Canadian Opera Company

The Canadian Opera Company's 2011/12 season is well underway and the spring opens with a great operatic masterpiece by Jacques Offenbach, The Tales of Hoffman.  The story of a tortured, romantic artist who fails to find love makes its long-awaited return to the COC stage.  Conductor Johannes Debus and Lee Blakeley direct this latest production.  The Tales of Hoffman runs for nine performances at the Four Seasons Centre on April 10, 14, 18, 21, 27, May 3, 6, 8 and 14, 2012.

American Tenor Russell Thomas makes his COC debut as Hoffman.  Thomas is one of the most exciting vocal and dramatic talents on the international opera scene today.  Also appearing as Hoffman for two performances is the COC Ensemble Studio graduate David Pomeroy.  Pomeroy debuted at the Metropolitan Opera as Hoffman in 2009.  Acclaimed bass-baritone John Relyea, an Opera world regular, is also debuting at the COC singing the role of Hoffmans's four nemeses: Lindorf, Coppelius, Dr. Miracle and Dapertutto.   The women of the opera are played by Canadian Andriana Churchman, as Olympia, Erin Wall is Antonia and American Keri Alkema also debuts as Giulietta, the Venetian courtesan.

Single tickets for the opera range from $12- $318.  Tickets are available online through the COC website here or by calling 416.363.8231.  You can also purchase tickets at the box office at the FOur Seasons Centre, located at 145 Queen St W. Monday through Saturday from 11am. to 6 pm. 

Preview: FRESH BLOOD

The Harbourfront Centre in association with The Chimera Project presents the best upcoming choreographers with FRESH BLOOD.  Part of the 2012 NextSteps season, FRESH BLOOD is an interesting and innovative dance show featuring some of tomorrow's great contemporary choreographers.  Each presenter has less than five years of professional experience and are given five minutes to showcase their work.

FRESH BLOOD takes place March 16th and 17th at the Enwave Theatre, 235 Queens Quay West, Toronto.

Tickets are $20, students $15, seniors $18.  All NextSteps tickets are available through the Harbourfront Box Office.  Call 416.973.4000.  Or visit the Harbourfront website here.

Acting Up-Stage Presents The Long and Winding Road

Acting Up-Stage would like to invite you to their third composer series concert.  After the success of Both Sides Now and The Sound of Silence the company presents The Long and Winding Road, featuring the music of John Lennon and Paul McCartney.  Familiar songs like "A Day in the Life," "Imagine," "Blackbird," and Let it Be" will be re-imagined by some of Canada's great musical theatre voices.

The Long and Winding Road features Thom Allison, Jackie Richardson, Michael Therriault, Graham Abbey, Sara Farb, Deborah Hay, Kelly Holiff, Jeff Irving, Amanda LeBlanc, Jeigh Madjus, Eden Richmond, Evan Alexander Smith, Mike Ross and Steve Ross.

With Musical Direction and arrangements by Reza Jacobs
Direction by Elenna Mosoff.

The Long and Winding Road  is a one-night-only event on Sunday April 1st at 7:30 pm.  The show is at the Telus Centre for Performance and Learning, Koerner Hall: 273 Bloor St West.

To purchase tickets call 416.408.0208 or click here.

CanStage Promotion

See Dark Matters, by internationally acclaimed choreographer Crystal Pite, for the fantastic rate of $39.  The show opens on Tuesday February 28th with only seven shows scheduled, and this special offer from CanStage only lasts until tomorrow evening at midnight.

Dark Matters was originally presented, to great acclaim, as part of the Cultural Olympiad during the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.  But now this piece is coming to Toronto. Don't miss a rare opportunity to see this phenomenal work, featuring seven dancers and the original score by Owen Belton.

To get the discounted rate use promo code Dark39 when you call the box office.  416.368.3110

Preview: Four at the Winch Quebec

Toronto Dance Theatre presents Four at the Winch Quebec, featuring new works by four of the most intriguing voices at work in the province of Quebec today. The show features the work of  Montreal-based choreographers, Estelle Clareton, Lina Cruz, Deborah Dunn and Jean-Sébastien Lourdais. Four at the Winch Quebec is the culmination of an intensive rehearsal period with TDT’s dancers. Performances begin tonight at the Winchester Street Theatre with additional shows on the 24, 25, 29 & March 1-3, 2012 (8pm). There is also a PWYC performance at 2pm on February 26th.

Since its inception in 1998, this popular choreographic platform has featured works by such artists as Peter Chin, Matjash Mrozewski, Sasha Ivanochko, Tedd Robinson, Nova Bhattacharya and Andrea Nann. It is a showcase for new ideas and and collaborative exchange. Four at the Winch Quebec promises to provide Toronto audiences with a fascinating cross-section of Quebec dance today, created by four choreographers riding a wave of success, and performed by TDT’s extraordinary company of dancers.

Preview: Dani Girl

The season at Passe Muraille has been quite inspiring and opening tonight is a piece that is no exception and we are very excited to it check out...

Show Description:

Dani Girl is the inspiring and humorous story of a young girls battle with a life-threatening disease. Far from sitting back and accepting her condition, Dani transforms her struggle into a fantastical adventure. Together with her teddy bear, imaginary guardian angel, and movie-obsessed hospital roommate, she battles a personified Cancer across the realms of fantasy and reality as she attempts to get her beloved hair back. Told from a childs perspective, this provocative musical explores the universal themes of life in the face of death, hope in the face of despair, and the indomitable power of imagination.

For tickets or for more information please click the header!

TIFT and Show One Productions present
Dani Girl
Febuary 16th- March 4th 2012
Theatre Passe Muraille
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Preview: The Double

Opening to very strong reviews at the Factory Theatre is a piece that has been touted as: "Two actors and one musician with a double bass collide in a schizophrenic feast of sight and sound". Sounds incredible if you ask us!

Show Description:

TheatreRUN, the Dora Award-winning company best known for co-creating the critically acclaimed smash hit Spent, presents the world premiere of The Double, a multi-disciplinary adaptation of Fyodor Dostoevski’s novella of the same name. Conceived by Artistic Director Adam Paolozza (who also directs) and Arif Mirabdolbaghi, bass-player and lyricist of the award-winning Canadian Metal band Protest The Hero, The Double combines physical theatre with live, jazzy double bass into a molotov cocktail of alienation and paranoia.

For tickets please click the header!

The Double runs to February 19 at Factory Studio Theatre!

Created by The Company
Directed by Adam Paolozza
Original Music by Arif Mirabdolbaghi
Starring: Adam Paolozza, Arif Mirabdolbaghi, Viktor Lukawski

(And a heads up here that the show prices are very reasonable and Sunday is PWYC!)

Mirvish 2013 Subscription Season Announced.

Mirvish Productions has announced the subscription shows for next season, and there are a lot of great show to get excited about.  Not only is Mirvish bringing the multi-Tony award winning The Book of Mormon, but Sister Act and La Cage Aux Follies will also be landing in Toronto next year.  Plus a whole lot more!!!!


Click here to see the full line-up and to get special early bird pricing on subscription tickets.  Official tour dates have not been announced yet but expect to see the full season line up soon.  

The National Ballet of Canada announces 2012-13 Season!

Please take a moment and watch the announcement of the upcoming season from Karen Kain, Artistic Director!

Preview: In the Heights

Four time Tony and Grammy Award winning In the Heights opens tonight at the Toronto Centre for the Arts.  This dynamic musical about Latin communities in Washington Heights, New York took Broadway by storm, winning Tony's for Best Musical, Best Music and Lyrics, Best Choreography and Best Orchestration, in 2008.  The show also won the 2008 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.  

The story of family and community is set in the niche New York neighborhood, Washington Heights, where Spanish is spoken more easily than English. In the Heights was a hit with New York critics like Ben Brantley of the New York Times who said " [it]  is an exuberant, animated shrine to the importance of family ties and being faithful to where you come from." 

The show is fueled by the rhythm of Latin music and hip hop. But at the same time is, "pure Broadway.  An evening of old-style, innocent pleasure, " said the Washington Post.  The electric choreography and heart warming tale of an immigrant community thriving moved audiences in even more conservative theatre markets like Buffalo and Erie, Pennsylvania.  Presenter, Aubrey Dan, President of Dancap Productions, brought In the Heights because "it is about a community of hard working immigrants seeking a better life... just like so many new Canadians in Toronto."  With Its non-stop action and huge heart In the Heights is sure to move you.

In The Heights runs February 7-19th.  Click here for ticket info.  This would be a good one for the loved one in your life.  

The Star: Lin-Manuel Miranda Interview from In the Heights

It arrives next week and we are very excited! For a great interview from Richard Ouzounian with the composer of In the Heights please click the below and for info or tickets to the show please click the header!


Lin-Manuel Miranda is hitting the heights: The Big... - Toronto.com

Globe & Mail: In Toronto-vs-Chicago theatre war, tax credits are the new ammo

Check out this new article from J. Kelly at the Globe and Mail:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/theatre/in-toronto-vs-chicago-theatre-war-tax-credits-are-the-new-ammo/article2319934/