September 2025 - October 2025
CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre
He is one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Now, Michael Jackson’s unique and unparalleled artistry comes to Toronto in MJ, the multiple Tony Award®-winning musical centered around the making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour.
The 2025-2026 season opened with yet another musical biopic, this one exploring the life of famed musical genius, Michael Jackson. Was it “Bad?” Well, we have our opinions, and I’m sure “Billie Jean” has hers. The music was actually pretty good, - great, even - but I wouldn’t have expected anything less. However, I couldn’t help thinking during the show that I was sitting for 150 minutes to hear this man-child’s sob story. Jackson craved fame and fortune, a desire instilled in him from an early age. As he grew older, he made his father's dreams his own and continued to chase after more fame, never wanting people to forget him or for him to fade into obscurity. In doing so, he became increasingly isolated. At the same time, he longed for a normal life. Unfortunately, you can’t have it both ways. Sadly, we know how Jackson's story ultimately ended.
So, how did we rate this production, attended by the three of us? Jordana gave it a 7/10, Lisa gave it a 6/10. I came right down the middle, with a 6.5/10. That means the final score for MJ The Musical is 6.5/10.
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September 2025 - October 2025
Deep in the heart of Atlantic Canada sits a small but proud harbour eager to keep its community together. With the sudden closing of their precious fish plant, this once bountiful village is looking for a miracle. When an opportunity arises to secure a state-of-the-art frozen french fry factory — and the many jobs it would create — the entire community is galvanized into action.
What a great play to conclude our 2025 excursions downtown to see a Mirvish production. At first, I didn’t think I would enjoy Tel Tale Harbour. However, little by little, as the play progressed, I became more hooked and saw the production for what it was – a musical comedy or a musical rom-com. The storyline became obvious by the time the second act rolled around, but by then, who cared? It was a fun romp, and the music was infectious. By the play’s end, everyone was clapping along with the music. Lisa scored the final play of 2025 a 9/10. I would have given it a 10/10, but felt that there was no real need for an intermission. After all, the play ran 140 minutes with a 20-minute intermission. They could have easily dispensed with the mid-show break. So I wound up giving it a 9/10 as well.
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February – March 2026
Set in Chicago when Prohibition has everyone thirsty for a little excitement, SOME LIKE IT HOT is the “glorious, big, high-kicking” (Associated Press) story of two musicians forced to flee the Windy City after witnessing a mob hit. With gangsters hot on their heels, they catch a cross-country train for the life-chasing, life-changing trip of a lifetime.
Begins December 2025
Juliet’s new story bursts to life through a playlist of pop anthems as iconic as her name – all from the genius songwriter-producer behind more #1 hits than any other artist this century. Break free of the balcony scene and get into this romantic comedy that proves there’s life after Romeo. The only thing tragic would be missing it.
Oops!... We Did it Again and the second time seeing & Juliet was really Larger Than Life. Seriously, though, the second time seeing this jukebox musical was even better than the first, in my humble opinion. The music was fantastic, and with the right amount of humour. I would definitely put this among the handful of plays that I would return if it came back to Toronto. Given that they keep extending the end date, I remain Confident that they will. It was great when Juliet sang Roar that they released confetti throughout the theatre. Great, but messy.
March - April 2026
SHUCKED is the Tony Award®–winning musical comedy The Wall Street Journal calls “flat out hilarious!” And nobody knows funny like economists. Featuring a book by Tony Award winner Robert Horn (Tootsie), a score by the Grammy® Award–winning songwriting team of Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally (Kacey Musgraves’ “Follow Your Arrow”) and directed by Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien (Hairspray), this corn-fed, corn-bred American musical is sure to satisfy your appetite for great musical theatre.
To summarize my second play of the month (and Lisa’s third), Shucked was “corny!” Yes, I know that was a bad pun, but it fits perfectly with this production. The musical comedy was cute, some of the jokes genuinely funny and others real groaners. Loved the exchange between Beau and Maizy when he says, “Why can’t you ever agree with me?” To that, she responds, “Then we would both be wrong.” So true to life in many exchanges. Lots of sexual innuendo and lots of empty seats in the theatre. The result was that the Princess of Wales Theatre was much colder than usual. In the end, both Lisa and I gave Shucked 6/10.
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April 2026
CHICAGO is still the one musical with everything that makes Broadway shimmy-shake: a universal tale of fame, fortune, and all that jazz, with one showstopping song after another and the most astonishing dancing you’ve ever seen.
When Chicago (the movie) came out in 2002, it was interesting to note that it was partially filmed in Toronto. This month, there was another connection between the two cities when Chicago the Musical landed at the Ed Mirvish Theatre. Was it as good as the movie? Both were very different. The theatre places limits on scenery and effects, which make the movie POP. However, this theatrical extravaganza was fantastic, and we both loved it. We agreed that it was a good decision to add this extra play to our line-up this season, and we both gave it 10/10. It had all the essential elements, plus, of course, ALL THAT JAZZ!
A Beautiful Noise
April - May 2026
Created in collaboration with Neil Diamond himself,"A BEAUTIFUL NOISE" is the uplifting true story of how a kid from Brooklyn became a chart-busting, show-stopping American rock icon. With 120 million albums sold, a catalogue of classics like "America," "Forever in Blue Jeans," and "Sweet Caroline," an induction into the Songwriters and Rock & Roll Halls of Fame, a Grammy® Lifetime Achievement Award, and sold-out concerts around the world that made him bigger than Elvis, Neil Diamond's story was made to shine on Broadway — and head out on the road across North America.
The Outsiders
June - July 2026
In Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1967, Ponyboy Curtis, his best friend Johnny Cade and their Greaser family of ‘outsiders’ battle with their affluent rivals, the Socs. THE OUTSIDERS navigates the complexities of self-discovery as the Greasers dream about who they want to become in a world that may never accept them. With a dynamic original score, THE OUTSIDERS is a story of friendship, family belonging…and the realization that there is still “lots of good in the world.”
Tell Tale Harbour
Royal Alexandra Theatre
There’s just one major obstacle — to secure the factory, the harbour must have a full-time resident doctor. Realizing this might be their last chance to save their beloved home, the townspeople come together to spin the truth and put on a show to charm an interim doctor into moving there permanently.
Some Like it Hot
CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre
And what a trip it is! With its irresistible combination of heart and laughs, song and dance, SOME LIKE IT HOT won more theater awards than any show this season, and was named Best Musical by the Drama Desk, The Drama League, and the Outer Critics Circle. No wonder Deadline calls it “a tap-dancing, razzle-dazzling embrace of everything you love about musical theatre.”
As I was still recovering from a twisted ankle/fractured toe, I decided to sit this one out. Instead, I gave my ticket to Jennifer who went to the play with Lisa. Both said they loved it, giving the production 10/10.
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& Juliet
Royal Alexandra Theatre
After the play, we went to Fox & Fiddle for dinner, but it was too noisy, so we opted for A & W. Yes, two very different choices, but at least there was a common theme to our restaurants. & do you know what that was? Again, seriously, it was nice to be back at the theatre, my first show this year. My ankle is slowly healing. It will take time, but slow and steady will make me Stronger.
Lisa and I both gave the show 10/10, which was a better rating than what I gave it last time we saw the show. Why, you may ask? No particular reason. After all, It’s My Life, and I Want It That Way.
Jordana's Viewpoint: Eliza and I rated it 10/10. Zoe rated it 9.5/10 because the stage was too small for the cast.
Overall,we all enjoyed it. It was very funny. The music was amazing.
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Shucked
Princess of Wales Theatre
Chicago The Musical (Extra Show)
CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre
In the whirlwind of Chicago’s Jazz Age, two of the Cook County Jail’s most notorious murderesses—vaudeville star Velma Kelly and chorus girl Roxie Hart—become fierce rivals as they compete for headlines amidst a media frenzy.
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Princess of Wales Theatre
Like Jersey Boys and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical before it, A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL is an inspiring, exhilarating, energy-filled musical memoir, that tells the untold true story of how America’s greatest hitmaker became a star, set to the songs that defined his career.
Princess of Wales Theatre