Crow’s Theatre’s East End Performance Crawl will touch down on the outer edges of the Beach/Leslieville borderlands, with several performances of The Ballad of the Young Offender.
Written by Patrick Costello, directed by Andrew Shaver and starring Kyle Gatehouse, the story is modelled after the trial of Socrates, and set in the early years of rock’n’roll. Johnny Hyacinth is a young blues lover who travels to the capital city where Sonny St. You is on trial for inciting youth.
The play comes courtesy of the Sidemart Theatrical Grocery, a theatre troupe that also provides the storefront venue at 1362 Queen St. E., at Greenwood. Pick up tickets now – some performances are already sold out. The Ballad of the Young Offender runs from Wednesday, May 28 to Sunday, June 1. For more information on the play including showtimes, more on the performance crawl or to order tickets, visit crowstheatre.com.
Toronto United Mennonite Church is hosting a performance of Theatre of the Beat’s A Bicycle Built for Two on Thursday, May 29.
The play takes a comical lighthearted look at marriage, commitment and divorce, featuring three couples at different stages of relationships. The first is a young couple flush with the excitement of a new engagement. The second is a pair of aging empty nesters attempting to rekindle their marriage after three decades together. Finally, a couple in conflict is in the midst of a divorce.
The Toronto United Mennonite Church is at 1774 Queen St. E., just east of Kingston Road. A Bicycle Built for Two runs about 75 minutes, and gets underway at 7:30 p.m. Admission is by donation.
SING!, the Toronto Vocal Arts Festival, returns to the Distillery District from May 30 to June 1.
The festival was founded through a partnership of Beach mother and son Pat Silver, a past Beach citizen of the year, and John-Michael Erlendson, founding member of 14-piece a capella group Countermeasure.
The festival will feature more than 100 events, including concerts and workshops. Performance highlights include The Nylons, Cantabile – The London Quartet and The Kinsey Sicks. Canadian content includes singer/songwriters Alan Frew, Dan Hill and Lorraine Segato performing their classic tunes accompanied by Toronto vocal groups Cadence and Countermeasure – both counting Beachers among their members – and Retrocity.
For those as eager to learn as to listen, there will be no shortage of educational opportunities. Workshops covering topics from songwriting to copyright, mixing humour with harmony to the business of music will be covered, by industry professionals and many of the headlining performers.
A mass sing-along will be held, and a number of performances will take place free of charge throughout the Distillery District over the course of the weekend.
Tickets for headliner concerts start at $32.50, while festival wristbands – for all concerts and workshops before 7 p.m. – are $40 per day, or $65 for two days.
Scarborough Players present Rumors, by Neil Simon, running select dates from May 30 to June 14 at the Scarborough Village Theatre.
The story follows Charlie and Myra, whose 10th wedding anniversary dinner party is, in typical theatrical fashion, beset with gunfire, missing maids, ruined cars and more hijinks than can be easily summarized in this space. Producers promise non-stop laughter for the duration of the show.
Rumors is directed by Jacqui Burke, produced by Katherine Turner and stage managed by Teresa and Jennifer Bakker. Scarborough Players has been presenting high-calibre community theatre for 55 years, and includes a number of Beachers and East End residents.
Tickets to Rumors are $20, or $17 for seniors and students. Performances run at 8 p.m. on May 30 and 31, June 5 to 7 and June 12 to 14, and at 2 p.m. on June 1 and 8. The May 30 performance includes an opening night wine and cheese reception, and a cast and crew audience talk-back will be held after the show on June 12. Scarborough Village Theatre is at 3600 Kingston Rd. at Markham Road, and offers free parking and wheelchair accessibility. For tickets or more information, call 416-267-9292 or visit theatrescarborough.com.
Beach musician and poet Mark Battenberg brings part two of his Morpheus, the God of Dreams live performance to Savoury Grounds on Saturday, May 31 at 8 p.m.
The evening will include acoustic music from Battenberg’s CD of the same name, as well as poetry readings from his recently released book, The Tower: A Tale of Love.
Savoury Grounds is at 283 Scarborough Rd. at Kingston Road. Battenberg’s most recent videos, The Harp of Oberon and The Joy of Sorrow, are viewable on his YouTube channel.
Clela Errington and daughter Jocelyn Barth will be appearing again at Relish Bar and Grill on Tuesday, June 3. From 7 to 9 p.m., the pair will be joined by Juno-nominated Beach singer/songwriter Kirsten Jones.
The three will perform a variety of folk- and jazz-influenced tunes bolstered by sweet harmonies from this collection of serious talent. Songs will include some from Errington’s latest album More Love and Happiness, which was produced by Juno winner Alec Fraser, former producer and bass player for the late, great Jeff Healey.
Relish is at 2152 Danforth Ave., just east of Woodbine, and offers live entertainment seven nights a week.
Jazzy Sundays continue every Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. at Morgan’s on the Danforth, 1282 Danforth Ave., just east of the Greenwood subway station.
On June 1, Thyron Lee Whyte and David Restivo will perform. The following week with see Jordana Talsky on stage.
The Muhtadi International Drumming Festival is back at Woodbine Park on Saturday and Sunday, June 7 and 8.
The free festival celebrates the percussive art of rhythm from around the globe, with a truly planet-spanning influence clearly visible in the lineup of performers.
This year marks the 15th anniversary of the festival, which includes local and national performers, as well as numerous workshops on multiple stages at Woodbine Park. Families looking to feel the beat can head to the park to enjoy sounds ranging from South Asian to African to jazz and every other style based on the rhythm of a drum.
Scheduled master drummers and groups include Amara Kante, Will Calhoun, T-Dot Batu, Samba Squad, Northern Legs Southern Fists, Muhtadi and the World Drummers, Isshin Daiko and Beyond Sound Empiyah among many others. For schedules, performers and more information visit muhtadidrumfest.com.
PHOTO: Anya Page
Acoustic Harvest presents Lynn Miles and Keith Glass on Saturday, June 7 at Robinson Hall, St. Nicholas Anglican Church.
Miles has a dozen albums to her name, along with multiple Canadian Folk Music awards and a Juno. Her career has taken her across North America and Europe, with stints living in L.A., Nashville and Austin along the way. Her latest album, Downpour, has been receiving positive reviews.
Glass is likely best known as a founding guitarist and songwriter in Prairie Oyster. The multi-instrumentalist and singer has recently released a new solo album, Bad Dog, which showcases his talents and offers masterful ballads and strong storytelling.
Doors open at 7:30 p.m. at Robinson Hall, 1512 Kingston Rd. just east of Warden. Tickets are $25 at the door or $22 in advance through acousticharvest.ca. The venue is wheelchair accessible.
Did you enjoy this article? Become a Beach Metro Community News Supporter today! For 50 years, we have worked hard to be the eyes and ears in your community, inform you of upcoming events, and let you know what and who is making a difference. We cover the big stories as well as the little things that often matter the most. CLICK HERE to support your Beach Metro Community News!
