Volume 22 Issue 9 - Summer 2017

●●Drayton

●●Drayton Entertainment. Lucky Stiff. Music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics and book by Lynn Ahrens. St. Jacobs Country Playhouse, 40 Benjamin Rd. E., Waterloo. 1-855-372- 9866. -. ●●Opens Aug 9, 2:00pm. Runs to Aug 27. Tues- Thurs/Sat/Sun(2:00pm), Thurs-Sat(7:30pm). ●●Drayton Entertainment. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Tim Rice. King’s Wharf Theatre, 97 Jury Dr., Penetanguishene. 1-855-372-9866. -. Opens Aug 10, 2:00pm. Runs to Sep 3. Days and times vary. Visit draytonentertainment.com for details. ●●Drayton Entertainment. Beauty and the Beast. Music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, book by Linda Woolverton. Huron Country Playhouse, RR1, 70689 B Line, South Huron. 1-855-372-9866. -. Opens Aug 10, 2:00pm. Runs to Sep 3. Tues-Thurs/Sat/Sun(2:00pm), Thurs- Sat(7:30pm). Note: Aug 11 show is at 2:00pm. ●●Gravenhurst Opera House. Swing! Written by Alan Lund, musical arrangements by Howard Cable. Gravenhurst Opera House, 295 Muskoka Rd. S., Gravenhurst. 1-888- 495-8888. -.. Opens July 19, 2:30pm. Runs to August 25. Tues-Thurs(2:30pm), Wed-Sat(8:00pm). ●●Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company/DanCap Productions. The Jazz Singer. Written by Michael Ross Albert, based on the play and with additional music. Greenwin Theatre, Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge St. 1-800-985-2787. -. Opens May 23, 8:00pm. Runs to Jun 18. Tues-Thurs/Sat(8:00pm), Wed(1:00pm), Sun(2:00pm/7:00pm). Note: also May 29, 8:00pm. ●●Highlands Opera Studio. From Opera to Broadway. St. George’s Anglican Church, 617 Mountain St, Haliburton. 1-855-457-9933. .50. Aug 9, 8:00pm. ●●Highlands Opera Studio. More Opera to Broadway. Minden United Church, 21 Newcastle St, Minden. 1-855-457-9933. .50. Aug 12, 8:00pm. ●●Highlands Opera Studio. Celebrations! Canada 150. St. George’s Anglican Church, 617 Mountain St, Haliburton. 1-855-457-9933. .50. Aug 16, 8:00pm. ●●Highlands Opera Studio. Wiikondiwin (Feast/Feasting). Semi-staged workshop. Music by Barbara Croall. Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion, Haliburton. 1-855-457- 9933. .50. Aug 19, 8:00pm. ●●Highlands Opera Studio. Alumni Concert. St. George’s Anglican Church, 617 Mountain St, Haliburton. 1-855-457-9933. .50. Aug 23, 8:00pm. ●●Highlands Opera Studio. Cosi Fan Tutte. Music by W. A. Mozart, libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion, Haliburton. 1-855-457-9933. .50. Opens Aug 27, 2:00pm. Also Aug 29-31(all 7:30pm). ●●Highlands Summer Festival. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart. Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion, Haliburton. 1-855- 457-9933. . Opens Jul 3, 8:00pm. Runs to Jul 13. Mon-Fri(8:00pm), Sat(2:30pm). ●●Jaybird Productions. Hair. Music by Galt MacDermot, lyrics and book by James Rado and Gerome Ragni. Studio Theatre, Toronto C. Music Theatre Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge St. 647- 292-0210. ; .50(sr/st). Opens Jun 9, 8:00pm. Runs to Jun 11. Fri-Sat(8:00pm), Sun(2:30pm). ●●Lower Ossington Theatre. The Wizard of Oz. Music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg, book by L. Frank Baum. Lower Ossington Theatre, 100A Ossington Ave. 1-888- 324-6282. .99-.99. Opens Jun 16, 7:30pm. Runs to Aug 27. Fri-Sat(7:30pm), Sat(3:30pm), Sun(12:00pm, 4:00pm). ●●Mirvish. Strictly Ballroom, the Musical. Created by Baz Luhrmann. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King St. W. 416-872-1212. -9. Opens Apr 26, 8:00pm. Runs to Jun 25. Wed- Sat(8:00pm), Wed/Sat/Sun(2:00pm). ●●Mirvish. The Sound of Music. Music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria St. 416-872-1212. -0. Opens Jun 6, 7:30pm. Runs to Jun 11. Tues-Sat(7:30pm), Wed/Sat/ Sun(1:30pm). ●●Mirvish. Beautiful -- The Carole King Musical. Songs of Carole King, book by Douglas McGrath. Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria St. 416-872-1212. -0. Opens Jun 27, 8:00pm. Runs to Aug 20. Tues-Sat(8:00pm), Wed/Sat/Sun(2:00pm). Note: no show Jul 1. ●●Musical Stage Company. Onegin. Music, lyrics and book by Amiel Gladstone and Veda Hille, based on the poem by Pushkin and the opera by Tchaikovsky. Berkeley Street Theatre, Downstairs, 26 Berkeley St. 416-368- 3110. -. Opens May 13, 8:00pm. Runs to Jun 4. Tues-Thurs, Sat(8:00pm), Fri/ Sun(7:00pm), Wed/Sun(1:00pm). Note: no eve show Jun 4. ●●National Ballet of Canada. Streetcar Named Desire. Music by Sergei Prokofiev and Alfred Schnittke. John Neumeier, choreographer, designer. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-345- 9595. -5. Opens Jun 3, 7:30pm. Runs to Jun 10. Times vary. Visit national.ballet.ca for details. ●●National Ballet of Canada. Swan Lake. Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. James Kudelka, choreographer. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416- 345-9595. -5. Opens Jun 15, 7:30pm. Runs to Jun 25. Times vary. Visit national.ballet.ca for details. ●●Nightwood Theatre Lawyer Show. Legally Blonde: The Musical. Music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin, book by Heather Hach. Jane Mallett Theatre, St Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St. E. 416-366- 7723. -. Opens Jun 8, 8:00pm. Runs to Jun 10. Thurs-Sat(8:00pm). ●●No Strings Theatre. The Great Canadian Show Tune...Encore! Statler’s Bar, 487 Church St. 416-898-6538. ; (sr/st). Jun 29, 7:00pm. ●●No Strings Theatre. Denise Williams & Friends - Summer Theatre. Venue TBA. 416- 551-2093. Price TBA. Jul 16, 4:00pm. ●●No Strings Theatre. The Drowsy Chaperone. Music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar. Tarragon Theatre, 30 Bridgman Ave. 416-531-1827. ; (sr/st); (child). Opens Jul 28, 8:00pm. Runs to Jul 30. Fri/ Sat(8:00pm), Sat/Sun(2:00pm). ●●No Strings Theatre. Liam: The Musical. Wychwood Theatre, 601 Christie St. 416- 551-2093. ; (sr/st); (child). Opens Aug 26, 2:00pm. Runs to Aug 28. Sat/ Sun(2:00pm), Sat/Mon(8:00pm). ●●Opera 5. Suffragette: A Double Bill of Operas by English composer Dame Ethel Smyth. Theatre Passe Muraille, 16 Ryerson Ave. 416-504- 7529. /(VIP); (st). Opens Jun 22, 7:30pm. Runs to Jun 25. Thurs-Sat(7:30pm), Sun(6:00pm). ●●Opera by Request. 10th-Anniversary Gala Production of Der Rosenkavalier. Music by Richard Strauss, libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal. Semi-staged with chamber orchestra. Church of the Redeemer, 162 Bloor St. W. 416-455-2365. /(adv). 6:00: pre-concert chat with Brahm Goldhamer. Jun 9-10(6:30pm). ●●Opera by Request. Rodelinda. Music by George Frederic Handel, libretto by Nicola Francesco Haym.. College Street United Church, 452 College St. 416-455-2365. . Jun 24, 7:30pm. ●●Orangeville Music Theatre. Aladdin Jr. Music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman, Tim Rice and Chad Beguelin, book by Chad Beguelin. Town Hall Opera House, 87 Broadway, Orangeville. 519-942-3423. ; (st). Opens Jun 9, 8:00pm. Runs to Jun 11. Sat(2:00, 7:00), Sun(2:00pm). ●●Orangeville Music Theatre. All Shook Up. Features songs of Elvis Presley. Town Hall Opera House, 87 Broadway, Orangeville. 519-942-3423. ; (st). Opens Jun 16, 8:00pm. Runs to Jun 25. Fri(8:00), Sat(7:00), Sun(2:00). ●●Port Hope Festival Theatre. My Fair Lady. Music by Frederick Loewe, book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner. Cameco Capitol Arts Centre, 20 Queen St, Port Hope. 1-800-434-5092. -. Opens May 30, 2:00pm. Runs to Jun 24. Tues/Wed/Fri-Sun(2:00pm), Thurs- Sat(8:00pm). Note: also Jun 21, 8:00pm. ●●Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts. The Drowsy Chaperone. Music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar. Randolph Theatre, 736 Bathurst St. 416-924-2243. $22. Opens Aug 3, 8:00pm. Runs to Aug 12. Thurs-Sat(8:00pm), Sat(2:00pm). ●●Ryleepuss Productions. Monty Python’s Spamalot. Music by John Du Prez, Eric Idle, Neil Innes, lyrics and book by Eric Idle. Uxbridge Music Hall, 16 Main St. S., Uxbridge. 416-702-6604. ; $22(sr); (st). Opens Jul 5, 7:30pm. Runs to Jul 15. Wed- Sat(7:30pm), Sun(2:00pm). Note: no show Jul 12; extra mat Jul 15. ●●ShaggyPup Productions. Menopause The Musical. Regent Theatre, 50 King St. E., Oshawa. 905-721-3399. . Opens Jun 7, 7:30pm. Also Jun 8. ●●Shaw Festival. Me and My Girl. Music by Noel Gay, book and lyrics by L. Arthur Rose and Douglas Furber, with revisions by Stephen Fry and Mike Ockrent. Festival Theatre, 10 Queen’s Parade, Niagara-on-the-lake. 1-800-511-7429. and up. Previews begin Apr 5, 2:00pm. Runs to October 15. Days and times vary. Visit shawfest.com for details. ●●Soulpepper Concert Series. Porgy and Bess in Concert. Music by George Gershwin, libretto by DuBose Heyward and Ira Gershwin. Mike Ross, Music Director. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666. -. Opens May 27, 1:30pm. Runs to June 3. Days and times vary. Visit soulpepper.ca for details. ●●Stratford Festival. Guys and Dolls. Music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. Donna Feore, director and choreographer. Festival Theatre, 55 Queen St, Stratford. 1-800-567-1600. and up. Previews begin Apr 15, 2:00pm. Runs to Oct 29. Days and times vary. Visit stratfordfestival.ca for details. ●●Stratford Festival. HMS Pinafore. Music by Arthur Sullivan, lyrics and book by W. S. Gilbert. Avon Theatre, 99 Downie St, Stratford. 1-800-567-1600. and up. Previews begin May 4, 2:00pm. Runs to Oct 21. Days and times vary. Visit stratfordfestival.ca for details. ●●Summer Opera Lyric Theatre. Night Blooming Cereus and A Northern Lights Dream (World Premiere). Music by John Beckwith and Michael Rose. Robert Gill Theatre, University of Toronto, 214 College St. 416-366-7723. ; $22(sr/st). Opens Jul 28, 8:00pm. Runs to Aug 5. Days and times vary. Visit solt.ca for details. ●●Summer Opera Lyric Theatre. Carmen. Music by Georges Bizet, libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy. Robert Gill Theatre, University of Toronto, 214 College St. 416-366- 7723. ; $22(sr/st). Opens Jul 29, 2:00pm. Runs to Aug 6. Days and times vary. Visit solt. ca for details. ●●Summer Opera Lyric Theatre. The Marriage of Figaro. Music by W. A. Mozart, libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. Robert Gill Theatre, University of Toronto, 214 College St. 416-366- 7723. ; $22(sr/st). Opens Jul 29, 8:00pm. Runs to Aug 4. Days and times vary. Visit solt. ca for details. ●●Teatron Theatre. Jewish Radio Hour – The Musical. Written by Theresa Tova. Lyric Theatre, Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge St. 1-855-985-2787. -. Opens Jul 11, 8:00pm. Runs to Jul 13. Tues-Thurs(8:00pm), Wed(2:00pm). ●●Toronto Catholic District School Board Staff Arts. Into the Woods. Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine. Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts Theatre, 36 Greenfield Ave. 416-222-8282 x2787. . Opens June 9, 7:30pm. Runs to June 17. Thurs-Sat(7:30pm). ●●Toronto Concert Orchestra. Symphony in the Gardens: Che Belle Voci. Works by Verdi, Rossini, Puccini, Donizetti, Bellini, and others. Sara Papini, soprano; Luiza Zhuleva, soprano; Sarah Christina Seinert, mezzo; Romulo Delgado, tenor; Andrey Andreychik, baritone; Kerry Stratton, conductor. Casa Loma, 1 Austin Terrace. 416-923-1171. . Jun 13, 7:30pm. ●●Toronto Concert Orchestra. Symphony in the Gardens: Opera’s Bad Girls. Works by Bizet, Rossini, and Donizetti. Paula Arciniega, mezzo; Kerry Stratton, conductor. Casa Loma, 1 Austin Terrace. 416-923-1171. . Jun 27, 7:30pm. ●●Toronto Summer Music Festival. A Night at the Opera. Works by Puccini, Verdi, Mozart, and others. Koerner Hall, Telus Centre, 273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208. -. Jul 27, 7:30pm. ●●Wavestage Theatre. Titanic. Music and lyrics by Maury Yeston, book by Peter Stone. Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, 10268 Yonge St, Richmond Hill. 905-787-8811. ; .50(sr/st). Opens Jul 13, 7:30pm. Runs to Jul 16. Thurs-Sat(7:30pm), Sun(1:00pm). ●●Well Seasoned Productions. Can’t Get Enough. Toronto Centre for the Arts, Studio Theatre, 5040 Yonge St. 416-250-3708. ; (sr). Opens Jun 2, 8:00pm. Also Jun 3(8:00pm), Jun 4(2:00pm). 64 | June 1, 2017 - September 7, 2017 thewholenote.com

Beat by Beat | Mainly Clubs, Mostly Jazz! Zuze’s Very Groovy Grooves BOB BEN Zuze – pronounced “zoo zay” – is a project which communicates musically, instrumentally, what it means to straddle the lines of two or more different cultures. Its essence is emblematic of the experience of many first-generation citizens, especially immigrants. One such citizen is Zuze’s bassist, Arif Mirbaghi, whose interest in these blurred lines became a foundational stepping stone to the band’s inception. Mirbaghi explains: “I wanted a project that spoke to the way culture shifts around identity across generations. Canada is built on nascent identities, and Zuze aims to prove just how beautiful that diversity can be.” The collective draws its repertoire mostly from popular tunes familiar to folks from Iran, especially the northern region. This is my ancestry, too: my paternal ancestors were Jewish Kurds living in the north of present-day Iran, so when I showed Zuze to my dad, he recognized some of the tunes (none of which were familiar to me) from his youth, and demanded to know why I was all of a sudden interested in Persian music. The folk and popular music of Iran is, on its own, a fascinating study in the way cultures bleed into each other. Zuze, though, muddies the waters further, by filtering these melodies through multiple sets of multicultural ears: those of Mirbaghi who knows them intimately, those of band members including co-arranger and alto sax player Bruce McKinnon, to whom they’re a little more novel, and finally, ours – the listeners’. I’d been interested in Zuze for a while, but it wasn’t until this week that I went to see them live, in the back room of the Tranzac Club. Before they went on, the audience was given a short dance lesson. I observed from the sidelines, because I cannot and do not dance, but if any music was the stuff to dance to, this was it. Mirbaghi banters with the audience between songs, and it seems very improvised, but less off-the-cuff, and more 120 Diner 120 Church St. 416-792-7725 120diner.com (full schedule) All shows: PWYC (- suggested) Every Tues 6pm Leslie Huyler & Guests; 7:30pm Annie Bonsignore; 9pm Chris Birkett & Guests. Every Wed 6pm Laura Hubert; 8pm Lisa Particelli’s Girls’ Night Out Jazz Jam. Every Sat 6pm John Alcorn Sings the Phonebook . June 1 6pm Julie Michels. June 2 6pm Fawn Fritzen with David Restivo. June 4 6pm Sunday Cabaret with Mel Cote . June 8 6pm Paul LaMarche. June 9 6pm Karen Racicot & Aniko Miles. June 11 6pm David Warrack Presents . June 15 6pm Steve Amirault & Pat Collins; 9pm Mandy Goodhandy’s Music & Madness Show. June 16 6pm Stephanie Martin & Eric St. Laurent. June 18 6pm Sunday Cabaret: Derrick Chau presents: Leah Oster ; 8:30pm Sunday Cabaret: Derrick Chau presents: Rielle & Kholby . June 22 6pm Janel Jones. June 23 6pm Lawrence Cotton. June 24 9pm The Octokats CD Release. June 25 8:30pm Jordana Talsky sings Barbra and Judy. June 29 6pm Ilana Waldston sings Blossom Dearie ; 9pm Kathleen Gorman . June 30 6pm John MacMurchy Trio & Jessica LaLonde. D. In the Clubs (Mostly Jazz) Alleycatz 2409 Yonge St. 416-481-6865 alleycatz.ca All shows: 9pm unless otherwise indicated. Call for cover charge info. Every Wed Blues Jam. Every Thurs Jazz Night. June 2, 3, 16 23, July 7 Lady Kane. June 9, 30, July 1 Parkside Drive. June 10, 24 Gyles’ Band. June 17 Poutine 5. Artword Artbar 15 Colbourne St., Hamilton. 905-543-8512 artword.net (full schedule) June 1 8pm Beats Workin’ duo David Hurley & Charly Chiarelli . June 3 8pm Ted’s Warren Commission . June 16 8pm The Kirkendolls . Bloom 2315 Bloor St. W. 416-767-1315 bloomrestaurant.com All shows: 19+. Call for reservations. Blue Goose Tavern, The 1 Blue Goose St. 416-255-2442 thebluegoosetavern.com Every Sun 5pm Blues at the Goose with the Big Groove Rhythm Section. Burdock 1184 Bloor St. W. 416-546-4033 burdockto.com (full schedule) All shows: 9pm Cameron House, The 408 Queen St. W. 416-703-0811 thecameron.com (full schedule) Castro’s Lounge 2116e Queen St. E. 416-699-8272 castroslounge.com (full schedule) Pronounced ‘zoo zay’ stream-of-consciousness. It’s kind of poetic sometimes, in an offkilter way. But then they launch into these grooves, these very groovy grooves, these destined-for-restless-feet grooves, which serve as a red carpet for the incoming melody, played assertively or sweetly or coyly by up to five melodic instruments: trombone, trumpet, two saxes and violin, often in a tight unison. Very little emphasis is placed on solos (not that they don’t happen) because, to my mind, this music is geared more towards showcasing beautiful songs in tight arrangements than using known songs as vehicles for improvisation. Going to a Zuze show can be a rowdy experience or a contemplative one, I think. You can dance, or you can sit on the sidelines and think about things – for example, about how far removed you may or may not be from the cultures that effectively created you, and how important (or how unimportant) it may be for you to reconnect. Or you could do both. I have to say, lately, I have started to find that a lot of live music that I like and I think is good doesn’t sound fresh anymore, and Zuze is one of a few groups that’s scratching me where I itch. Maybe they’ll scratch you, too. Zuze will be heard at Mel Lastman Square on the afternoon of July 1. Keep an eye out for more future gigs at Zuze.ca. Bob Ben is The WholeNote’s jazz listings editor. He can be reached at jazz@thewholenote.com. All shows: No cover/PWYC June 5 8:30pm Michelle Rumball. June 10 9pm Fraser Melvin Band. June 18 4pm Fraser & Daley. Cavern Bar, The 76 Church St. 416-971-4440 thecavernbar.ca (full schedule) C’est What 67 Front St. E. 416-867-9499 cestwhat.com (full schedule) June 3, 17 3pm The Boxcar Boys. June 10, 24 thewholenote.com June 1, 2017 - September 7, 2017 | 65 PETER PELZNER