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Culture Theatre

10 artists to watch

Authors, Twisted

Their writing individually has been powerful – Corbeil-Coleman scripted Scratch, and Pierre’s work includes Shakespeare’s Nigga and Born Ready – so there are understandably great expectations for their collaboration on Twisted, which moves the action of Dickens’s Oliver Twist to contemporary Toronto, where its two characters, Ollie and Nancy, have to deal with life on the mean streets. Nigel Shawn Williams directs the Factory Theatre/b current co-production, which runs January 31 to February 22 at Factory. 416-504-9971.

Performer, NTU/Skwatta

The South Africa-based Mantsoe is one of the most riveting dance soloists you’ll ever see, as he proved here a decade ago in a show that dance lovers still talk about with awe. He makes a long-awaited return with this double bill, which draws on the idea of ritual and nothingness and life in squatter camps in the South African townships. With elements of African and contemporary street dance and martial arts, this show should get you in the mood for Black History Month. January 29 to 31. Harbourfront Centre Theatre. 416-973-4000.

Performer, Bull

The talented Bentley began her career as an actor (Horse, Reasons To Be Pretty) and has since moved into producing, with Bob Kills Theatre and the Coal Mine, scoring last fall with The Motherfucker With The Hat. Still a performer – she was great in Savage In Limbo – she takes on the role of Isobel in Bull, by Mike Bartlett (Cock), playing one of three employees willing to do anything not to get fired in an uber-competitive corporate firm bent on downsizing. Directed by David Ferry, the production runs at the Coal Mine March 15 to April 5. brownpapertickets.com.

Writer/performer, A Side Of Dreams performer, Blood Wedding

A powerful multidisciplinary aboriginal performer, Lauzon tackles a pair of productions this winter. First she appears in her own play, A Side Of Dreams, which uses puppetry, text, sound, aerial hoops and dream catchers to explore cultural identity and loss. Then she’s part of the cast of Federico Garcia Lorca‘s archetypal Blood Wedding, which looks at the consequences of a bride’s fleeing with her married lover on her wedding day. Dreams, presented by Paper Canoe Projects, plays at Aki Studio Theatre January 20 to February 1 416-531-1402. Blood Wedding, an Aluna Theatre/Modern Times co-pro directed by Soheil Parsa, runs at Buddies in Bad Times March 11 to 29 416-975-8555.

Performer, Don Giovanni

One of the challenges of playing the title role in Mozart‘s Don Giovanni is to make the womanizer sympathetic. You can count on the Toronto-born Braun, who’s as strong an actor as he is a singer, to bring charm and charisma to the part. An internationally acclaimed opera singer, recitalist and oratorio performer, he’s wowed Canadian Opera Company audiences with Billy Budd, Il Trovatore and Roberto Devereux, and he should triumph in this pivotal baritone role. The new production by Russian director Dmitri Tcherniakov features a cast that includes Jane Archibald, Michael Schade and Jennifer Holloway. January 24 to February 21 at the Four Seasons Centre. 416-363-8231.

Performer, Accidental Death Of An Anarchist writer/performer, Subway Stations Of The Cross

Choi’s play Kim’s Convenience has become a Canadian classic, one that’s toured Canada and deserves to be seen internationally. This winter you can catch him twice at Soulpepper Theatre. First he plays a character called Sporty Inspector in Dario Fo‘s dark farce Accidental Death Of An Anarchist, and later returns to the company to perform his solo show Subway Stations Of The Cross, a blend of poetry, song and prophecy featuring a street person who has more than a passing acquaintance with Handel, Greek legends and the Bible. Anarchist, directed by Ravi Jain, runs January 29 to February 21 Subway Stations runs March 18 to 29. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

Stand-up comic

Lots of male comics of South Asian background have broken through in stand-up, like Russell Peters, Sugar Sammy and Danny Bhoy. But apart from our own Sabrina Jalees, who’s now based in NYC, there haven’t been many women. Until now. Nancherla was a breakthrough act at the New Faces showcase at 2013’s Just For Laughs and had a recurring part in FX’s Totally Biased With W. Kamau Bell. Expectations are high for her Comedy Bar headlining sets, January 23 to 25. comedybar.ca.

Performer, The Wild Party

Herbert’s a real triple threat, as he’s proven in such musicals as The Toxic Avenger (which snagged him a Dora nomination), Parade, A Craigslist Cantata and Once On This Island. He returns to Acting Up Stage Company for Michael John LaChiusa and George C. Wolfe‘s The Wild Party, directed by Robert McQueen, in which he plays Burrs, a jealous, sometimes violent vaudeville comedian with a voracious sexual appetite. Expect a fireworks performance. This Party takes off at the Berkeley Theatre February 20 to March 8. 416-368-3110.

Performer, Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival

With dead-on impressions of Ellen DeGeneres, Justin Bieber and Jane Lynch alone, McKinnon has emerged as one of the most valuable players in SNL’s recent ensemble. Plus she made entertainment history by being the show’s first openly lesbian cast member. So her appearance at the 10th anniversary of the sketch comedy festival is a big deal. Other names include Pajama Men, returning to town for the first time in nine years, and The Irrelevant Show, who killed here last year. March 5 to 15 at various venues. torontosketchfest.com.

Choreographer, Ce N’est Pas La Fin Du Monde

Montreal-based Emard is a poet of the stage who, through works like Te Souvient-Il and Fragments – Volume 1, can evoke complex emotions with choreography. He and his company, Sylvain Emard Danse, make a long-awaited return with this piece for seven male dancers that’s said to capture the urgency and shared rituals of contemporary life. The show gets a single performance, February 28, at the Fleck Dance Theatre. Book your tickets now: every serious dance lover will be there. 416-973-4000.

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