NOW critics pick the city's best music, stage, books, film and art events
Joan Marcus
Winter Light Exhibition
Bask in 21 cocoon-themed light installations.
To March 29. Ontario Place. 4-11 pm. Free. ontarioplace.com.
ROM After Dark: Desire
Second edition of the museum’s after-hours party features art, music and burlesque performances for Valentine’s Day.
February 14. Royal Ontario Museum. 7 pm-11:30 pm. $24-$30. rom.on.ca/rad.
Rapsody
The soulful, inspiring rapper brings her A Black Woman Created This tour to Toronto, just in time for Black History Month. She’ll perform songs from her newest album EVE, which pays tribute to 15 inspiring Black women.
February 13. Toybox. Doors 8 pm, all ages. $25. ticketweb.ca.
Wavelength Winter Festival
Toronto indie music series is turning 20 and its annual anniversary festival will be a 20-act look back/look ahead. This year’s Polaris Prize winner Haviah Mighty gets top billing, sharing space with Lou Phelps, Desiire, TRP.P, Kaia Kater, LAL, Owen Pallett’s band Les Mouches and more.
February 13-16. Various venues. Festival pass $50. wavelengthmusic.ca.
Myriam Verreault’s Kuessipan screens during TIFF’s Next Wave film festival.
An intimate evening with Spike Lee
Toronto Black Film Festival gives the New York filmmaker a lifetime achievement award.
February 13. Queen Elizabeth Theatre. 7 pm. $59.99-$99. torontoblackfilmfestival.com.
TIFF Next Wave Film Festival
Film fest aimed at people under 25 features a mix of new and throwback movies, plus a conversation with Waves actor Kelvin Harrison Jr.
February 13-16. TIFF Bell Lightbox. $11.50-$24, many events free for anyone under 25. tiff.net/nextwave.
Hamilton
Yo! Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hugely popular hip-hop musical about America’s founding fathers finally comes to town for a limited run.
February 12-May 17. Ed Mirvish Theatre. $50-$250, premium $500. See listing.
bug
The fiercely talented Yolanda Bonnell presents her solo show about an Indigenous woman’s journey through intergenerational trauma.
February 11-22. Theatre Passe Muraille. $17-$38 with pwyc option for matinee shows. See listing.
Grounded
Dora Award-winner Carly Street (Venus In Fur) plays a fighter pilot whose life unravels in George Brant’s play.
February 14-29. Streetcar Crowsnest. $20-$29. See listing.
Sharon Olds
The Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet reads from her latest collection, Arias.
February 13. Bram & Bluma Appel Salon. 7 pm. Free. tpl.ca/appelsalon.
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