CALENDAR of EVENTS

Semele, George Frideric Handel (1685-1759). Feast your eyes and ears. One of today's most acclaimed visual artists, Zhang Huan, blends a baroque aesthetic with the splendour of China in a production the New York Times called "scenically stunning, theatrical absorbing, musically rewarding" and "a feast for the eyes." Using an actual Ming Dynasty ancestral temple as his canvas, Huan paints astonishing and playful stage pictures for Handel's most sensuous opera. Love affairs between gods and mortals seldom end well, as our heroine discovers. Semele, a princess and mistress of the god Jupiter, wishes for her lover to grant her immortality, but Semele's ambition and vanity ultimately lead to her undoing. Sung in English with English SURTITLES. Contact: 416-363-8231 or 1-800-250-4653.

www.COC.ca

Hitchcock meets hilarious! Take a Hitchcock masterpiece film mixed with a saucy spy novel, add a dash of humour and the result is a fast-paced whodunit! Two-time Tony and Drama Desk award–winner! Winner of the Olivier Award for best comedy.

www.StageWest.com

More than fifty years ago one musical changed theater forever. Now it's back, and mesmerizing audiences once again. From the first note to the final breath, WEST SIDE STORY soars as the greatest love story of all time. Directed by David Saint, using Tony Award-winning librettist Arthur Laurents’ Broadway direction, West Side Story remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. The new Broadway cast album of West Side Story recently won the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. The Bernstein and Sondheim score is considered to be one of Broadway's finest and features such classics of the American musical theatre as "Something's Coming," "Tonight," "America," "I Feel Pretty" and "Somewhere." “So exciting IT MAKES YOU ACHE WITH PLEASURE” – John Lahr, The New Yorker

www.DancapTickets.com/pages/westsidestory

BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL is the explosive new musical comedy that raises the stakes on over-the-top high school rivalries. Set against the world of competitive cheerleading, this powerhouse new show hilariously proves that winning isn't everything when it means losing something - or someone - you really care about. BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL unites some of the freshest and funniest creative minds on Broadway, including Tony Award®-winning writer Jeff Whitty (Avenue Q); Tony Award®-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda (In The Heights); Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award®-winning composer Tom Kitt (Next to Normal) and lyricist Amanda Green (High Fidelity); Tony Award®-winning orchestrator Alex Lacamoire (Wicked); and Tony Award®-winning director/choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler (In The Heights). BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL is produced by Universal Pictures Stage Productions/Glenn Ross; Beacon Communications/Armyan Bernstein and Charlie Lyons; and Kristin Caskey and Mike Isaacson, Executive Producers. Beacon and Universal have partnered over the past decade to produce the popular series of "Bring It On" films. This all new, original musical comedy combines an exciting new sound, gravity-defying choreography, and a thrilling story to create a show worth cheering for. It's "guaranteed to be everything you wished for, nothing like you expected, but exactly what you will love" (AOL.com). Game On!

www.Mirvish.com/shows/bringitonthemusical

CONTACT is an annual festival of photography in Toronto, during the month of May, with over 1000 local, national and international artists exhibiting at more than 200 venues. Founded as a not-for-profit organization 15 years ago, the festival is devoted to celebrating, and fostering the art and profession of photography. It stimulates excitement and discussion among a diverse audience that has grown to over 1.5 million. CONTACT is the largest photography event in the world, and a premiere cultural event in Canada.

www.contactphoto.com

The chaotic, eccentric lives of the Sycamore family are thrown into unaccustomed order when their sensible daughter Alice brings a prospective beau and his conservative parents home for dinner. Kaufman and Hart are at their frenetic best with this Pulitzer Prize-winning romp. Directed by Joseph Ziegler. Featuring Brian Bisson, Derek Boyes, Raquel Duffy, Patricia Fagan, John Jarvis, Diego Matamoros, Nancy Palk, Krystin Pellerin, Eric Peterson, Gregory Prest, Brenda Robins, Mike Ross, Andre Sills, Michael Simpson, Maria Vacratsis and Tim Ziegler.

www.soulpepper.ca

David Storey's plays are an important part of the Renaissance of English playwriting in the 60s and 70s. This almost forgotten masterpiece, a heyday for actors, reminds us of Storey's brilliance. It is a very funny, moving, and ultimately surprising play. Directed by Albert Schultz. Featuring Oliver Dennis, Michael Hanrahan, Brenda Robins, Andre Sills and Maria Vacratsis.

www.SoulPepper.ca

In this powerful musical portrait, an era of innovation and unrest is set to the rhythms of ragtime. A sweeping saga of turn-of-the-century America, seen through the eyes of three very different families, based on novelist E.L. Doctorow’s kaleidoscopic fusion of suburban New Rochelle, Harlem and New York City’s Lower East Side, with surprise appearances from the likes of Houdini, Emma Goldman and J.P. Morgan. A heady tale of love lost and won, lives lost and saved and a country struggling to define itself.

www.ShawFest.com

Dressing gowns, love affairs and witty repartee – glittering stage star Garry Essendine’s life is full of them all. He’s also got more visitors – and more admirers – than he knows what to do with. How can he stop a smitten ingénue, an intense young playwright and a married seductress, from declaring their admiration? And as his not-quite-ex-wife reminds him, he’s getting a bit old for all of these romantic games. Can he escape from his fans in time? And does he want to?

www.ShawFest.com

Hypatia is a bored heiress to an underwear fortune, trapped in an unhappy engagement. But then a plane crashes into the conservatory, bringing a handsome man, a female daredevil and all kinds of new ideas to shake up the quiet weekend in the country. Who will wind up with whom? And which alliance will be a hit – or a miss?

www.shawfest.com

L’amour en français! In a villa on the west coast of France, young men – some aspiring to be diplomats, some just doing it to please their parents – come to work on their French language skills. But in between lessons, their main occupation is with girls. One girl in particular, Diana Lake, who has a lot of joie de vivre and can’t seem to help making all the men fall for her. With an epic run of over a thousand performances in the 1930s – the play is credited with establishing the name of this major British playwright.

www.ShawFest.com

Richard Shannon longs to leave his business to take up a post as a scientific advisor in Brazil. But he feels duty-bound to remain and support his wife and two unmarried sisters. A bold portrayal of family dynamics from the dazzling writer of The Stepmother, who asks, what becomes of a woman who can’t earn her own living?

www.ShawFest.com

High hopes are riding on director Julian Marsh’s new show, Pretty Lady. But Julian has doubts about his star, Dorothy Brock, whose wealthy admirer is also the show’s backer. Events take an unexpected turn, however, when newcomer Peggy Sawyer wins a place in the chorus – and in Julian’s heart. Box office: 1.800.567.1600.

www.stratfordfestival.ca

Imogen, daughter of King Cymbeline, has married against her father’s wishes – and his anger is only the beginning of her woes. When her husband is tricked into believing her unfaithful, Imogen must embark on a daring adventure to win back the man she loves. Box office: 1.800.567.1600.

www.StratfordFestival.ca

One of Shakespeare’s most popular tragedies meets one of TV’s most popular families in this brilliant comic tour-de-force. It’s Macbeth as enacted by more than fifty characters from the animated hit series The Simpsons – each one brought to life in an astonishing solo feat of vocal mimicry. Box office: 1.800.567.1600.

www.StratfordFestival.ca

With his eye ever fixed on the bottom line, wealthy merchant Horace Vandergelder can’t see the value of love – even as he searches for a wife. His matchmaker, Dolly Levi, however, is making her own plans for him, while his clerks pursue their hearts’ desires in the big city. Box office: 1.800.567.1600.

www.StratfordFestival.ca

As Claudio woos his beloved Hero, his friend Benedick and Hero’s cousin Beatrice trade insults in their “merry war” of mutual disdain. But as Claudio’s wedding day approaches, a series of deceptions – both friendly and malicious – brings about more than one dramatic change of heart. Box office: 1.800.567.1600.

www.StratfordFestival.ca

Frederic, apprenticed as an infant to a crew of notoriously soft-hearted pirates, falls in love with Mabel, one of the many daughters of Major-General Stanley. But the terms of Frederic’s indenture, along with his own keen sense of duty, keep the lovers apart. How can this sorry state of affairs be resolved? Box office: 1.800.567.1600.

www.StratfordFestival.ca

It’s a typically challenging day in the life of Charlie Brown, from trying to get his kite to fly to trying to find the nerve to talk to that cute little red-headed girl. Meanwhile, Charlie’s friends – and even his dog, Snoopy – face challenges of their own in their pursuit of that fleeting thing called happiness. Box office: 1.800.567.1600.

www.StratfordFestival.ca

NOW ON STAGE! 1912: At the village auction, Albert’s father, Ted Narracott (a poor farmer who has had one too many beers that morning), decides to take on his brother and long-standing enemy, local bully Arthur Narracott. They set to bidding over a young hunter colt. After having driven the price up to astronomical proportions, Arthur gives up the bidding and lets Ted buy the horse. Over the next two years Albert and Joey, as the horse is named, grow to love and to develop a profound understanding of each other. 1914: War with Germany is declared. The local yeomanry set about recruiting and Ted, unknown to Albert, decides to sell Joey to the army. Major, a local soldier, promises Albert that he will look after Joey when he goes to war: he gives him his solemn word that the horse will be safe. Albert reluctantly lets him go. Major Nicholls is as good as his word, proving a loyal keeper and friend of Joey’s. He introduces him to Topthorn, a thoroughbred and the finest horse in the yeomanry. The two horses come to find peace and security together, for a while. After Major Nicholls is killed in action the horses are captured by the Germans. Meanwhile, back in Devon, the news of Major Nicholls’ death has reached Albert. Convinced that Joey will no longer be safe outside of his custody, Albert escapes from the farm and runs away to join the army and bring his beloved horse home safely.

www.Mirvish.com/shows

In a world not so far, far away, where a small percentage of men hoard obscene wealth and fools rise to power, there comes a heroic new comedy… a comedy that will boldly go where no comedy had dared go before. Hop aboard as The Second City travels beyond common sense and decency to explore the deep mysteries of humanity – like why is Kim Kardashian famous, and how can I convince my boyfriend to stop tweeting during sex. Live Wrong & Prosper is a brand new collection of hilarious sketches, songs, and improvisations created and performed by Toronto’s legendary comedy troupe. So occupy a theatre seat, and buckle up! It’s going to be a thrilling ride.

www.secondcity.com

Curated by Natalia Nekrossova. Drawing on the TMC's significant collection of carpets and rugs, this exhibition presents 30 characteristic example of prayer rugs that explore over a century of symbolism and the meaning of architectural motifs and spatial compositions.

www.TextileMuseum.ca

Curated by Roxane Shaughnessy. Combining the old with the new has been an enduring practice across centuries of textile production. This exhibition provides a unique lens on the reuse and reinvention of textiles to create new clothing and items for household use.

www.TextileMuseum.ca

Almost 200 years after Toronto was captured and burned by invading American forces, this exhibit commemorates the fallen British, First Nations, Canadian and American combatants. For more information email marketgallery@toronto.ca or call 416-392-7604. Gallery hours: Tuesday - Friday: 10am to 4pm, Saturday: 9am to 4pm. Closed on Sunday and Monday.

www.Toronto.ca/culture/the_market_gallery/index.htm

Tasty Tours takes you on a walk around a Toronto neighbourhood, sampling delicious chocolates, cupcakes and more served up by various stores, while discovering tidbits of sweet history. One of Toronto's favourite sweets walking tours. Visit the website for more info, but try not to drool over the pictures!

www.tastytourstoronto.com

(Weekends, May 19-Oct 8). What are you in the mood for today? Thai? Latin? Indian? The newly renovated World Café features the best cuisines from around the world at affordable prices.

www.harbourfrontcentre.com

“I paint the way some people write an autobiography. The paintings, finished or not, are the pages from my diary.” —Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) This exhibition offers a rare perspective on the life and work of this iconic artist: his own. It features works from Picasso’s private collection, now in the holdings of the Musée National Picasso in Paris, whilst the museum undergoes renovations. Over a career of more than seventy years, these are the works he kept with the intent of shaping his own artistic legacy. Art was Picasso’s destiny. He could draw before he could talk, painted like an old master while still a teenager, and by age 30 he had taken Paris – the centre of the art world – by storm. Ceaselessly prolific, he devoured influences and created innovation after innovation, inventing new styles that forever changed the course of modern art. He was a genius and he knew it. Intense and passionate, he bucked authority at every turn, determined to carve out his own path to becoming the world’s greatest artist. The AGO is the sole Canadian and final venue on an international tour, which includes stops in Madrid, Abu Dhabi, Tokyo, Helsinki, Moscow and St. Petersburg, Seattle, Richmond, San Francisco and Sydney. The pieces on display span this modern master’s unceasingly radical and diverse career, Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris

www.AGO.net

“Fashionality” is a newly coined term that combines the words fashion, personality, and nationality, and refers to the interplay between clothing, identity, and culture. Not just about fashion, Fashionality: Dress and Identity in Contemporary Canadian Art explores the use of apparel and the act of adornment in the work of twenty-three active Canadian artists. Reflecting wide geographic and cultural diversity, it considers the ways in which the concerns, identities, and personal visions of these artists are expressed, deconstructed, and reconfigured through the shared visual language of dress.

www.McMichael.com

While scientists strive to expand our knowledge of the world, artists seek to evoke reactions to the world around us. Exploration in both science and art is often sparked by inspiration and driven by curiosity and creativity. So where exactly is the division between art and science? Both scientists and artist-created works reflecting the microscopic world of biomedical research are on display in Spark! The Heart of Art & Science. Expect to see artistic elements in images brought forth from scientific research, including a mouse embryo, breast cancer cells, and more. Experience the usually unseen beauty of various cell and molecular processes via 3D animation video installations. Visitors may also rearrange body parts on display in the DIY Body Project, an interactive textile installation inspired by synthetic biology and a “do it yourself” approach to biology and crafting. Explore the pieces in this exhibition and see if you can tell which were created by artists and which by scientists. Are science and art really so different? Time: Daily March 3 to August 12, 2012. Price: Free with admission. Location: !dea Gallery on Level 6.

www.OntarioScienceCentre.ca

Opening Reception, Thursday, May 3, 5 to 9 pm. An exhibition for Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival. Presented by Campbell House Museum in partnership with the Queen St West BIA. In spite of differences that exist between people and cultures, I believe we are connected by an underlying humanity. But in our society dominated by 24 X 7 cable television, polarizing and sometimes extreme opinions and images get the headlines. I feel that my work brings much needed balance to the subject of Canadian Muslim identity. The power of an image can challenge the viewer’s preconceptions, allowing them to empathize with the subject … By communicating the essence of human experience and emotion, we can learn how much we all have in common and can begin to break down barriers of misunderstanding and ignorance. – Asif Rehman. GALLERY HOURS: Tuesday - Friday: 9:30 pm to 4:30 pm. Saturday: 12 pm to 4:30 pm.

www.CampbellHouseMuseum.ca

In 1991, Inside Out celebrated its first film and video festival with a small community of people who yearned to see film and video created by and about lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people. Over the next two decades, the Festival grew in scope as well as attendance, becoming the largest event of its kind in Canada and one of the top five LGBT film festivals in the world. Taking place over 11 days, the Festival draws crowds of close to 35,000 to screenings, artist talks, panel discussions, installations and parties that highlight more than 200 films and videos from Canada and around the world. In 2009 Inside Out welcomed RBC Royal Bank as the Presenting Sponsor for the Festival and in 2011, the Festival moved its screening to the state-of-the-art TIFF Bell Lightbox, increasing its attendance, media coverage and industry presence and solidifying Inside Out's reputation as an international leader in the presentation of queer film.

www.insideout.ca

Become immersed in (literally) learning the science behind famous circus trick such as walking the High Wire, juggling and sword swallowing, with this interactive exhibition at the Ontario Science Centre.

www.ontariosciencecentre.ca

Part of the City of Toronto's Bicentennial Commemoration of the War of 1812. Five emerging artists explore the War of 1812 in a variety of media. Until July 15,, Tuesday, Thursday to Sunday: 12 to 6 p.m.; Wednesday: 12 to 8 p.m.; Mondays: Closed except civic holidays. Time passes slowly. How we remember and how we understand the past is always in question. This exhibition invites five contemporary artists to explore the War of 1812 through its historical complexities and bring forward a contemporary perspective. These artists work in a variety of materials, including sculpture, video, photography, installation and textiles. Participating artists: Thea Haines, Keesic Douglas, Meryl McMaster, Mark Kasumovic, Robert Hengeveld. Curated by Patrick Macaulay. . Contact visualarts@harbourfrontcentre.com 416-973-5379. Admission is free.

www.harbourfrontcentre.com/visualarts/2012/1812-2012-a-contemporary-perspective

10:00am to 4:00pm, Americas Wetlands, Australasia, Indo-Malaya and Americas Pavilions. Turtles around the world are threatened with extinction, but they are also one of the most respected and revered creatures on earth. Join the Adopt-A-Pond Wetland Conservation Programme in celebrating the diversity of culture and mythology associated with turtles; learn how conservationists are helping to save turtles globally and how you can protect these amazing animals here in Ontario. Explore the pavilions to meet story-tellers and species from all corners of the planet, learn how to identify all eight of Ontario's turtles, and collect unique turtle stamps at each pavilion to win a prize! Visit Americas Wetlands and come face to face with a giant turtle mascot, inflatable replicas of Canadian species, turtle face painters and more! Visit torontozoo.com/adoptapond or contact Julia at aap@torontozoo.ca or 416-392-5999 for more details.

www.torontozoo.com/adoptapond