January 3 – 8 Bursting with colour and whimsy, this Tony award-winning musical has become an international hit. A treat for all ages, this enchanting performance brings to life the story of bonny Belle and her deeply troubled Beast who has been snared by a malevolent spell. Can Belle show the Beast how to love [...]

OCTOBER 25 TO NOVEMBER 6 Fela Anikulapo Kuti has been described as Che Guevara and Bob Marley rolled into one. A fitting description, as throughout the 1970s and ‘80s Kuti utilized his big band–styled music as a conduit for scathing critiques targeted at the oppressive military regimes in his native Nigeria. The creation of his [...]

Start snapping your fingers: the Jets and the Sharks are back and ready to rumble in Leonard Bernstein’s beloved Broadway musical West Side Story (Oct. 22 to 29). Hearts skip a beat as Tony and Maria profess their undying love in “Tonight” and tears fall during Maria’s rendition of “A Boy Like That.” So choose [...]

Oct 13-Nov 5 Fans of the 1993 feature film will delight in the world premiere of Grumpy Old Men: The Musical at Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre. Set in Wabasha, Minnesota, long-time rivals John and Max are criticized by their children for not embracing change. These aging curmudgeons stand firm, content to engage in their decades-long [...]

May 13 to 15. Spring Awakening took Broadway by storm in 2006 with its fusion of morality, sexuality, and rock and roll. Set in the 19th century, the story pits teen desires against adult repression in a stunning showcase that incorporates choreography, humour, and a rock score by Duncak Sheik. (Interesting tidbit, Glee superstar Lea [...]

APRIL 19 TO JUNE 12 Get ready—or should we say “Be Prepared”—to prowl the pride lands as the beloved Disney musical The Lion King roars into Toronto for a limited engagement. Based on the 1994 animated film of the same name, this enthralling stage show follows an exiled cub named Simba, who must undertake a [...]

FEBRUARY 15 TO APRIL 10 The power of love is tested by war and prejudice in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific. Considered one of Broadway’s greatest musicals, its two parallel love stories deliver award-winning drama and serious social commentary against a backdrop of World War II. This revival, by New York’s renowned Lincoln Centre Theatre, [...]

FEBRUARY 8 TO MARCH 19 A world of natural beauty is revealed to Toronto in the Tony Award–winning musical, The Secret Garden. Adapted from the enduring turn-of-the-century novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, the enchanting production shows how a young girl brings new life to an entire Victorian household by tending to its neglected flower patch. [...]

A weekend filled with festivals, concerts, theatre and culture! Toronto’s multiculturalism openly displayed right in front of your eyes. Lots to choose from, so little time… Friday, July 16 Spend your evening at the launch of the annual Beaches International Jazz Festival at Woodbine Park, where you can enjoy some fresh air while listening to [...]

“Quirky” is the word of the day in this Tony Award–winning musical comedy that pits awkward adolescent spellers against each other—and audience members. Word nerds go crazy for musical numbers such as “My Friend, the Dictionary.” At the Granville Island Stage (to Jul. 31).—Sheri Radford