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Urban Planner: August 9, 2010
Urban Planner is Torontoist’s guide to what’s on in Toronto, published every weekday morning, and in a weekend edition Friday afternoons. If you have an event you’d like considered, email all of its details—as well as images, if you’ve got any—to [email protected].
Veteran improv troupe Slap Happy (Kerry Griffin, Tabetha Wells, Sandy Jobin-Bevans, and Dave Pearce) reunite for Bad Dog Theatre’s Summit Festival, celebrating Toronto’s improv talent. Photo by David Leyes.
In today’s Urban Planner, the SummerWorks Festival continues with circus acts, new musicals, and puppet shows; Bad Dog Theatre launches a week-long festival celebrating their successful alumni and current performers; and bands from London and Tokyo make stops in our town.
FESTIVAL: The SummerWorks Festival continues full steam even on a Monday, a night when most stages in Toronto are dark. The Musical Works in Concert series premieres Joni Loves Mitchell, a musical about singer/songwriters; The National Series’ Molotov Circus, visiting from Winnipeg, spins a twisted tale about circus performers; and there’s a puppet show among the acts at the Performance Bar’s Fiasco Playhouse as well as music from THOMAS and Snowblink. For a show schedule and venue information, visit the festival’s website. Various venues, various times (beginning at 3 p.m.), various prices.
COMEDY: Toronto has plenty of great comedy festivals throughout the year that bring comedians from all across North America to our city, but we also have an abundance of great comedy right here in town, and Bad Dog Theatre is launching a new, week-long Summit Festival to celebrate homegrown talent. Veteran troupes like Slap Happy, Falcon Powder, and the current cast of Second City (on their one night off, no less) are among tonight’s scheduled acts, and there’s also a spate of new acts and performers sharing the stage with the comics who’ve gone on to carve out successful careers. Bad Dog Theatre (138 Danforth Avenue), 7 p.m. & 9 p.m., $10.
MUSIC: There are two intriguing acts from overseas playing our town tonight. The United Kingdom’s Wild Beasts, who are nominated for the prestigious Mercury Prize, are getting a lot of comparisons to The Smiths and The National; they play The Mod Club (722 College Street), with doors at 8 p.m., and tickets for $18.50 in advance. Over at Lee’s, Tokyo’s heavy rock outfit Boris will be playing, with openers Russian Circles. Lee’s Palace (529 Bloor Street West), doors at 9 p.m., $16.50 in advance.