Toronto TheatreEnjoy blockbuster Toronto theatre shows at Royal Alexandra Theatre, Princess of Wales Theatre … dinner theatre at Mysteriously Yours! … or cutting-edge fare at independent venues.
Where to find what’s on now: Toronto Life – buy a copy of the monthly magazine, or just check online at http://www.torontolife.com . I like their Toronto theatre listings because they give short reviews (just a couple of sentences, but it helps) and they provide additional info like maps of the locations, the web sites if available, etc. Also handy for those surgically attached to their cell phones is their “remind me” service: find an event in their listings and you can have the Toronto Life site send you a text-message reminder. You can also “search” for a particular type of event and date, which saves time. NOW Toronto - Pick up a free copy of the current weekly paper, or visit their web site: www.Nowtoronto.com/whatson Or if you’re planning ahead, you can get an overview of the theatre season at www.Torontolivetheatre.com Types of Toronto theatre: Blockbuster Broadway shows We’re talking big-name global shows like A Chorus Line, We Will Rock You, Dirty Dancing, Cats, Les Miserables, etc. The venues for these shows are usually Panasonic, Royal Alexandra, Canon Theatre, Princess of Wales. Dinner theatre One of the nice things about dinner theatre, especially for visitors to the city, is that it saves time and effort. You don’t have to travel from restaurant to theatre. They’re both in the same location, with no waiting in line, and because of the set-up (pre-ordering), you also get fast dinner service (no panic if you’re going to make it to the theatre on time!). Famous People Players – Black light theatre. Unusual. Very entertaining, with excellent food and service. See my review. Mysteriously Yours – Great fun! Inter-active comedy. I saw this at the Old Mill location and found their buffet meal delicious. They use a few different venues, so make sure you get the right address. Medieval Times dinner theatre - Features a live horse show. My friend has seen this and loves it. Takes guests there. I’ve always wanted to see it, but since I have respiratory problems, I can’t. This is their disclaimer: “Allergy / Strobe Warning: Medieval Times uses stroboscopic and pyrotechnic effects. Medieval Times is a live horse show in an enclosed arena. Persons with respiratory conditions, allergies, or asthma attend at their own risk.” When I’ve seen the ads on television, there does seem to be a lot of artificial smoke in the air. So be warned. Stage West (Mississauga) – A little further out, but a good option if you’re staying in a hotel in that end of the city. They offer hotel/theatre packages too. Opera Toronto has two traditional opera companies, Canadian Opera Company and Opera Atelier. There is also a community opera group called Toronto Opera Repetoire. Other types of Toronto theatre -community theatre such as Markham Little Theatre – usually much less expensive than the major theatres Canadian plays I always like to see local themes in art whenever I travel. It helps me gain some understanding of the place I’m visiting. Here are a few theatres that make an effort to offer Canadian plays on a regular basis: Tarragon Theatre Historic Toronto theatres and concert halls: Massey Hall Royal Alexandra Theatre The Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre Canon Theatre Meet the Actors The Canadian Stage Company has an interesting feature called TALK BACKS. These are informal question-and-answer periods following a performance at the theatre. After every Tuesday evening and Wednesday matinee show, excluding previews.
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