Those that know me are aware that musical theatre is my passion. There are few things that I would rather do than indulge in the theatre. My iTunes is 90% cast recordings, my walls are plastered with posters and headshots, and my mind is overflowing with seemingly useless facts, such as which musical won the 1976 Tony Award for “Best Musical” (psst…it was A Chorus Line). While New York will always be the home of great musical theatre, the Toronto theatre scene is far above adequate. I’ll never forget when I was fourteen years old and saw Wicked for the first time…an obsession was born that I doubt will ever fade away.
Toronto theatre companies- particularly Mirvish Productions– have provided Canadian theatregoers with an incredible history of shows that whet the palate and leave one craving more. With summer approaching, young people such as myself may find themselves with a bit more time (and money) on their hands in order to indulge in the theatre. Here is a brief overview of the notable shows touring through Toronto this summer, and my opinions as to what to look forward to. Feel free to click the show’s image for more information and tickets! ♡
[We Will Rock You, April 29-May 10]
WWRY is a show that has a special place in my heart. When the Canadian cast was last performing, I saw the show quite a few times. The cast was incredible, and the community and experience that arose from seeing the show often was incomparable. I saw this new North American tour of WWRY this past weekend, and I was mildly disappointed. The show was more or less the same; same songs, same choreography, same idea. However, the heart was missing. While Erica Peck and Danny Balkwill returned to new roles, their presence couldn’t fill the hole that was left by the rest of the Canadian cast. The soul was ultimately missing. If you haven’t seen WWRY before, I absolutely suggest seeing this tour…but if you saw the original Canadian company, you may be yearning for a different show.
[The Lion King, April 30-June 15]
This is another return engagement to Toronto, and I couldn’t be happier. This show is stunning; the costumes are exquisite, and the show is reminiscent of the Disney movie that we all love so much. The Lion King is true to the movie, so do not expect a more mature staging of the children’s story. However if you go into it with a light heart and a kleenex (or ten) for the inevitable tears, you will not be disappointed!
[Flashdance, May 27-June 8]
I have heard mostly good things about Flashdance. As its title suggests, this is a dance heavy show. Much like Dirty Dancing (which graced Toronto stages in 2009), Flashdance features beloved songs from the corresponding film such as What a Feeling and Maniac. While I’m sure that this show has a lot of heart and would be a lot of fun, I am unsure how diehard fans of the film would feel about a stage version.
[Jesus Christ Superstar, June 26]
I am so unsure of this production. This one-night-only performance of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical will be held at the Air Canada Centre, which is flawed in itself. The casting is also questionable to say the least. While I don’t doubt that Michelle Williams and JC Chasez are talented- I have a degree of respect for 90s popstars- there is something to be said about stunt casting. I really don’t like when shows cast celebrities in order to garner ticket sales. While I understand that this is an attempt to mimic the annual Hollywood Bowl musicals, I am skeptical as to how this performance will fare. I am a fan of Jesus Christ Superstar itself, and I am sure that this performance would be worth watching if only for the score and unique orchestration.
[Titanic, July/August]
Ahh, Titanic…I have heard so many great reviews about you. The original Broadway production won a few Tony Awards (including Best Musical), and it featured Brian d’Arcy James…if you haven’t heard him sing, YouTube it NOW. You won’t regret it. Anyways, fans of the film may balk at the musical as it does not follow the fictional romantic journey of Rose and Jack. The musical focuses on the genuine voyage of the RMS Titanic. This production is expected to move to Broadway in the fall, so this is a show that theatre fans will not want to miss.
[Wicked, September 3-November 2]
While Wicked does not return until the fall, I had to throw it in here. If there is any show that I recommend you see this year, it is Wicked. As I previously stated, Wicked is the musical that made me love musicals. The heartwarming story of how the Wicked Witch of the West became so, well, wicked, this show challenges the story of Oz that we all know so well. Even my dad enjoyed Wicked, and has seen it with me multiple times. I cannot say enough good things about this show, and I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
Will you see any musicals this summer?
Carly Clydesdale 