Dancer (A Musical In Ten Furlongs) – Oh What A Ride! Productions
Dancer (A Musical In Ten Furlongs) is the story of Northern Dancer, the “horse nobody wanted” — the too-small, too-ungainly, too-willful thoroughbred who overcame doubt, injury and history to become the first Canadian-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby, in 1964, and capture the heart of a nation. With thrilling original songs, exhilarating choreography, and a timeless feel-good story, Dancer is a captivating and unmissable new Canadian musical and the must-see show of the coming fall.
This joyful original show is written by Jim Betts, the Dora and Chalmers Award winning playwright and lyricist, with music by multi-award-winning composer Marek Norman, and choreography by Emmy-Award Nominee Stacey Tookey.
October 6 – November 1
The Terminal Theatre – 207 Queens Quay West
UNCIVILIZED – A Theatre Passe Muraille & 7Spices Theatre co-production
Utilizing a camera, mixed media, and sharp wit, Meree puts citizenship itself in the hot seat by interrogating belonging, identity, and the exhausting performance of assimilation. At its core, the play asks who gets to define what it means to be “civilized,” and what is lost when belonging depends on meeting that definition. UNCIVILIZED traces the journey from leaving home to becoming a refugee, and then a citizen, by questioning what identity really is.
UNCIVILIZED is written and performed by Dora Nominee Ahmad Meree and is making its world premiere in this co-production between Theatre Passe Muraille and 7Spices Theatre. The play draws from Meree’s experiences of coming to Canada as a refugee from Aleppo, Syria, in 2016. The show turns the interrogation room into a stage, putting the machinery of citizenship on trial in front of a live audience.
October 13 – 24
Theatre Passe Muraille – 16 Ryerson Avenue
https://www.passemuraille.ca/uncivilized/
The Porch :itâ kâ-wasêtêki tâpwêwin (Where Truth is Brought Into the Light) – Small But Mighty Productions
One Muskoka cottage.
A yearly tradition of Friendsgiving and a whole lot left unsaid.
Between the cocktails, questionable decisions, old flames, new lovers, and one increasingly chaotic
evening, The Porch is a dark comedy mystery about chosen family and the ridiculous lengths we go to
keep the peace.
Set against a celebration built around gratitude, the play asks what happens when the stories holding us
together begin to crack.
Through an Indigenous lens, The Porch draws a parallel between the sanitized history of Thanksgiving
and the histories we rewrite within our own families.
Because eventually, the drinks run out,the party ends and everything buried finds its way into the light.
October 20 – 25
Assembly Theatre – 1479 Queen St W
100% Real Human – The Second City Toronto
100% Real Human, the latest Second City Toronto original revue, asks: What does it mean to be human? With a fresh collection of hilarious sketches, original songs, wild new characters, and jaw-dropping unpredictable improv scenes, this show explores the hysterical human experience in a world increasingly run by machines. Written and performed by our talented all-star cast of human comedians and a real live musician, this show is a joyful antidote to the troubles of the day. Close a few tabs and come laugh with us.
October 6 – February 28
The Second City Toronto – 110 Harbour Street
https://www.secondcity.com/shows/toronto/the-second-city-mainstage-92nd-revue-tor
Fall for Dance North
Dance is an open invitation to feel. From intimate gestures to explosive energy, our 2026 lineup of Canadian and international artists will move you in ways you have never seen before
October 15 – 25
Multiple Venues
JORDAN – A Hero’s Journey Home – Young People’s Theatre
Jordan is inspired by the true story of Jordan River Anderson, a young Cree boy born with multiple
disabilities. The challenges Jordan faced during his life became the heart of a national movement for
equal healthcare for First Nations youth living both on and off reserves. His legacy resulted in
Jordan’s Principle — a Canadian legal commitment ensuring equal access to government services for
all First Nations children.
October 16 – 23
Young People’s Theatre – 165 Front Street
https://www.youngpeoplestheatre.org/shows-tickets/jordan/
The Descent of Orpheus – Opera Atelier
Opera Atelier invites you on a hero’s journey of the heart.
Marc Antoine Charpentier’s extraordinary masterpiece recounts the timeless story of the poet Orpheus and his journey to hell and back to rescue his lover from death. Charpentier’s opera unfolds with all the extravagant splendour and drama unique to the court of the Sun King, Louis XIV.
Opera Atelier’s elite cast of singers, dancers, and soloists from Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra welcome American tenor Daniel McGrew, who makes his Canadian debut in the title role.
Charpentier’s miniature masterpiece, The Descent of Orpheus, is an exciting introduction to opera and ballet for your family and friends, and becomes all the more accessible with a subscription!
Join us for this fully staged Canadian premiere in the glorious acoustic of Toronto’s Koerner Hall.
October 22 – 25
Koerner Hall – 273 Bloor Street West
https://www.operaatelier.com/shows/the-descent-of-orpheus
Thank you to my Patrons:
Natalia, Steve, Brendan, Deborah, and Phil
And to my supporters who’ve bought me a coffee:
Angelica and Paul, Anonymous, Adrianna, Caitlin, Jonathan, Jada, and Courtney
Would you like to become a Patron? Check out my Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/AViewfromtheBox
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