Preview: Japan’s Hiroaki Umeda/S20

NOW Magazine’s Glenn Sumi named Political Mother and Dark Matters in his top 5 dance shows of 2012, so it is exciting to see more dance at Canadian Stage in 2013. To start, they're featuring two performances from Japan’s Hiroaki Umeda/S20 as part of the Spotlight Japan festival in February.

A star of Japan’s avant-garde dance scene, Hiroaki Umeda/S20 combines hip-hop, soundscape, and video/light effects in two utterly hypnotic performances. Haptic and Holistic Strata will be presented as a double-bill, and all tickets are $54.

This show runs Feb 26 - March 2nd.  This is a short run at the Berkeley Theatre and tickets will go fast. So click here for information and links to buy tickets 

Top 10 Theatre Shows of 2011 from NOW Magazine

Photo: HIS GREATNESS

Now Toronto has released their top 10 Theatre shows for 2011 and we here at EAP have to agree with almost all of their decisions. Especially HIS GREATNESS, BILLY ELLIOT and THE NORMAL HEART!

For the complete list please click the link below:

Top 10 Theatre Shows | NOW Magazine

Fringe Toronto 2011

The Cast of SWOON

I wanted to compile a little collection of great Fringe articles that I have been reading and put them together here for easy access. NOW Magazine again seems to be the king of promoting Fringe shows and it is so lovely to see. Always comprehensive and insightful, NOW is always the best when it comes to what is going on in the Toronto theatre community.

Click here the article on the endearing sounding new show about love, Swoon.

Click here to find out what Canadian Classics are worth checking out this year.

Click here for an article on what dance shows to look into.

Click here to read a featured NOW article on the up and coming theatre artist Ins Choi. His new show at Fringe allegedly has some "hard hitting immigrant truths". Sounds pretty good to me.

Click here to check out a great article on five artists to watch over this year's festival.

Stay tuned for more Fringe previews!

Pride Productions at the Fringe Festival

PHOTO: MICHAEL HUGHES IN MICKEY & JUDY.

Starting tomorrow is the annual Fringe Festival here in Toronto. The festival runs from the 6th of July to the 27th. I just read this cute little article in Now Toronto on queer productions to see over the next few weeks.

Click here or the header to be rerouted to the article.

Well this is very interesting -Fringe Festival '10

Now Magazine is reporting that the Toronto Fringe Festival is joining forces with Mirvish and the Randolph Centre for the 22nd year of the Fringe Festival. This partnership is hoping to establish the Bloor/Bathurst area, and Mirvish village as a hub for the annual festival. "The Randolph Centre, just across the street from the new Fringe Club, will host over 180 performances by 26 companies. The centre, which includes the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts, the Bathurst Street Theatre and the Annex Theatre, will also be the site of the Fringe’s central box office... The new plan makes Bathurst Street the spine of the Fringe, with direct access to venues to the north (the two Tarragon spaces) and south (Theatre Passe Muraille and Factory)." Click here to read the full article from Now Magazine

Opening this week in Toronto

African Footprint by Richard Loring (Rose Theatre). The diverse history of South Africa is told through music and dance. Mar 1-2 at 8 pm. $75-$90. 1 Theatre Lane, Brampton. 905-874-2800, rosetheatre.ca.

Clyomon And Clamydes (Poculi Ludique Societas/Graduate Centre for Study of Drama at U of T. Two knights travel in search of honour and love in this Elizabethan play. Opens Feb 25 and runs to Mar 8, Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $20, srs $15, stu $10. Studio Theatre, 4 Glen Morris. 416-978-7986.

The Drowsy Chaperone by Bob Martin, Don McKellar, Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison (Rose Theatre). The musical-within-a-musical gets a staging. Mar 13-14, Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $85-$100. 1 Theatre Lane, Brampton. 905-874-2800, rosetheatre.ca.

The Dybbuk by S Anski (TEATRON Jewish Theatre). Other-worldly forces affect a bride in a village in Eastern Europe. Previews Feb 25-25 at 1 pm. Opens Feb 26 and runs to Mar 8, Thu (and Feb 25) 8 pm, Sat 8:30 pm, Sun 2 pm. $22-$44. Leah Posluns Theatre, 4588 Bathurst. 416-781-5527, teatrontheatre.com.

An Evening With Uncle Val by Andy Jones (Rose Theatre). A retired fisherman moves to the suburbs of St. John's in this solo comedy. Feb 23-23 at 8 pm. $30-$45. 1 Theatre Lane, Brampton. 905-874-2800, rosetheatre.ca.


Five-Hole: Tales Of Hockey Erotica by Dave Bidini (One Yellow Rabbit). Stories about the sexy side of Canada's national sport are told in this musical comedy. Mar 10-10 at 8 pm. $45-$60. Rose Theatre, 1 Theatre Lane, Brampton. 905-874-2800, rosetheatre.ca.

Friday Night Magic At Revival (Revival Bar). Magicians and conjurers perform in a weekly show. Indefinite run, Fri 8 pm (doors 6 pm). $20. 783 College. 416-535-7888.

Glory's Grace by Kathleen Jackson Allamby (Entertainment By Demand). A woman deals with her mother's Alzheimer's disease in this dark comedy. Proceeds to the Alzheimer Society of Toronto. Previews Feb 20-20. Opens Feb 21 and runs to Mar 7, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2:30 pm. $20-$30, stu/srs $15-$25 . Theatre Passe Muraille, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, artsboxoffice.ca.

Impromptu Splendor (The National Theatre of Canada). An audience suggestion spawns an improvised play. Indefinite run, Thu 8 pm. Pwyc. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. impromptusplendor.com.

Inês by James Rolfe and Paul Bentley (Queen of Puddings/Harbourfront Centre). A married man's affair leads to murder in this opera inspired by Portuguese fado music. Opens Feb 22 and runs to Mar 1, Sun 4 pm, Wed-Thu and Sat 8 pm. $35-$59. Enwave Theatre, 231 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, queenofpuddingsmusictheatre.com.

The Jungleish Book by Peter Towill (Nags Players). A traditional English pantomime tells the classic story. Proceeds to Kids Help Phone. Opens Feb 19 and runs to Feb 28, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 1:30 pm. $12-$18, children $2. Tranzac, 292 Brunswick. nagsplayers.com.

The Patient Hour by Kristen Thomson (Tarragon Theatre). Two siblings reunite over their unconscious mother's hospital bed. Previews Feb 17-24. Opens Feb 25 and runs to Mar 29, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mats Sat-Sun 2:30 pm. $32-$38, stu/srs $20-$27, previews $19, Fri rush $10. 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.

The Peking Acrobats (Rose Theatre). Special effects, live music and Chinese acrobatics are combined in this spectacle. Mar 26-26 at 8 pm. $40-$55. 1 Theatre Lane, Brampton. 905-874-2800, rosetheatre.ca.

That Night Follows Day by Tim Etchells (Harbourfront World Stage/Victoria). Young actors explore how a child's world is shaped by adults in this piece performed in Dutch with English surtitles. Opens Feb 25 and runs to Feb 28, Wed-Sat 8 pm. $40. Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.

Une Maison Face Au Nord by Jean-Rock Gaudreault (Théâtre français de Toronto). A man faces a changing society, modern issues and generational conflict in this family drama. Previews Feb 25-26. Opens Feb 27 and runs to Mar 8, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mats Sun 2:30 pm and March 7 at 3:30 pm. $29-$46, stu/srs $24-$32. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley. 416-534-6604, theatrefrancais.com.

Viagara Falls by Lou Cutell (Rose Theatre). Two lifelong friends discover modern pharmaceuticals in this comedy. Mar 6-7, Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $40-$55. 1 Theatre Lane, Brampton. 905-874-2800, rosetheatre.ca.