FIVE MUST-SEE ACTS

With such a wide selection of music, comedy, dance and multimedia choices, there is a good deal to be excited about at this year’s festival. Here are five shows to consider.

1

Ten Thousand Wolves and Jake Klar When: Feb. 24, 8 p.m.

Where: Fox Cabaret

From her award-winning slam poetry to leading numerous and increasingly adventurous musical acts, Barbara Adler is a force to be reckoned with doing an enormous amount to keep the music scene alive and kicking in this very challenging city. She makes her festival debut with her group Ten Thousand Wolves presenting a large scale work called Decoy, with the eight-piece band playing folk-tinged songs with poetic narrative, projection and object theatre. American singer-songwriter and poet Jake Klar opens.

2

Ezralow Dance: Open

When: Feb. 15 to 17, various times Where: Norman Rothstein Theatre This is a Canadian premiere for the latest from choreographer Daniel Ezralow, an American artist known for work that is both explosively physical but never lacking in whimsy and humour.

3

An Evening with Mary Walsh When: March 6, 8 p.m. Where: Norman Rothstein Theatre Yes, it’s that Mary Walsh. The comic and social activist known for her ability to blast politicians with bolts of wit and keep the country on point and laughing presents an evening of some of her most celebrated moments from Dancing with Rage, CODCO, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, and more.

4

Bolero and The Rite of Spring When: March 1 to 3, 8 p.m. When: Norman Rothstein Theatre MM Contemporary Dance is based in Reggio Emilia, Italy, and directed by company dancer and choreographer Michele Merola. This evening will present Merola’s Maurice Ravel’s Bolero, with additional integrated contemporary composition from composer Stefano Corrias, and choreographer Enrico Morelli’s version of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring.

5

Troker

When: Feb. 17, 8 p.m. Where: Rickshaw Theatre

This 19-plus performance showcases Mexico’s heavy, funky, danceable, jazz, punk, folk, everything group Troker. Its shows are as high-energy as its music is unclassifiable.