The Book of Mormon, Mirvish Productions
Trey Parker and Matt Stone's Broadway juggernaut does what The Producers promised but ultimately failed to do: yank musical comedy into the 21st century. Mirvish brings in the touring production of the scabrously funny show – which marries South Park humour to a classic Americans-abroad plot – for a too-short run.
Princess of Wales Theatre, April 30-June 9, www.mirvish.com
Our Betters, Shaw Festival
The Shaw Festival is hoping some of the smell of Downton Abbey rubs off on its production of W. Somerset Maugham's Our Betters, a 1923 comedy about rich American women trying to snag a British noble. Julia Course, a young company member who has turned heads in smaller parts in recent seasons, gets her first starring role in this production from acclaimed director/designer team Morris Panych and Ken MacDonald.
Royal George Theatre, April 3-Oct. 27, www.shawfest.com
Mary Stuart, Stratford Shakespeare Festival
Artistic director Antoni Cimolino's production of Friedrich Schiller's 1800 epic about the last days of Mary, Queen of Scots is already selling out. How could it not with a cast that includes Lucy Peacock as the titular queen, Seana McKenna as her Protestant cousin Elizabeth I and Ben Carlson, Geraint Wyn Davies and Brian Dennehy in supporting roles?
Tom Patterson Theatre, May 3-Sept. 21, www.stratfordfestival.ca
Of a Monstrous Child: A Gaga Musical, Buddies in Bad Times
Don't expect a typical jukebox musical from this creation by brainy director Alistair Newton described as a "dance-floor dialectic." Stratford Festival star Bruce Dow hosts the evening as performance artist Leigh Bowery, while Lady Gaga is split into two, played by musical theatre performer Kimberly Persona and drag queen Tyson James.
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, May 14-26, www.buddiesinbadtimes.com
Kim's Convenience, Soulpepper Theatre Company
Last chance to catch Ins Choi's touching comedy about a Korean-Canadian family that runs a convenience store before it goes on a national tour. Paul Sun-Hyung Lee returns as the charmingly intolerant Mr. Kim, who has the police on speed dial for whenever he spots an illegally parked Toyota.
Young Centre for the Performing Arts, May 23-June 19, www.soulpepper.ca
Entertaining Mr. Sloane, Soulpepper Theatre Company
Toronto's classical-theatre company has hit and missed with the works of dark British farceur Joe Orton. With Fiona Reid, master comedienne, in the cast and Brendan Healy, Toronto best young director, at the helm, however, this Orton looks like a heat-seeking missile.
Young Centre for the Performing Arts, July 5-Aug. 17,www.soulpepper.ca
J. Kelly Nestruck