It is early March and winter is not done with us in Toronto just yet. Do not despair friends, the city arts and cultural scene still have plenty to offer to keep cozy during the last weeks of winter.
I have put together another curated list of some excellent theatre, music, dance and comedy shows happening In the City this month.
Theatre
The Prodigal
By The Howland Company
At Crow’s Theatre
Until March 12, 2023
Prodigal is a new contemporary family drama, exploring themes of queerness, privilege, marginalization, and forgiveness as two young men attempt to return to the families they have lost—one to confront his past, and the other to start his future.
Rubble
By Aluna Theatre
At Theatre Passe Muraille
Until March 18, 2023
A life full of love and resilience, in Gaza, is also a life interrupted by scarcity and bombardment. At the same time, in an abandoned theatre, a poet recites from the celebrated poetry of Mahmoud Darwish (as translated by Fady Joudah) and asks the both timeless and urgent question: What is the meaning of poetry amidst a state of siege?
Broken Chord
Presented by TO Live
At St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts · Bluma Appel Theatre
March 9 – 11, 2023
Over 130 years ago, from 1891 to 1893, a group of young African singers travelled by boat to perform in Britain, Canada, and America. The ensemble, named The African Native Choir, was a group of 14 young men and women, and two children, from South Africa, then under British rule. Their repertoire consisted of Western classical music, as well as South African Indigenous music. Inspired by only a handful of photographs from that tour, Broken Chord tells the story of this extraordinary expedition through music and dance.
Mahabharata
By Why Not Theatre
At the Shaw Festival Theatre
Until March 26, 2023
This is a visually stunning modern take on the ancient Indian poem. Presented in two parts, this new version explores profound philosophical and spiritual ideas foundational to Indian culture, while chronicling the gripping saga of the Pandava and Kaurava clan rivalry, the devastating war that follows and a journey through the past to create an inspired and renewed future.
Dance/Music
e-motion tour
Presented by DanceWorks
At Fleck Dance Theatre
March 7 – 8, 2023
The e-motion tour features work by three outstanding choreographic voices from Ballet Edmonton, as a triple-bill program. The event opens with Persistence of Memory by celebrated choreographer and Ballet Edmonton Artistic Director Wen Wei Wang, and follows with two new works by a pair of exciting fresh voices in contemporary ballet, Diego Ramalho presenting Valei-mi, and Dorotea Saykakly presenting Black Moon.
A Woman’s Voice
Presented by Confluence Concerts
At the Heliconian Hall
March 10 – 11, 2023
This concert celebrates CD releases by two of Canada’s most interesting and loved musicians: Patricia O’Callaghan‘s Dark Butterflies and Alice Ping Yee Ho‘s A Woman’s Voice.
Seeing the Music! Xenia Concerts, Phoenix the Fire & Kyla Charter
At Jackman Hall, Art Gallery of Ontario
Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 11AM
This family-friendly performance by Kyla Charter that embraces neurodiversity and disability. This sensory-friendly performance will include songs by Canadian musical icons, including Leonard Cohen, paired with artwork from the AGO Collection and Musical ASL Interpretation.
Chapter 21 by Starr Muranko
Presented by Native Earth Performing Arts
At Aki Studio, Daniels Spectrum
March 23 – 26, 2023
Chapter 21, choreographed by Starr Muranko and directed by Yvette Nolan, is a nonlinear show named with devastating accuracy. After several pregnancy losses, Starr learned her son would be born with Trisomy 21, also known as Down syndrome. Just a few weeks later, she was diagnosed with breast cancer with a chemo treatment regime every 21 days. This performance explores what happens when a vibrant, active artist comes face to face with a crippling collision of events.
Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival
March 8 – 19, 2023
Good News, Toronto!
At Comedy Bar Bloor
Thursday, March 9, 2023 at 10PM
Featuring a hilarious and diverse cast, and incorporating elements of sketch comedy, music, games, and audience participation, Good News, Toronto! aims to share its “bright, frenetic and overstimulating [mixed with] old-fashioned dark humour” with audiences worldwide.
Curator Program: Candace Scott-Moore
At The Theatre Centre
Friday, March 10, 2023 at 8PM
This program is a sketch comedy showcase featuring 20 minute sets from celebrated fan favourites featuring Manifest Destiny’s Child, Tita Collective, and Don Valley Girls with mentor Meg MacKay.
Acuña Acuna
At The Theatre Centre
March 10 – 11, 2023
Acuña Acuna is a one person comedy show with monologues, sketches and songs based on Erick Acuña’s life as a Peruvian Latino living in America.
Shot Live Special!
At The Theatre Centre
Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 7PM
Be part of the studio audience for TOsketchfest’s first Shot Live Comedy Special featuring Anesti Danelis, Gillian Bartolucci, and Shohana Sharmin.
Late Time with Banzo and Blair: Live Script Read
At The Theatre Centre
March 15 & 18 at 9PM
Late Time with Banzo and Blair is a scripted webseries about a late night show that never comes to fruition. Instead, the titular hosts are entangled in a series of adventures. Vance Banzo, Tim Blair, and local comedian guests will perform a live table read of the yet-to-be-produced pilot script.
