Stage - The Globe and Mail

review

In Canadian Stage’s terrific Twelfth Night, the park’s the thing

Director Gregory Prest offers a robust staging that easily accommodates the unpredictability of outdoor theatre

Caroline Toal and Farhang Ghajar in Twelfth Night.

Caroline Toal and Farhang Ghajar in Twelfth Night.

Aisling Murphy

4 min read

review

One for the Pot is fun for the lot in Shaw’s silly staging

Aisling Murphy

Eanga-Selenge, Kelly Wong and Martin Happer in One for the Pot.

Eanga-Selenge, Kelly Wong and Martin Happer in One for the Pot.

Eanga-Selenge, Kelly Wong and Martin Happer in One for the Pot.

3 min read

An open letter – and date-night recommendation – to Justin Trudeau and Katy Perry

Aisling Murphy

Justin Trudeau, left, and Katy Perry attend the Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour - Live from Paris world premiere in New York on May 8.

Justin Trudeau, left, and Katy Perry attend the Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour - Live from Paris world premiere in New York on May 8.

Justin Trudeau, left, and Katy Perry attend the Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour - Live from Paris world premiere in New York on May 8.

4 min read

Once at war, the Stratford Festival and Slings & Arrows make peace

J. Kelly Nestruck

Former lead Don McKellar, pictured as Darren Nichols in Slings & Arrows, will be one of the former leads taking part in the reading.

Former lead Don McKellar, pictured as Darren Nichols in Slings & Arrows, will be one of the former leads taking part in the reading.

Former lead Don McKellar, pictured as Darren Nichols in Slings & Arrows, will be one of the former leads taking part in the reading.

6 min read

Is Sara Farb Canada’s greatest star?

Sara Farb as Fanny Brice and Qasim Khan as Nick Arnstein in Funny Girl. Photo by David Cooper.

Sara Farb as Fanny Brice and Qasim Khan as Nick Arnstein in Funny Girl. Photo by David Cooper.

Sara Farb as Fanny Brice and Qasim Khan as Nick Arnstein in Funny Girl. Photo by David Cooper.

6 min read

July 23, 2026

Caroline Toal and Farhang Ghajar in Twelfth Night.

Caroline Toal and Farhang Ghajar in Twelfth Night.

review

In Canadian Stage’s terrific Twelfth Night, the park’s the thing

Aisling Murphy

4 min read

July 22, 2026

Eanga-Selenge, Kelly Wong and Martin Happer in One for the Pot.

Eanga-Selenge, Kelly Wong and Martin Happer in One for the Pot.

review

One for the Pot is fun for the lot in Shaw’s silly staging

Aisling Murphy

3 min read

July 22, 2026

Justin Trudeau, left, and Katy Perry attend the Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour - Live from Paris world premiere in New York on May 8.

Justin Trudeau, left, and Katy Perry attend the Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour - Live from Paris world premiere in New York on May 8.

An open letter – and date-night recommendation – to Justin Trudeau and Katy Perry

Aisling Murphy

4 min read

July 22, 2026

Former lead Don McKellar, pictured as Darren Nichols in Slings & Arrows, will be one of the former leads taking part in the reading.

Former lead Don McKellar, pictured as Darren Nichols in Slings & Arrows, will be one of the former leads taking part in the reading.

Once at war, the Stratford Festival and Slings & Arrows make peace

J. Kelly Nestruck

6 min read

July 22, 2026

Sara Farb as Fanny Brice and Qasim Khan as Nick Arnstein in Funny Girl. Photo by David Cooper.

Sara Farb as Fanny Brice and Qasim Khan as Nick Arnstein in Funny Girl. Photo by David Cooper.

Is Sara Farb Canada’s greatest star?

6 min read

July 20, 2026

Fiona Byrne, Sanjay Talwar, Tom Rooney and Sochi Fried in Heartbreak House. Photo by David Cooper.

Fiona Byrne, Sanjay Talwar, Tom Rooney and Sochi Fried in Heartbreak House. Photo by David Cooper.

review

Heartbreak House at Shaw is a meandering case of bourgeois blues

Aisling Murphy

3 min read

July 20, 2026

Taurian Teelucksingh as Alfred and Lawrence Libor as Toad with members of The Wind in the Willows ensemble.

Taurian Teelucksingh as Alfred and Lawrence Libor as Toad with members of The Wind in the Willows ensemble.

review

The Wind in the Willows at Shaw is timeless, lively and sweet

Aisling Murphy

4 min read

July 14, 2026

Andrew Penner, Divine Brown, Hailey Gillis, Ben Caplan and Travis Knights in The Secret Chord.

Andrew Penner, Divine Brown, Hailey Gillis, Ben Caplan and Travis Knights in The Secret Chord.

review

The Secret Chord: A Leonard Cohen Experience offers a remix of the legendary musician’s work

Aisling Murphy

3 min read

July 14, 2026

Cynthia Toushan, stage manager for both Guys and Dolls and Something Rotten!, triggers switches for lighting, sound, and automation cues in the calling booth during a Stratford Festival musical double header performance day of Guys and Dolls and Something Rotten! at the Festival Theatre in Stratford, Ontario, on June 24, 2026. (Nick Iwanyshyn/The Globe and Mail)

Cynthia Toushan, stage manager for both Guys and Dolls and Something Rotten!, triggers switches for lighting, sound, and automation cues in the calling booth during a Stratford Festival musical double header performance day of Guys and Dolls and Something Rotten! at the Festival Theatre in Stratford, Ontario, on June 24, 2026. (Nick Iwanyshyn/The Globe and Mail)

At Stratford Festival, pulling off two musicals on one stage is a monumental task

2 min read

July 13, 2026

Klif Entertainment's Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody played a short run in Toronto before travelling east to Just for Laughs in Montreal.

Klif Entertainment's Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody played a short run in Toronto before travelling east to Just for Laughs in Montreal.

review

This excellent Heated Rivalry stage spoof might just ease the wait for Season 2

Aisling Murphy

4 min read

July 9, 2026

Drag performer Tynomi Banks poses for a portrait while on a break during a private drag brunch performance in Toronto on June 19, 2026. (Laura Proctor/The Globe and Mail)

Drag performer Tynomi Banks poses for a portrait while on a break during a private drag brunch performance in Toronto on June 19, 2026. (Laura Proctor/The Globe and Mail)

You better work: The costs of being a drag queen in Canada

6 min read

June 30, 2026

Luzia Cirque du Soleil Matt_Beard_06_Roue_Cyr_Trapeze_0798

Luzia Cirque du Soleil Matt_Beard_06_Roue_Cyr_Trapeze_0798

review

Luzia is Cirque du Soleil’s brightest, wettest tour in years

Aisling Murphy

4 min read

June 30, 2026

Audience members wear custom sound effect headphones as they watch a preview run through of Medusa at Soulpepper theatre in Toronto on June 18, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Globe and Mail)

Audience members wear custom sound effect headphones as they watch a preview run through of Medusa at Soulpepper theatre in Toronto on June 18, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Globe and Mail)

What’s that sound? In a new stage adaptation of Medusa, headphones amp up the snakessssss

5 min read

June 29, 2026

Karl Ang and Daniel Maslany in The Division. The play, written and directed by Andrew Kushnir, was recognized for its direction, writing and ensemble, as well as the elusive trophy for outstanding production.

Karl Ang and Daniel Maslany in The Division. The play, written and directed by Andrew Kushnir, was recognized for its direction, writing and ensemble, as well as the elusive trophy for outstanding production.

opinion

From Narnia to a teeny storefront theatre, here’s what the Dora Award jurors got right this year

Aisling Murphy

4 min read

June 29, 2026

Mone Kamishiraishi in "Spirited Away" is seen in this undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - Mirvish, Toho Co. (Mandatory Credit)

Mone Kamishiraishi in "Spirited Away" is seen in this undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - Mirvish, Toho Co. (Mandatory Credit)

Spirited Away, adapted from the Oscar-winning film, will play at Princess of Wales Theatre in 2027

2 min read

June 22, 2026

André Sills, Krystin Pellerin and Evan Buliung. Photo: Dariane Sanche.

Photographer: Dariane Sanche @ds_sanchez
Email: dariane.sanche@hotmail.com
Phone: 1-514-712-1724
Website: www.dssanchez.com

André Sills, Krystin Pellerin and Evan Buliung. Photo: Dariane Sanche.

Photographer: Dariane Sanche @ds_sanchez
Email: dariane.sanche@hotmail.com
Phone: 1-514-712-1724
Website: www.dssanchez.com

review

Othello at the Stratford Festival is an unmissable focal point of the 2026 season

Aisling Murphy

4 min read

June 22, 2026

review

The Outsiders takes you on one heck of a ride

Ilana Lucas

5 min read

June 19, 2026

From left, Joe Perry as John Worthing, Carter Gulseth as Algernon Moncrieff, Allison Lynch as Gwendolen Fairfax and Marissa Orjalo as Cecily Cardew in The Importance of Being Earnest at the Stratford Festival.

From left, Joe Perry as John Worthing, Carter Gulseth as Algernon Moncrieff, Allison Lynch as Gwendolen Fairfax and Marissa Orjalo as Cecily Cardew in The Importance of Being Earnest at the Stratford Festival.

review

The Importance of Being Earnest at the Stratford Festival is a frothy, flowery bit of fun

Aisling Murphy

4 min read

June 19, 2026

Caissie Levy, the Hamilton, Ont.-born star of Ragtime, poses with the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical trophy at the 79th Tony Awards in New York City on June 7.

Caissie Levy, the Hamilton, Ont.-born star of Ragtime, poses with the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical trophy at the 79th Tony Awards in New York City on June 7.

Hamilton-born Caissie Levy wants to use Tony win to start conversations about motherhood

4 min read

June 19, 2026

Ocean Smid prepares on stage before her dress rehearsal at the Spring Showcase in May, 2026.
Canada’s National Ballet School in Toronto was founded in 1959 by Betty Elephant and Celia France. The school is independent of the National Ballet of Canada but partners closely on performances and is a pipeline for dancers through audition entries.

Ocean Smid in dance class in May 2026. Smid spent much of the school year rehabilitating a hip injury.
Canada’s National Ballet School in Toronto was founded in 1959 by Betty Elephant and Celia France. The school is independent of the National Ballet of Canada but partners closely on performances and is a pipeline for dancers through audition entries.
May 7, 2026
Melissa Tait/The Globe and Mail

National Ballet School grads have big dreams for the future

10 min read

June 17, 2026

Harrison James, left, and Koto Ishihara in MaddAddam.

Harrison James, left, and Koto Ishihara in MaddAddam.

MaddAddam is a ballet of giant exteriors and seismic intensity

4 min read

June 17, 2026

Mireille Asselin portrays the 19th-century investigative journalist Nellie Bly in 10 Days in a Madhouse.

Mireille Asselin portrays the 19th-century investigative journalist Nellie Bly in 10 Days in a Madhouse.

review

10 Days in a Madhouse sets a new standard for contemporary opera in North America

Aisling Murphy

4 min read

June 16, 2026

TCBS_Rouvan Silogix, Mikaela Lily Davies The Caged Bird Sings Tarragon

TCBS_Rouvan Silogix, Mikaela Lily Davies The Caged Bird Sings Tarragon

review

The Caged Bird Sings at Toronto’s Tarragon is a muted echo of its 2024 premiere

Aisling Murphy

4 min read

June 16, 2026

jeremy jordan

jeremy jordan

Jeremy Jordan has never been to Santa Fe. But gosh, does he love to sing about it

4 min read

June 15, 2026

Melissa James and Patrick Heusinger in Paranormal Activity.

Melissa James and Patrick Heusinger in Paranormal Activity.

review

Paranormal Activity at Mirvish is a petrifying screen-to-stage adaptation

Aisling Murphy

4 min read

June 15, 2026

Jeff Irving as Bertie Wooster and Damien Atkins as Jeeves in Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect Nonsense.

Jeff Irving as Bertie Wooster and Damien Atkins as Jeeves in Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect Nonsense.

review

Jeeves & Wooster at the Shaw Festival is amusing but never fully funny

Aisling Murphy

3 min read

June 11, 2026

Hailey Gillis and Andrew Penner in Tiger Bride

Hailey Gillis and Andrew Penner in Tiger Bride

review

Tiger Bride at Soulpepper is a sexy, sinister take on Beauty and the Beast

Aisling Murphy

4 min read

June 5, 2026

Sara Farb performs as Fanny Brice with the Funny Girl ensemble.

Sara Farb performs as Fanny Brice with the Funny Girl ensemble.

review

Funny Girl at the Shaw Festival delivers the laughs in a post-Hacks world

Aisling Murphy

4 min read

June 5, 2026

What to catch at the theatre this summer across Canada

3 min read

June 3, 2026

Ben Rudisin and Genevieve Penn Nabity with Artists of the Ballet in Kismet. Photo by Karolina Kuras. Courtesy of The National Ballet of Canada.

Ben Rudisin and Genevieve Penn Nabity with Artists of the Ballet in Kismet. Photo by Karolina Kuras. Courtesy of The National Ballet of Canada.

Kismet may be a crowd-pleaser, but Emma Bovary is lacking an emotional anchor

4 min read

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