Theatre Openings: this week in Toronto

Here is your weekly listings of Theatre that is opening this week in the city. Highly recommended is Sharron's Birthday Party - this woman has talent, serious talent.

Boeing Boeing by Marc Camoletti (Stage West). A man juggles three airline stewardess girlfriends in this comedy. Opens Sep 20 and runs to Nov 23, Tue-Sat 6:30 pm, Sun 11 am and 5 pm. $55-$90. 5400 Dixie, Mississauga. 905-238-0042, stagewest.com.

Catalpa by Donal O'Kelly (Blood in the Alley Productions). Six Irish expats undertake a risky trip to free rebels from an Australian prison in 1875. Opens Sep 18 and runs to Oct 5, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mats Sat-Sun 2 pm. $23-$28, stu $20, Sun mats pwyc-$10. Diesel Playhouse, 56 Blue Jays Way. 416-971-5656.

The Crackwalker by Judith Thompson (Staged & Confused). A mentally challenged woman and her boyfriend struggle with reality and a bogeyman from their dreams. Opens Sep 18 and runs to Oct 11, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2:30 pm. $20, stu $15, Tue pwyc. Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529.

Sharron's (Birthday) Party (Buddies in Bad Times). Cabaret performer Sharron Matthews celebrates with Brent Carver, Keith Cole, Ed Sahely and Marrissa MacIntyre. Sep 19-20 at 8 pm. $20. 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555.

Theatre of the Obsessed (Monkeyman Productions/Bespoke Theatre). This showcase features three short plays by DJ Sylvis and one short play by Stephen Allin. Opens Sep 24 and runs to Sep 27, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $15, mat pwyc. Centre for the Arts, 263 Adelaide W. theatreoftheobsessed.com.

Witch Hazel: The Tale Of Two Wise Women (Theatre Recap). Two jailed women form a bond in this drama about the persecution of women. Opens Sep 19 and runs to Sep 26, Thu-Sat 8 pm. $10 (proceeds to the Assaulted Women's Helpline). Palmerston Library, 560 Palmerston. theatrerecap@hotmail.com.

The 'Laramie Project' receives an epilogue

A decade after piecing together the docudrama The Laramie Project, about people involved with and affected by the 1998 murder of gay college student Matthew Shepard, the creators of the play are returning to Laramie, WY, to write an epilogue.

Conceived by director Moisés Kaufman and members of his Tectonic Theater Project, who interviewed Wyoming and Colorado residents and wrote and acted in the resulting play, The Laramie Project was produced by Denver Center Theatre Company in association with Tectonic in early 2000 and then ran Off-Broadway March-September 2000.

Check out a great article in the New York Times today regarding Kaufman's return to the material:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/17/theater/17laramie.html?_r=1&ref=theater&oref=slogin

Xanadu to close on Broadway

With my approaching trip to New York in a few weeks it seems I might have to fit in another show on my already busy itinerary of Broadway and off Broadway productions, as news broke yesterday that Xanadu will be closing.

The Tony-nominated musical based on the infamous flop film of the same name, will play its final performance at Broadway's Helen Hayes Theatre Oct. 12. When it closes the musical will have played a total of 49 previews and 528 regular performances.

In a statement lead producer Robert Ahrens said, "It was a joy to work on Xanadu, a project that I truly believed in. The cast, which became a family, was superbly talented as was the entire creative team. It's a rare treat to have such a special experience. All of my partners, including Tara Smith, B. Swibel, Dan Vickery, Cari Smulyan, Dale Smith, and Sara Murchison made their Broadway [producing] debuts with the show and their enthusiasm and belief in the project was unparallel. I thank them all."

Xanadu currently features 2008 Tony nominee Kerry Butler, Cheyenne Jackson, Tony Roberts, Mary Testa, Jackie Hoffman, Kenita Miller, Patti Murin, Marty Thomas, André Ward and Jacob ben Widmar. Christopher Ashley directed with Dan Knechtges providing the choreography.

We're Celebrating at Statlers

Tonight Emerging Art Productions is celebrating getting our first grant off to the Canada Council. We'll be partying at Statler's obviously, and I'm treating myself to a song! It's been a while since I've sunk my chords into anything of note. (haha no puns intended.) Anyway hope to see some familliar faces. I will be previewing some more of Wood.
Laundry Day, is the name of the track.

LM

'Curtains Down' at Statlers Tonight

CURTAINS DOWN SALUTS E-ROLEPLAY TONIGHT!!!

Jenni Burke and Michael Baber will be partying and celebrating E-CAB!

featuring:

Tracy Erin Smith, Amelie Lefebvre, Johnnie ellul, Michael Mcginn, Geoff Whynott, Natalie Nadon, Ester Jaciuk, Amy Sellors, Paula Vavaro, Jodi Pape, Dana Vranic, Michael Whithead, Kristen Truelson and Kira Callahan.

Check this out tonight!

Theatre opening this week in the city

Here are the openings for this week:


Blue Note by Brian Quirt and Martin Julien (Nightswimming). Theatre artists, musicians and architects collaborate in this performance installation about seven singers in rehearsal. Opens Sep 16 and runs to Sep 21, Tue-Sun 7 pm (gallery opens noon). Free. York Quay Centre Main Gallery, 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000.

The Harlettes Rock the Block (The Harlettes). The burlesque troupe performs a musical comedy and dance show. Sep 13-14 doors at 8 pm. $15. Bread & Circus, 193½ Baldwin. harlettes.com.

Late/Black Medea by Marcia Johnson/Wesley Enoch (Obsidian Theatre Company). A play about an awkward meeting and a contemporary interpretation of a Greek tragedy are presented in this double bill (see related story, page 85). Previews from Sep 11, opens Sep 17 and runs to Oct 5, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $20-$30, previews $15, stu/srs $5 off. Berkeley Street Theatre Upstairs, 26 Berkeley. 416-368-3110.

The long Weekend by Norm Foster (Theatre Collingwood). Two couples try to keep up appearances at a country retreat. Opens Sep 17 and runs to Sep 27, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sep 18 at 2 pm. $30, stu $15. Gayety Theatre, Collingwood. theatrecollingwood.com.

Menopause out loud by Jeanie Linders (Rose Theatre). Women at a lingerie sale discuss “the change” in this musical comedy. Opens Sep 16 and runs to Sep 21, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 7 pm, mats Sat 2 pm, Sun 3 pm. $45-$60. 1 Theatre Lane, Brampton. 905-874-2800.

Shakespeare in The Pork (The Shameless Dames). The burlesque troupe goes back in time to help Shakespeare become famous. Opens Sep 15 and runs to Sep 20, Mon and Fri-Sat 9 pm. $12-$15, Mon $10. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. shamelessdames@gmail.com.

'Hair' moves from Central Park to Broadway

The New York Times is reporting that:

"Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical will move to Broadway this season, the Public Theater announced on Wednesday. The show will make the transfer after the first of the year, with a theater and dates to be announced soon. The show, directed by Diane Paulus, with music by Galt MacDermot and book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni, began previews in Central Park on July 22 and has been extended three times. The final performance of the production at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park will take place Sunday."

-Julie Bloom, nytimes.com