events
Urban Planner: December 16, 2011
In today's Urban Planner: critics choose a classical concert program; lots of last-chance theatre choices, like The Children's Republic; rap battles and ladystaches at Comedy Bar; Bocce plays Don't Touch That Dial; and the Rural Alberta Advantage DJs a birthday party.
Teacher Ms. Singer (Amy Rutherford) faces the "children's court", while Dr. Korczak (Peter Hutt) looks on in The Children's Republic. Photo by Cylla von Tiedmann.
MUSIC: The Amici Chamber Ensemble decided to ask some of Toronto’s most devoted classical critics—John van Driel of Classical 96.3 FM, John Terauds of the Toronto Star, and Colin Eatock of the Globe and Mail—to pick the selections for tonight’s concert, entitled Critic’s Choice: What They Want to Hear. In addition to pieces by Beethoven, Elgar, and Poulenac, there’ll be a new composition premiered by the winner of a competition held in the Claude Watson Arts Program at Earl Haig Secondary School. Glenn Gould Studio (250 Front Street West), 8 p.m., $45 ($40 seniors, $10 students).
THEATRE: We’ll have a full roundup of holiday-themed theatre later this morning, but in the meantime, tonight (and this weekend) is your last chance to catch a number of closing (non-holiday) shows, including feisty independent productions The Life and Times of MacKenzie King (The Cameron House, 404 Queen Street West, 2:30 p.m., $20—$40) and Dying City (Toronto Free Gallery, 1277 Bloor Street West, 8 p.m., $20–$25), both held over to meet demand. It’s also your last chance this weekend to see Proof at The Branding Factory (136 Geary Avenue, Unit #215A, 8 p.m., $20), Red at Canadian Stage (27 Front Street East, 8 p.m., $22–$99), and The Children’s Republic at Tarragon Theatre, which has a limited Friday-night rush program that even the brokest theatre fan should be able to afford (less than a movie!) Tarragon Theatre (30 Bridgman Avenue), 8 p.m., $25–$51, $12 rush tickets on sale at 6 p.m. (cash only, limit 2 per person).
COMEDY: Comedy Bar‘s cozy underground environs have a number of shows to ruddy your cheeks with laughter tonight, starting with Catch 23 Improv in the main theatre, continuing with a special by Ladystache and friends in the new studio space, and ending with the late-night antics of Rap Battlezz, featuring a “title bout” between Sean Tabares (MC Big Cock Roach) and Matt Folliott (MC ExterminHater). Comedy Bar (945 Bloor Street West), 8 p.m. onwards, $5—$8.
MUSIC: Kidstreet are back again tonight, playing with fellow energetic dance outfit Bocce at Don’t Touch That Dial‘s holiday party (The Garrison, 1197 Dundas Street West, 9 p.m., $7). Also celebrating tonight is Songs: A Dance Party, whose one-year anniversary bash will be DJ’d by members of the Rural Alberta Advantage, as well as regular MC Bobby Kimberly. Sneaky Dee’s (431 College Street), 11 p.m., $5.
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].
This post originally listed the incorrect address and price range for the Tarragon Theatre’s production of The Children’s Republic. We regret the error.