Mitchell Marcus News

Acting Up Stage Company is thrilled to announce they will present the Toronto premiere of the critically acclaimed and Tony award-winning musical - GREY GARDENS.  GREY GARDENS will run in Toronto from Friday, February 19th to Sunday March 6th (Opening night February 22) at the Berkeley Street Theatre Downstairs (26 Berkeley St.), having its first preview40 years to the day that the film premiered theatrically in the U.S.. Tickets - on sale starting today - run from $35 to $55 and are available by phone at 416-368-3110, online at www.canadianstage.com, or in person at the box office.  

Acting Up Stage Company is thrilled to announce the lineup and dates for their annual smash concert, UNCOVERED, which re-examines the songbook of a legendary singer/songwriter through a storytelling lens by Canada's finest musical theatre artists.

The Bijou Theatre is teaming up with Patrick McCord, PhD and Write Yourself Free to present a unique film series taking place the second Sunday of the month at 5:00pm throughout the Fall. The series opens Sunday, September 14th at 5:00pm with “The Great Beauty.” Tickets are $15.

Acting Up Stage Company, Toronto's premiere not-for-profit musical theatre, culminates their 10th Anniversary Season with a reimagined production of William Finn's Elegies: A Song Cycle. Director Lezlie Wade will remount her 2007 sold-out, smash hit production (which also launched Acting Up Stage as Toronto's go-to company for contemporary musical theatre) alongside an entirely new design team while reuniting most of the performers from this landmark production.

Acting Up Stage Company, Toronto's premiere not-for-profit musical theatre, culminates their 10th Anniversary Season with a reimagined production of William Finn's Elegies: A Song Cycle. Director Lezlie Wade will remount her 2007 sold-out, smash hit production (which also launched Acting Up Stage as Toronto's go-to company for contemporary musical theatre) alongside an entirely new design team while reuniting most of the performers from this landmark production.

Acting Up Stage, one of Toronto's top musical theatre companies, kicks off their 10th anniversary season November 18 with its annual smash tribute concert, UnCovered: Sting and The Police. 10 of Canada's top Musical Theatre vocalists will perform 19 of Sting's hit songs, featuring new arrangements by Music Director Reza Jacobs. BWW's own Jeff Madden is thrilled to be a featured vocalist at this concert, and to give an inside look into how this show gets brought to life, through the eyes of a performer.

UnCovered: Sting and The Police will play Toronto's Koerner Hall this Monday, November 18, 2013. This tribute concert, which features such notable vocalists as Jackie Richardson, Thom Allison and others (including myself), has become known as a 'don't miss' event for lovers of music and/or theatre. A small number of tickets remain; please call 416-408-0208 to order or visit www.actingupstage.com

The 2013 Dora Awards took place in Toronto on Monday June 25th at The St Lawrence Centre for the Arts. To accommodate demand, the Bluma theatre was also opened up for guests and the awards were live-streamed via 'Doratron'. As in previous years, there was a glamorous VIP ceremony pre-show followed by a post show street party that closed down Front Street. A record number of Doras were given out, with Young People's Theatre's CINDERELLA the runaway hit of the evening with seven awards. BWW is thrilled readers photos from the evening.

Acting Up Stage opened their newest production this past Thursday, a new version of Falsettos that is being produced with The Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company. The show was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1992, and took home the prize for Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score. On Friday night, writer William Finn joined Toronto Star theatre critic Richard Ouzounian for a special post-performance Q&A, where the two discussed the evolution of Falsettos as well as Finn's life and other works. BWW is thrilled to bring its readers photos from the event.

This past Monday, stars of Toronto's theatre scene joined together for a fundraiser in support of Acting Up Stage, a 'modern musical theatre' company in Toronto. Artistic Director Mitchell Marcus once again teamed with Musical Director Reza Jacobs to create an evening filled with unique songs by popular composers. Tapestries featured the music of Carole King and James Taylor and included stars such as Cynthia Dale, Jake Epstein, Josh Young and more. BWW is thrilled to bring its readers photos from the special evening.

Acting Up Stage presents TAPESTRIES this Monday, a unique concert featurin the music of Carole King and James Taylor as arranged by Reza Jacobs. These concerts take place once a year and feature some of Canada's best and brightest musical theatre talent paying tribute to some of the most well-known and loved music of the past century. This year's show features Cynthia Dale, Josh Young, Jake Epstein, Arlene Duncan, Sterling Jarvis and more. Reza spoke to BWW about how he goes about putting the show together, how he feels about Toronto's musical theatre landscape and why people should come see the show.

A new partnership between the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) and BroadwayWorld.com promises to encourage Toronto's youth to participate in live performing arts events. The hipTIX Youth Invasion Video Series premieres today, with the release of hipTIX Youth Invasion at the Dora Awards.

The 2012 Dora Mavor Moore Awards took place this past Monday night, honouring the best of the best of the past year in Toronto theatre. The evening featured a pre-show VIP reception at The Sony Centre, a gala awards ceremony and the ever popular street party that takes place after the show under the stars on Front St. BWW was on hand to bring you pictures from the event and all the winners!

Acting Up Stage enjoyed a tremendously successful season last year, and they're aiming to top it with their latest offering which was announced a few weeks ago. Featuring a new Canadian musical and a much loved classic, Acting Up Stage's new season has something for everyone. BWW spoke to Artistic Director Mitchell Marcus about how he went about programming the season, how his company hopes to appeal to the next generation and what the secret to their success is.

Studio 180 Theatre (acclaimed last season for STUFF HAPPENS and THE OVERWHELMING) and Acting Up Stage Company (fresh from its sold-out production of THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA) present the award-winning PARADE, from December 30, 2010 to January 22, 2011 at The Berkeley Street Theatre Upstairs.

Studio 180 Theatre OVERWHELMING) and Acting Up Stage Company (fresh from its sold-out production of THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA) present the award-winning PARADE, through January 22, 2011 at The Berkeley Street Theatre Upstairs.

Studio 180 Theatre (acclaimed last season for STUFF HAPPENS and THE OVERWHELMING) and Acting Up Stage Company (fresh from its sold-out production of THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA) present the award-winning PARADE, from December 30, 2010 to January 22, 2011 at The Berkeley Street Theatre Upstairs.

I Move Forward is an exciting fund raising project on Oct 25th 2010 that unities various members of the Toronto theatre community in the fight against cancer. BWW has learned that Gavin Creel (of Broadway's HAIR) will also be lending his support, and are thrilled to have the opportunity to talk with Marc Kimelman (who created the event) about how people can help.

Studio 180 Theatre (acclaimed last season for STUFF HAPPENS and THE OVERWHELMING) and Acting Up Stage Company (fresh from its sold-out production of THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA) present the award-winning PARADE, from December 30, 2010 to January 22, 2011 at The Berkeley Street Theatre Upstairs.

Rehearsals start next week for a fundraising, concert performance of The Producers for the Actors' Fund of Canada. One performance only will be held on Monday, September 13 at 8PM at the Jane Mallett Theatre, produced by Barrie's Talk is Free Theatre.