A rumble from down the QEW
MONDAY
Reprint
Watch this if: You’re a news junkie and a musical theatre fan. Headline-overload is a very real thing in the era of timelines and 24-hour news, but Reprint, the first project in Musical Stage Company’s Launch Pad program to develop new Canadian musicals, is turning stories from the Globe and Mail archives into art. Reprint features three presentations of 30-minute musicals about frisbee competitions on the Toronto Islands in 1977, the 2003 blackout, and YouTube fandom inspired by a Beatles concert at Maple Leaf Gardens in 1967. (The Globe and Mail Centre, 351 King St. E., 7 p.m., on until Aug. 22)
—Carly Maga
WEDNESDAY
Rush: Cinema Strangiato
Watch this if: You have a deep abiding love for Toronto’s greatest ever rock trio. It’s been a hard few years for Rush fans since the final R40 tour in 2015 and the subsequent news of Neil Peart’s retirement. But the flames of fandom burn eternally, which is why Rush-heads will congregate for a one-night theatrical event at five Cineplex locations in the GTA. Cheekily billed as “An Annual Exercise in Fan Indulgence,” it features a big-screen showing of R40 performances along with previously unseen backstage moments and new interviews, including one with Geddy Lee about the making of his great big book about bass guitars. If this doesn’t bring Rush closer to your heart, surely nothing will. (Various GTA Cineplex locations, 7 p.m., also Aug. 22 in some theatres)
—Jason Anderson
Basement Revolver
Watch this for: Hamilton pedigree, Alvvays/Pixies/Smiths line. This thunderous shoegaze band from down the QEW has the light/dark textures finely balanced and ever shifting. The result is quite thrilling on last year’s debut LP Heavy Eyes — if prevailing contemporary comparative Alvvays put the pop in the dreampop, this threesome comes at it from the other end with Chrisy Hurn’s voice the beacon over a mist of guitars. As the saying goes, they punch above their weight and have been dutifully serving as an opening act round town to a number of visitors — until now. For this final instalment of the Open Roof Festival film and music series, they get a unique opportunity to charm before yielding to the movie Booksmart. Tickets are online, with a limited number cash only at the door. (181 Sterling Rd., 7 p.m.)
—Chris Young
This Is Prophetic!
Watch this if: You want to see the next generation of opera stars. Against the Grain Theatre is one of the biggest names in Toronto’s independent opera world. It partners with the University of Toronto opera program for a second year for a workshop and training opportunity for new and established opera performers. The result of this year’s program is This Is Prophetic!, a collection of modern opera scenes to whet your appetite before the fall season begins in earnest. (MacMillan Theatre, 80 Queens Park, 7:30 p.m., also Aug. 22) —CM
THURSDAY
Fan Expo Canada
Go to this if: You’re a fan of fandom. Who knew that by the time Fan Expo Canada turned 25, the genres and cult fandoms it celebrated would be largely ruling mainstream culture? Comic books, superheroes, sci-fi, video games, even horror are huge business. And the event is now so big that fandoms of all kinds are welcome. The 25th anniversary convention will feature names like Jeff Goldblum, John Travolta, the cast from Saved by the Bell, Rainn Wilson, Pamela Anderson, Edward James Olmos, Mia Farrow and Steven Seagal, and a labyrinth of booths full of goodies for people who just love to love things. (Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 255 Front St. W., 4 p.m., on until Aug. 25)
—CM
FRIDAY
Jensplaining
Watch this if: You’d like to hear some frank talk about women’s health. Canadian gynecologist Jen Gunter, known as the “anti-Goop doctor,” takes her campaign against dubious health claims to the small screen with this docuseries. Each episode tackles myths around a particular topic, including menstruation, vaccines and the “wellness industrial complex.” Gunter takes aim at everything from coffee enemas to healing stickers to jade vaginal eggs in that particular episode (yes, we’re looking at you Gwyneth). (CBC Gem) —Debra Yeo
Jonas Brothers
Watch this for: Instant nostalgia from a group that’s still a way’s away from middle age. Pop years are like dog years, so the six years since the brother act of Nick, Joe and Kevin split up over “creative differences” represent a formidable hurdle. Still, new LP Happiness Begins ain’t bad, full of the sort of hooks and harmonies that vaulted the brothers from Disney Channel cutey-pies to arena-filling boy rockers. They’re picking up right where they left off (aside from their wives now being as big a part of the story as they are). Just one question: Are two arena nights a case of too much too soon, at least in this town? We’ll see. Bebe Rexha opens. (Scotiabank Arena, 40 Bay St., 7:30 p.m., also Aug. 24)
—CY
SATURDAY
Alan Howarth Live
Watch this if: You want to nerd out to the sound of vintage synth movie scores. The synth-heavy sound of Kyle Dixon’s and Michael Stein’s score for Stranger
Things is just one sign of the enduring influence of the soundtracks Alan Howarth created with John Carpenter for the director’s run of cult classics through the 1970s and ’80s. Now Howarth — who brought his innovations as a sound designer to the first six Star Trek movies and Raiders of the Lost Ark, too — will travel with some of his trusty synths to delight local movie nerds with live performances of music from Carpenter flicks like Halloween and Escape From New
York, plus so much more doomy, wooshy sonic goodness. (Royal Cinema, 608 College St., 8 p.m.)
—JA
SUNDAY
On Becoming a God in Central Florida
Watch this if: You’re up for another memorable Kirsten Dunst character. Dunst (a standout in Season 2 of Fargo) is the main, but not the only attraction in this darkly comic drama about an Amway-like pyramid scheme that promises an American dream it can’t deliver. When the actions of her naive husband Travis (a very unheartthrob-like Alexander Skarsgard) leave Krystal (Dunst) struggling to keep her home and feed her children she has to use every bit of her guts and ingenuity to try to get out of the mess. (Crave at 10 p.m.)
—DY