May 8 - June 3, 2012
Submitted by Cashbox Canada
Photo Credits: Carol Rosegg

Fifty five years ago, a contemporary musical adaptation of Romeo & Juliet premiered on Broadway and changed the face of musical theatre forever. Dancap Productions presents the first national tour of the smash hit Broadway revival of West Side Story running from May 8 - June 3, 2012 at the Toronto Centre for the Arts.

Combining operatic vocals with ballet inspired dancing, The Bernstein and Sondheim score is considered to be one of Broadway's finest featuring songs from the play like the famous gang scene with 'The Jet Song', 'Something's Coming', 'Tonight', 'America' 'I Feel Pretty' and the unforgettable and haunting 'Somewhere'. Although Tony (Ross Lekites) and Maria (Evy Ortiz) are obviously the stars of the ensemble, Anita (Michelle Arevena) and Riff (Drew Foster) Bernardo (German Santiago) held the audience captive as well.

By Sandy Graham

Music by Elton John.

Book and lyrics by Lee Hall.

Directed by Stephen Daldry.

At the Canon Theatre, 244 Victoria St.

416-872-1212 Mirvish Productions

In may ways the similarities are obvious. Scarborough-born David Furnish, husband and co-writer on the score for Billy Elliot, we would assume had to fight a similar battle. Growing up in a middle-class neighbourhood of Toronto, being gay, being creative. It all matches up. The fact that Furnish was in attendance with Sir Elton John on opening night in Toronto, Canada shows the full circle of the story behind the story.

Cashbox Canada was not at the opening night, but we did hear that the audience were leaping to their feet, cheering in the middle of the show`s second act, and that you know is something extraordinary for  Toronto audience, who are usually quiet staid even at the best of times. Most of the applause,they said,  was obviously for young Cesar Corrales, who is hands down the best of the Billy Elliots both  in London and New York.

By Natasha Slinko
 
After an extremely successful, two year run, Jersey Boys will be playing their final farewell show on Sunday, August 22 at 7:30 pm. Over the past two years, Jersey Boys has received standing ovation time after time, be it a media filled audience or theatre goers that loved this era and the songs of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.  Friends, couples and families have flooded the theatre over one million strong and were charmed and won over, and in true theatre style to show their appreciation, they stood up and cheered.
 
Jersey Boys takes us back to a time in space, when things were a little simpler and showed the true turn of events on the Jersey shores.  The incredible songs, the songwriting and composing and of course, the Boys in the hood, whose vocals and harmonies just made you want to cheer and at times, cry. They were just that good. No wonder Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons took audiences by storm.  They didn’t just slowly walk up to their audience, they roared right up on top of them and the audience just went crazy for their incredible and unique sound.  And this fabulous show Jersey Boys, has shown us, that they still do.
 

If you want to have your heart pumping and your foot tapping, and want to feel like jumping out of your seat and dancing, then the high energy Burn the Floor is a must see.
On opening night at the Canon Theatre, audience clapped and stamped and gave this incredible show and cast three standing ovations.

With more than twenty dancers of incredible caliber, some of which were participants in the super craze of ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ world-wide - from Russian with Love, to the sultry beat of Venezuela, to incredible talent from Germany, Latvia, the UK, to down under Aussieland, and of course the USA. Also joining the cast, are headliners such as Latvian Anya Garnis and Russian Pasha Kovalev (USA So You Think You Can Dance) to the elegance and grace of Australian couple, Damon and Rebecca Sugden, who took your breath away.

Two drummers/percussionists, Joseph Malone and Giorgio Rojas, filled the back of the stage and kept the flow and beat of the show moving at a high-speed pace. The cast was also joined by two very talented singers, Mig Ayesa and Rebecca Tapia, whose voices filled the air and added that extra little bit that made the show even more entertaining. The music was hypnotic and the orchestra didn’t miss a beat.