like NOW Magazine (NowToronto.com) and eye Weekly (eyeWeekly.com) carry up-to-date listings and prices for these shows as the season continues.
- September 15 to October 25: Mimi, or A Poisoner's Comedy (Tarragon Theatre)
- September 16 to October 3: Nursery School Musical (Fence Post Productions at Berkeley Street Theatre Upstairs)
- September 23 to October 11: Altar Boyz (Angelwalk Theatre at the Studio Theatre, Toronto Centre for the Arts)
- September 28 to October 24: Rock ‘n’ Roll by Tom Stoppard (Canadian Stage Company with Edmonton's Citadel Theatre)
- October 31 to November 7: Iphigénie en Tauride by Gluck (Opera Atelier at the Elgin Theatre)
- November 17 and 18: Radio City Christmas Spectacular (Air Canada Centre)
- November 26 to January 3: Robin Hood (Ross Petty Productions at the Elgin Theatre)
- May 3 to 29: Frankenstein (Catalyst Theatre at the Canadian Stage Company)
Photos (click for enlarged version)
- Tracy Penner as Lucy in Frankenstein – Photo by Shivan Silva
- The Cast from The Boys in the Photograph at the John Hirsch Theatre at the MTC Mainstage – Photo by Bruce Monk
- Photo of Chaim Topol as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof – Photo by Joan Marcus © 2009
- Original Broadway Cast of Young Frankenstein – Photo by Paul Kolnik
See also Afrocentric Theatre and Dance in Toronto, 2009-2010, for more about the Toronto theatre and dance scene, or read on to find out about current Broadway musicals in New York and Chicago.
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