Fright nights at the theatre
It’s that time of year again. Nights are longer, the winds are colder and the rapid approach of Halloween gets us thinking about things that go bump in the night, including our musicals.
Two shows are opening this fall that definitely take us to the scary side of things, but with a song in their hearts.
Theatre 20 is Toronto’s newest theatre company, devoted to musical theatre. Their opening production is a new Canadian musical that is definitely not your ordinary commercial fare.
Bloodless, by Winnipeg’s Joseph Aragon, will open at the Panasonic Theatre on Oct. 9. (theatre20.com)
It tells the story of Burke and Hare, the Edinburgh grave robbers who provided medical students with a ready supply of cadavers — if the price was right.
Theatre 20’s artistic director, Adam Brazier, the man behind the smash hit production of Assassins several years ago, is in charge of bringing this darkly entertaining story to the stage.
Jekyll & Hyde: Starting in November, massive star power combines with a famous story to create one of the mustsee events this fall.
Constantine Maroulis, who became famous on American Idol and then sealed the deal with his performance in Rock of Ages on Broadway, will be starring alongside Toronto’s Deborah Cox, the soul, blues and jazz diva, in a new touring production headed for Broadway.
It opens at the Ed Mirvish Theatre for a very limited run Nov. 14-18. Book your tickets now, for, in the words of the show’s hit song, “This Is the Moment.” (mirvish.com) — Richard Ouzounian