●●Lower Ossington Theatre. Mary Poppins. Music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman, George Stiles and Anthony Drewe; book by Julian Fellowes. The Lower Ossington Theatre, 100A Ossington Ave. 416- 915-6747. .99-.99. Runs to Nov 20. Thurs-Sat(7:30pm), Sat/Sun(3:30). ●●Lower Ossington Theatre. Sister Act. Music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Glenn Slater, book by Bill and Cheri Steinkellner with Douglas Carter Beane. Lower Ossington Theatre, 100A Ossington Ave. 416-915-6747. .99- .99. Opens Dec 1, 7:30pm. Runs to Jan 29. Thurs-Sat(7:30), Sat/Sun(3:30). Note: No show Dec 24/25/31/Jan 1. ●●Mirvish. Roald Dahl’s Matilda: The Musical. Music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, book by Dennis Kelly, based on the novel by Roald Dahl. Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria Street. 416-872- 1212. -5. Runs to Jan 8. Tues-Sat(7:30), Wed/Sat/Sun(1:30). ●●Mirvish. Come From Away. Music, lyrics and book by Irene Sankoff and David Hein. Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King St.W. 416- 872-1212. -0. Opens Nov 15, 8:00. Runs to Jan 8. Tues-Sat(8:00), Wed/Sat/Sun(2:00). Note: Wed Nov 23(6:30), Thurs Nov 24, 2:00. ●●Mirvish. The Man in Black: A Tribute to Johnny Cash. Shawn Barker (Johnny Cash). Panasonic Theatre, 651 Yonge St. 416-872- 1212. -. Opens Nov 29, 7:30pm. Runs to Dec 11. Tues-Sat(7:30), Wed/Sat/Sun(1:30). ●●Music On The Donway. The Opera. Deconstructs operatic traditions to make it accessible as the popular, easy listening music it was written to be. Funny whirlwind concert of operatic favourites and well-known classical C. Music Theatre tunes. Kyra Millan, opera comedienne; Tina Faye, piano. Donway Covenant United Church, 230 The Donway W. 416-444-8444. ; (st); free(12 and under). Nov 19, 7:30pm. ●●National Ballet of Canada. Cinderella. Music by Sergei Prokofiev. James Kudelka, choreographer. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-345- 9595. -5. Opens Nov 12, 2:00. Runs to Nov 20. Wed-Sat(7:30), Thurs/Sat/Sun(2:00). ●●National Ballet of Canada. Onegin. Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Three-act ballet by John Cranko, based on the novel by Alexander Pushkin. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-345- 9595. -5. Opens Nov 23, 7:30pm. Runs to Nov 27. Wed-Sat(7:30), Sat/Sun(2:00). ●●Onstage Uxbridge. Brigadoon. Music by Frederick Loewe, lyrics and book by Alan Jay Lerner. Uxbridge Music Hall, 16 Main St. S., Uxbridge. Onstageuxbridge.com. . Opens Nov 17, 7:30pm. Runs to November 26. Thurs- Sat(7:30), Sat(2:00). Also Nov 20(2:00). ●●Opera by Request. Fidelio. Music by Ludwig van Beethoven, libretto by Joseph Sonnleithner. In concert with piano accompaniment. Brigitte Bogar, soprano (Leonora); Sharon Tikiryan, soprano (Marzelline); Jason Lamont, tenor (Florestan); Jay Lambie, tenor (Jaquino); Steven Henrikson, baritone (Rocco); Lawrence Cotton, baritone (Pizarro); William Shookhoff, piano and music director. College Street United Church, 452 College St. 416-455-2365. . Nov 12, 7:30. ●●Opera by Request. Eugene Onegin. Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. In concert with piano accompaniment. Wayne Line, baritone Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016 – 7:30 pm Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016 – 7:30 pm Artistic Director ~ Sabatino Vacca Stage Director ~ Giuseppe Macina Tickets: 905 787. 8811 • online: rhcentre.ca Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts (Eugene Onegin); Natalya Matyusheva, soprano (Tatiana); Paul Williamson, tenor (Lenski); Kinga Luzon, mezzo (Olga); Daria Bukhman, mezzo (Larina); Anna Belikova, mezzo (Filipevna); George Ossipov, bass-baritone (Gremin); Francis Domingue, tenor (Triquet); William Shookhoff, piano and music director. College Street United Church, 452 College St. 416-455-2365. . Nov 19, 7:30. ●●Opera by Request. Il Trovatore. Music by Giuseppe Verdi, libretto by Salvadore Cammarano. In concert with piano accompaniment. Rocco Rupolo, tenor (Manrico); Stephanie de Ciantis, soprano (Leonora); Lawrence Cotton, baritone (Count di Luna); Catharin Carew, mezzo (Azucena); Mikhail Shemet, bass-baritone (Ferrando); Mikhail Bukhman, tenor (Ruiz); Daria Bukhman, mezzo (Inez); William Shookhoff, piano and music director. College Street United Church, 452 College St. 416-455-2365. . Nov 26, 7:30. ●●Opera by Request. Street Scene. Music by Kurt Weill. Semi-staged performance. Shannon Mills, soprano (Rose Maurrant); Jaclyn Grossman, soprano (Anna Maurrant); Austin Larusson, baritone (Frank Maurrant); Avery Krisman, tenor (Sam Kaplan); Greg Finney, baritone (Abraham Kaplan); Deena Nicklefork, soprano (Olga Olsen); Jay Lambie, tenor (George Jones); Will Ford, tenor (Lippo Fiorentino); William Shookhoff, piano and music director. College Street United Church, 452 College St. 416-455-2365. . Opens Dec 3, 7:30. Also Dec 4. ●●Opera York. Tosca. Music by Giacomo Puccini, libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. Romulo Delgado, tenor (Mario Cavaradossi); Nicolae Raciciu, baritone (Baron Scarpia); Sabatino Vacca, artistic director; Giuseppe Macina, stage director. Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, 10268 Yonge St., Richmond Hill. 905-787- 8811. -; (st). Opens Nov 3, 7:30. Also Nov 5. ●●Port Hope Festival Theatre. Snow White: The Panto. Written, directed and visual effects by Antonio Sarmiento. Based on the German fairy tale “Snow White” by the Brothers Grimm. Cameco Capitol Arts Centre, 20 Queen St., Port Hope. 1-800-434-5092. ; (ch). Opens Nov 24, 8:00. Runs to Dec 17. Sat-Sun(2:00), Thurs-Sat(8:00) ●●Ross Petty Productions. Sleeping Beauty: The Deliriously Dreamy Family Musical. Written by Jeremy Diamond. Tracey Flye, director. Julie Tomaino, choreographer. Bob Foster, music director. Elgin Theatre, 189 Yonge St. 1-855-599-9090. -. Opens Nov 25, 7:00. Runs to Jan 7. Days and times vary. Visit rosspetty.com for details. ●●Scarborough Music Theatre. The Music Man. Music, lyrics and book by Meredith Willson. Scarborough Village Community Centre, 3600 Kingston Rd. 416-267-9292. ; (sr/st); (ch). Opens Nov 3, 8:00. Runs to Nov 19. Thurs-Sat(8:00), Sun(2:00). Note: Nov 19 show at 2:00. ●●ShaggyPup Productions. Menopause Out Loud. Al Green Theatre, Miles Nadal JCC, 750 Spadina Ave. 647-438-5559. .95-.98. Opens Nov 11, 8:00. Runs to December 10. Tues-Sat(8:00), Wed/Sat/ Sun(2:00). Note: Nov 20 at 4:00pm. No shows Nov 25-Nov 27. ●●Soulpepper Concert Series. Manhattan: Midtown – 42nd Street and Broadway. Albert Schultz, writer and host. Mike Ross, music director. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666. -. Runs to Nov 5. Thurs-Sat(7:30). ●●Steppin’ Out Theatrical Productions. The Music Man. Music, lyrics and book by Meredith Willson. Richmond Hill Centre For Performing Arts, 10268 Yonge St. Richmond Hill. 905-787-8811. -34. Opens Nov 24, 7:30pm. Runs to Nov 27. Thurs-Sat(7:30), Fri-Sun(1:30). ●●Tapestry Opera. Naomi’s Road. Music by Ramona Luengen, libretto by Ann Hodges. Sam Chung, tenor (Stephen); Sung Taek Chung, baritone (Daddy); Heather Darnel- Kadonaga, soprano (Naomi); Erica Iris Huang, mezzo (Mother/Obasan); Michael Hidetoshi Mori, stage director. St. David’s Anglican Church, 49 Donlands Ave. 416-537-6066 x243. ; (st/youth). Opens Nov 16, 8:00. Also Nov 17, 19, 20(2:00). ●●Toronto Operetta Theatre. Waltz Rivals. A tribute to Kálmán and Lehár. Jane Mallett Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St. E. 416-366-7723. -. Nov 6, 3:00. ●●University of Toronto Faculty of Music. Thursdays at Noon: Opera Spotlight. Offenbach: Orpheus in the Underworld. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building, University of Toronto, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208. Free. Nov 10, 12:10. ●●University of Toronto Faculty of Music. Orpheus in the Underworld (Orphée aux enfers). Music by Jacques Offenbach, libretto by Ludovic Halévy. Russell Braun, conductor; Michael Patrick Albano, director. MacMillan Theatre, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208. ; (sr); (st). 7:00: Opera Talk pre-performance lecture, rm 130. Opens Nov 24, 7:30pm. Also Nov 25, 26, 27(mat). ●●Voicebox/Opera in Concert. I Capuleti e i Montecchi (The Capulets and the Montagues). Music by Vincenzo Bellini, libretto by Felice Romani. Caitlin Wood, soprano; Anita Krause, mezzo; Tonatiuh Abrego, tenor; Voicebox Chorus; Robert Cooper, chorus director; Raisa Nakhmanovich, music director/piano. St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St. E. 416-366-7723. $22-. Nov 20, 2:30. ●●Well Seasoned Productions. Funny Bones. Comedy sketches and songs with a tonguein-cheek look at life 50+. Aki Studio Theatre, Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas St.E. 416-531- 1402. ; (sr). Opens Nov 4, 8:00. Also Nov 5(8:00), Nov 6(2:00). ●●Young People’s Theatre. Seussical the Musical. Music and book by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics and book by Lynn Ahrens. Co-conceived by Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, and Eric Idle, based on the works of Dr. Seuss. Young People’s Theatre, 165 Front St.E. 416-862- 2222. -41. Opens Nov 14, 10:15am. Runs to Dec 31. Days and times vary. Visit youngpeoplestheatre.ca for details. 58 | November 1, 2016 - December 7, 2016 thewholenote.com
Beat by Beat | Mainly Clubs, Mostly Jazz! MARIE BYERS To The Rex for Romberg, The Pilot for Elmes BOB BEN Nobody in the world sounds like Barry Romberg. On top of the evident influence from certain prominent drummers of the last 50 years in rock and jazz (I think of Keith Moon and John Bonham, I think of Elvin Jones, I think of Bill Stewart), and on top of the playful way he and the rotating cast of musicians who appear on stage with him will imply and weave in and out of various related tempos and grids, just to keep things interesting, and on top of the sweaty machismo with which he plays the instrument (which should not be mistaken for a lack of subtlety, but it is loud, and if you’re going to sit right at the front you should probably wear earplugs), there is a certain frankness about everything he does. Although it’s often complex, dark, ethereal, innovative, or just weird, it’s always music without pretense. Romberg presents the tunes as tepidly, casually, as would a singer-songwriter with an acoustic guitar at your local coffee house. The titles of the tunes even sometimes offer a hint as to what’s musically going on. He evidently feels that the music will speak for itself, that it requires no air of mystery, nothing to set up the mood. Actually watching (forget your ears for a moment) as Romberg plays the drums is a ton of fun. It’s a wonder to behold. His body language tells all that may not already be aurally apparent: when something interesting is happening that he sees fit to play off, his ear will often lean towards the responsible player, like a growing sunflower to the sun. His shirt will often become more visibly saturated with sweat as Barry Elmes Barry Romberg the night goes on, a tangible measure of how hard he’s been working. His facial expressions range from satisfaction to immense concentration to apparent anger. He hits the drums with almost comical aggression. Before you even hear it, it’s a thrill to watch. I have never heard Romberg play under the “Barry Romberg Group” name – only under other names such as Random Access and Three Blind Mice, so I really don’t know what will be going down at The Rex on the evening of November 27, but I’m certain, to the degree one can be certain of anything, that it’ll be, as an understatement, enjoyable. The Pilot: Just one other thing before I wish you a merry winter. A few Saturdays ago, I went to The Pilot for the first time. It seems absurd that The Pilot has been showcasing some of the best musicians in the city for every Saturday of my life and then some, without charging a cover, and I hadn’t been until just this season. I didn’t plan to go to The Pilot; I wandered in off the street. When I arrived, the place was packed, with hardly any standing room left anywhere but the patio. The band, which turned out to be the Barry Elmes Quartet, was on a set break, so I took an empty seat right near the playing area (the musicians do not perform on a raised stage) and was eventually overjoyed to find out who I was settling in to hear. Heavy names are constantly showing up in the listings under The Pilot. Names like Barry Elmes, like Neil Swainson, like Ted Quinlan, like Alexis Baro – names that make me want to perpetually book off Saturday afternoons. I hope to see more of you warming up in the clubs this winter, and I hope you’ll see more of me doing the same! Bob Ben is The WholeNote’s jazz listings editor. He can be reached at jazz@thewholenote.com. D. In the Clubs (Mostly Jazz) 120 Diner 120 Church St. 416-792-7725 120diner.com (full schedule) All shows: PWYC (- suggested) November 1 6pm Leslie Huyler; 8pm Annie Bonsignore; 10pm Chris Brikett. November 2 6pm Genevieve Marentette & Robert Scott; 8pm Lisa Particelli’s GNO Jazz Jam. November 3 6pm Julie Michels and Kevin Barrett. November 4 6pm Ilana Waldston. November 5 6pm Lisa Particelli’s Variety Show. November 6 6pm Lisa Kisch & John Pugh; 8:30pm George Masswohl & David Warrack. November 8 6pm Leslie Huyler; 8pm Annie Bonsignore; 10pm Chris Brikett. November 9 6pm Genevieve Marentette & Robert Scott; 8pm Lisa Particelli’s GNO Jazz Jam. November 10 6pm Ryley Murray; 8pm Roger Beckett & Annie Bonsignore. November 11 6pm Whitney Ross-Barris. November 12 6pm The Ault Sisters. November 13 6pm John Alcorn: The Best of the Best; 8:30pm Jeremy Carver- James. November 15 6pm Leslie Huyler; 8pm Annie Bonsignore; 10pm Chris Brikett. November 16 6pm Genevieve Marentette & Robert Scott; 8pm Lisa Particelli’s GNO Jazz Jam. November 17 6pm Hunter & Doe. November 18 6pm Elizabeth Martins. November 19 6pm Alex Tait & Mackenzie Longpre Quartet. November 20 6pm Melanie Paiement & Arinea Hermans; 8:30pm Amy Welcher & Moulan Bourke. November22 6pm Leslie Huyler; 8pm Annie Bonsignore; 10pm Chris Brikett. November 23 6pm Genevieve Marentette & Robert Scott; 8pm Lisa Particelli’s GNO Jazz Jam. November 24 6pm Joe & John Amato Quartet. November 25 6pm Sue & Dwight. November 26 6pm Michelle Lecce Band; 9pm Mandy Goodhandy & Genevieve Marentette. November 27 6pm Bobby Hsu’s Ob-Sessions; 8:30pm Geoffrey Tyler: This Gentleman Prefers Blondes. November 29 6pm Leslie Huyler; 8pm Annie Bonsignore; 10pm Chris Brikett. November 30 6pm Genevieve Marentette & Robert Scott; 8pm Lisa Particelli’s GNO Jazz Jam. Alleycatz 2409 Yonge St. 416-481-6865 alleycatz.ca All shows: 9pm unless otherwise indicated. Call for cover charge info. November 3 Replica Rocks. November 4 Sound Parade. November 5 Urban Jive. November 10, 11, 26 Jamesking. November 12 Pontune 5. November 17 Uptown Soul Concert Series. November 18, 19 Lady Kane. November 24 The Wrong Kids Band. November 25 Universal Boogie Band. thewholenote.com November 1, 2016 - December 7, 2016 | 59
