Urban Planner: May 11, 2012

In today's UP: sorely missed ex-mayor David Miller hosts an Occupy the Mic town hall; new work at the Mayworks Festival and Festival of New Ideas and Creation, and closing work at over a half dozen theatres; local talent at an international launch for Her Royal Majesty; and rapper Wordburglar has an all star line-up for his record launch for 3rdBurglar.

By Steve Fisher

TALK: Remember when Toronto had a mayor who liked ideas? Talking about them, listening to others, open-mindedly debating their merits? Former mayor David Miller, who was always gracious and comfortable with the part of his job that entailed people putting mics in his face, holds one as the MC for tonight’s Occupy the Mic NowTalk series, featuring guests like comic Arthur Simeon and policitian/musician Andrew Cash. Miller and his guests will be debating the root causes and tactics of the Occupy movement, and the benefits (if any) the movement may have (or have had) for Toronto. Bloor Hot Docs Cinema (506 Bloor Street West), doors at 6:15, 7 p.m. start, $15 (plus HST & 2 per cent service charge).

THEATRE: Last chance theatre round-up! And there’s a lot of it tonight and this weekend:

• The Mayworks Festival has a one-night-only workshop presentation of Intent City, an interactive play written and designed by Gein Wong. Theatre Direct @ Wychwood Barns (601 Christie Street), 7:30 p.m., $12.
• Canadian Stage’s Festival of New Ideas and Creation continues this weekend, with performances tonight of several works in progress, including Life, Death, and The Blues, by musician and actor Raoul Bhaneja. Canadian Stage Berkeley Street Theatre (26 Berkeley Street), 7: 30 p.m., FREE (best reserved in advance.)
• And then there’s the plethora of runs ending this week, including Gruesome Playground Injuries, The Innocents, Pamela Sinha’s Crash, The Agony and The Ecstasy of Steve Jobs (And The Repudiation and Reformation of Mike Daisey), The Game of Love and Chance, and How to Disappear Completely. Over at the Harbourfront Centre, Young Jean Lee’s The Shipment is getting just three shows in their World Stage Series; we have every expectation our review will be favourable, but the show will have closed before we can tell you what we thought and we were right. Harbourfront Centre Enwave Theatre (231 Queens Quay West), Friday & Saturday 8 p.m., $15–$45.

LAUNCH: The Paris-based literary arts magazine Her Royal Majesty has co-ordinated launch parties for their 12th international issue in seven cities around the world. Toronto’s event features readings from Susanna Fournier, Ryan Kerr, and Grace O’Connell, and musical performances by Thom Gill & Johnny Spence, Graham Wright of Tokyo Police Club, and more. Placebo Space (1409 Bloor Street West), 9:30 p.m., PWYC.

RAP: For his third album, MC Sean Jordan, better known as WordBurglar, dug deep into the roots of Toronto’s local rap scene, enlisting luminaries like More or Les and Fresh Kils to contribute to his appropriately titled 3rdBurglar. He’s also welcoming them as guests, along with Timbuktu, Chokeules, and many more, at tonight’s massive CD launch for the album. El Mocambo (464 Spadina Avenue), 9:30 p.m., $10 (includes CD).

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].