Jordan Pettle

It’s been a strong year for Toronto theatre. I saw 145 shows this year in Toronto and beyond, and am happy to report that theatre is alive and well. I’ve laughed, sobbed, coughed (discreetly into a mask), and cheered my way through our stages in 2023. Here are some local highlights.

In Canadian Stage’s production of Italian playwright Stephano Massini’s The Lehman Trilogy, three powerhouse performances, a surprising and meaningful staging, and a sweeping story outweigh the curious neutrality of the script to create a vital, must-see show with high stock value.

Don't miss the Canadian premiere of THE LEHMAN TRILOGY at Canadian Stage. Experience the critically acclaimed play that traces the history of the Lehman Brothers, running from November 14-26.

In asking the persistent questions of how much of what we consider love, the personality, and even the soul is of our own making, and how much is just chemical, Mitchell Cushman’s searing production immediately gets under your skin, and it’s no placebo.

This summer, Canadian Stage celebrates 40 magical years of Dream in High Park by bringing back one of Shakespeare's most beloved plays, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM.  The first play ever presented in the High Park amphitheatre in 1983, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM has long been associated with the time-held tradition of Shakespeare under the stars.

Concluding COAL MINE THEATRE’s buzzy first season in their new home at 2076 Danforth Avenue – award-winning director Mitchell Cushman returns to the east end to direct the Canadian premiere of UK writer Lucy Prebble’s Critics Circle award-winning THE EFFECT – on stage July 9 – 30 (Media night: July 13).

Nearing the end of the company’s first full season since 2019 - a season that saw audiences eagerly returning to the joy and thrill of live theatre, bringing back pre-pandemic subscription levels, full houses, and sold-out shows – Canadian Stage has announced an ambitious 23.24 season defined by thrilling and urgently relevant contemporary theatre and performance work from Canada and around the world.

As the company celebrates the conclusion of another sold-out, critically-acclaimed season, Toronto's beloved Off-Off Broadview stage - COAL MINE THEATRE – has announced an exhilarating four-show line-up for 22.23.

ROOM and INDECENT, the two remaining shows in the 2019-20 Off-Mirvish Season, have been cancelled. For refunds or credits we recommend patrons visit mirvish.com and submit the online form or call TicketKing at 416-872-1212 or 1-800-461-3333.

Considered one of Pinter's most popular works, BETRAYAL tells the story of an affair in reverse. Directed by Andrea Donaldson, this Soulpepper production remains set in the 1970s a?" the same era it was written in a?" and is a gripping thriller centered around human emotion and autonomy.

The Studio 180 production of OSLO, presented as part of the off-Mirvish season, tells the heavily-dramatized story behind the Oslo Accords. Written by J.T. Rogers and directed here by Joel Greenberg, the play receives a minimalistic interpretation of the 1990s backroom negotiations between Palestine and Israel conceptualized and orchestrated by Norwegian academic Terje Rod-Larsen (Blair Williams).

The English-language Canadian premiere of the Tony Award-winning Best Play OSLO, is now on stage at the CAA Theatre, through March 3, 2019. Written by J.T. Rogers and directed by Joel Greenberg, this Studio 180 production stars Jonas Chernick, Patrick Galligan, Amitai Kedar, Omar Alex Khan, Mark McGrinder, Marla McLean, Sarah Orenstein, Jordan Pettle, Alex Poch-Goldin, Geoffrey Pounsett, Sanjay Talwar, Blair Williams and Anders Yates.

Alice's life is perfect. She has a wonderful husband and a gorgeous new baby. The only thing is: her husband has left on a work trip and the baby is colicky. Alice cannot sleep. Into her chaotic world arrive two fantastical creatures who take an unnatural interest in her child. In a play described as Rosemary's Baby meets Fight Club, playwright Lisa Ryder explores the taboo subject of postpartum depression and the extreme places the mind can go. A Blow in the Face is a searing and irreverent take on a subject to which every parent will relate.

Just when you think you've run out of laughter, PICTURE THIS demands more. Written by Morris Panych and Brenda Robins, Soulpepper's PICTURE THIS is a heap of slapstick, comedic gold wrapped in the packaging of Ken MacDonald's gorgeous, intelligent set. Inspired by Melchior Lengyel's 'The Battle of Waterloo', PICTURE THIS captures the virile hunger of the struggling artist and presents it in a way that is enormously funny.

Soulpepper's latest production of Wendy Wasserstein's 1989 play, THE HEIDI CHRONICLES explores the changing role of women in society through the coming-of-age story of a woman named - you guessed it, Heidi. The production features a series of episodic scenes throughout Heidi's life; from an awkward high school dance, to a career-focused driven woman and all the messy things in between. Michelle Monteith stars in the title role and goes on a transformative journey with a supporting cast of Soulpepper staples including Raquel Duffy, Sarah Wilson, Damien Atkins and Jordan Pettle.

Tarragon Theatre presents the world premiere of Waiting Room, written by the talented and multi-faceted Diane Flacks, and directed by the equally talented, multi-faceted Richard Greenblatt, teaming up for a second time as writer and director for Tarragon. This powerful new drama about diagnosis, prognosis and uncertainty opens tomorrow, January 14, 2015 and runs to February 15 (previews from January 6) in Tarragon's Mainspace. Six outstanding actors - Ari Cohen, Michelle Monteith, Jordan Pettle, Warona Setshwaelo, Jane Spidell, Jenny Young - are featured in this penetrating work. Scroll down for a first look at the show!

Tarragon Theatre presents the world premiere of Waiting Room, written by the talented and multi-faceted Diane Flacks, and directed by the equally talented, multi-faceted Richard Greenblatt, teaming up for a second time as writer and director for Tarragon. This powerful new drama about diagnosis, prognosis and uncertainty opens January 14, 2015 and runs to February 15 (previews from January 6) in Tarragon's Mainspace. Six outstanding actors - Ari Cohen, Michelle Monteith, Jordan Pettle, Warona Setshwaelo, Jane Spidell, Jenny Young - are featured in this penetrating work.

Tarragon Theatre proudly presents the world premiere of Sextet, written and directed by the prolific, award-winning Morris Panych, one of Canada's most celebrated playwrights and directors. Chock-full of Panych's trademark wit, this hilarious comic drama about six sexually entangled musicians on an ill-fated winter tour opens tonight, November 12 and runs to December 14 (previewed from November 5) in Tarragon's Mainspace.

Tarragon Theatre presents the world premiere of Sextet, written and directed by the prolific, award-winning Morris Panych, one of Canada's most celebrated playwrights and directors. Chock-full of Panych's trademark wit, this hilarious comic drama about six sexually entangled musicians on an ill-fated winter tour opens tomorrow, November 12 and runs to December 14 (previews from November 5) in Tarragon's Mainspace.

Tarragon Theatre presents the world premiere of Sextet, written and directed by the prolific, award-winning Morris Panych, one of Canada's most celebrated playwrights and directors. Chock-full of Panych's trademark wit, this hilarious comic drama about six sexually entangled musicians on an ill-fated winter tour opens November 12 and runs to December 14 (previews from November 5) in Tarragon's Mainspace.