Classic covers, comedy and a cure for depression
UnCovered: Queen & Bowie Watch this if: You’re jealous of the amazing party happening in the afterlife right now. Every year, Acting Up Stage Company presents a concert that fuses radio hits with the storytelling nature of musical theatre, featuring exciting new arrangements by Dora Awardwinner Reza Jacobs. Previous concerts have featured the music of Simon & Garfunkel, Billy Joel and Elton John, the Beatles, Carole King and James Taylor. But this year hits an especially high note with a mashup of David Bowie and Freddie Mercury, with songs like “Under Pressure,” “Changes” and “Somebody to Love.” While those two legends obviously can’t attend, sigh, we’ll just have to settle for performers like Brent Carver, Divine Brown, Melissa O’Neil and more to do them justice. Nov. 1-3 Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. That’s Not Funny Watch this if: You don’t think orchestral music and comedy can mix. Art of Time Ensemble, led by artistic director Andrew Burashko, is known for unexpected presentations of live music that fuse classical styles with pop culture. Even so, their season opener That’s Not Funny is a new venture for them. A night of music and comedy and dance, That’s Not Funny features Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenburg in excerpts from their mega-hit 2 Pianos 4 Hands, Spike Jones’s spoof on Pagliacci, PalYat-Chee, and a self-aware, self-satirizing performance by dancer and choreographer Bill Coleman, The Dance Belt: A Brief History of the Performing Arts. You’ll be slapping your knees while tapping your toes at this Art of Time concert. Nov. 3-5 Harbourfront Centre Theatre, 235 Queens Quay W. 4-1/2 (ig)noble truths Watch this if: You’re starting to feel S.A.D. This solo play written and per- formed by Thomas McKechnie premiered this summer at the SummerWorks Festival with only four performances. Apparently, it only took that small run to make a noticeable mark on audiences and critics. So 4-1/2 (ig) noble truths is back (for seven performances this time) at the Theatre Centre for audiences to experience this fusion of punk rock, mentalhealth lecture and solo theatre. Just as the November Blues are about to hit, let McKechnie share with you his 4.5 tips on dealing with depression, as an artist and a person. Nov. 2-6 The Theatre Centre, 1115 Queen St. W.