The Lineup: Sept. 29 – Oct. 5

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ART & MUSEUMS

World Press Photo

A showcase of the year's best in press photography chronicles the world's hells, joys and victories with portraits of newsy bigwigs and fast-thinking shots of unforeseeable live action. See everything from politicians to a cliff-climbing polar bear with a perilous appetite for seabird eggs. Oct. 3 to 24. Free. Brookfield Place, Allen Lambert Galleria, 181 Bay St., 416-777-6480 or worldpressphoto.org.

Roman Polanski: Actor and Director

A travelling show of film clips, posters and archival material is dedicated to a curious Polish auteur who, it was just announced, has chosen an erotic dark comedy (Venus in Fur, an adaptation of the Broadway play) as his next film. To Oct. 5. Free. L Space Gallery, Lakeshore Commons, Humber Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning, 3199 Lake Shore Blvd. W., 416-570-9547.

CLUBS

Django Django

The Scottish pop-psychedelians describe what they do as "rollicking sing-alongs, galloping into disco sunsets like whisky-addled and leather-saddled bandits on the stolen backs of prairie wild mustangs" That's what they say. We say, "giddy-up-go." Sept. 29, 8 p.m. $14.50. Wrongbar, 1279 Queen St. W., 416-516-8677 or ticketweb.ca.

CONCERTS

Anne-Sophie Mutter

This German violinist is an astounding Bach interpreter, as she will no doubt prove with a rendering of Concerto No. 1 for Violin and String Orchestra. Also on the program is Beethoven's Symphony No. 5, another crowd-pleaser. Oct. 3 and 4, 8 p.m. $29 to $145. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. 416-872-4255.

Jack White

Two shows from the intriguing and charismatic former White Stripes frontman, who uses a pair of bands – one all female and one all male – which share a hip aesthetic and a flair for dramatic blues-rock material, but insist on separate restrooms and stage outfits. Oct. 3 and 4, 8 p.m. $45 to $75. Sony Centre, 1 Front St. E., 1-855-985-5000.

Canadian Opera Company

The 2012-13 season opens with an Opéra de Marseilles production of Verdi's Il Trovatore (Sept. 29 to Oct. 31), featuring tenor Ramon Vargas and Canadian baritone Russell Braun, in his Verdi opera debut). Next on the docket is a Christopher Alden realization of Johann Strauss Jr.'s operetta Die Fledermaus (Oct. 4 to Nov. 3), the lone in-house creation of the season. $22 to $390. Four Seasons Centre, 145 Queen St. W., 416-363-8231.

THEATRE

Cirque du Soleil: Amaluna

In their latest big-top extravaganza, the old circus dogs at Cirque du Soleil show off a new trick, a dazzling stunt the Quebec-based troupe has never been able to pull off before: storytelling. Inspired by Shakespeare's The Tempest, the narrative concerns striving for balance on a magical isle populated by superhuman circus performers, mostly female. To Nov. 4. $43.50 to $158.50. Port Lands (at Cherry Street and Lake Shore Blvd. E), cirquedusoleil.com.

Sister Act

Religion can be a divisive subject, but critics largely agree that this mutha is superior. A touring production of the Broadway musical (based on the Whoopi Goldberg movie) features sass and singing nuns. Oct. 2 to Nov. 4. $35 to $130. Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria St., 416-872 1212 or mirvish.com.

Proud

In Michael Healey's sharply written satire, a calculating Prime Minister Harper (played by the playwright himself) uses interesting parliamentary procedures on a sexy new female MP. To Oct. 6. $25 to $40. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley St., 416-368-3110.

Between the Sheets

In Nightwood Theatre's twisty-smart drama, Susan Coyne plays the fierce mom of a special-needs kid who treats a parent-teacher interview as if it were the Spanish Inquisition. To Oct. 7. $13 to $40. Tarragon Theatre Extra Space, 30 Bridgman Ave., 416-531-1827.

DANCE

Tap Dogs

With fancy shoe-work, droll shenanigans and rock-show energy, getting the boots put to you has never been so much fun. A touring international show sets foot in North America again. Sept. 29 (2 and 8 p.m.) and Sept. 30 (2 and 7 p.m.). $25 to $89. Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King St. W., 416-872-1212 or mirvish.com.

Pro Arte Danza

Four pieces include Expire, a world premiere from Roberto Campanella and Robert Glumbek that explores the effects of stress on the simple ins-and-outs of breathing. Oct. 3 to 6. $20 to $39. Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay W., 416-973-4000.

LITERATURE & LECTURE

Slavoj Zizek

"Humanity is okay, but 99 per cent of people are boring idiots." The quotable star philosopher and colourful 1-per-center speaks after a screening of his cinematic deconstruction doc The Pervert's Guide to Cinema: Part 3.

Oct. 1, 7 p.m. $9.50 to $12. TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. W., 416-599-8433.

FAMILY

Beyond Planet Earth

Here's a fun fact about the first moon landing: Astronauts were charged extra for not returning the capsule with a full tank of gas! All kidding aside, an interactive new exhibition reveals a "spaceplane" currently in development, simulates a Mars walk and even offers a test to see if you're suitable for space. Oct. 3 to Jan. 1, 2013. $13 to $22. Ontario Science Centre, 770 Don Mills Rd., 416-696-1000.

FREE

Pedestrian Sunday

The regular Kensington Market auto-free event includes apple-bobbing, face-painting and, get this, the Tragically Hip, who'll drop by the Supermarket (268 Augusta Ave.) to hang out for a while and casually promote their new album Now For Plan A. Should be a gas. Sept. 30, noon to 7 p.m. kensington-market.ca.

BOOKING AHEAD

Toronto International Antiquarian Book Fair Oct. 12 to 14. Metro Toronto Convention Centre, torontoantiquarianbookfair.com.

Flying Lotus Oct. 13. Music Hall, ticketweb.ca.

Cat Power Oct. 20. Kool Haus, 1-855-985-5000.

Smashing Pumpkins Oct. 25. Air Canada Centre, 1-855-985-5000.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Nov. 10 to 25. Four Seasons Centre, 416-345-9595.

Snow White: The Deliciously Dopey Family Musical! Nov. 23 to Jan. 5. Elgin Theatre, 1-855-599-9090.

Band of Horses Dec. 5. Massey Hall, 416-872-4255.

Lady Gaga Feb. 8 (sold out) and Feb. 9. Air Canada Centre, 1-855-985-5000.