Featured Events in Toro in October, 2024 (June Updated)

In this timely and poignant performance, critically acclaimed director, playwright and scholar Jaye Austin Williams introduces a live stage adaptation of Toronto-based poet Dionne Brand’s renowned non-fiction book, “A Map to the Door of No Return” published in 2001. Adapted and directed by Austin Williams with excerpts from Brand’s book, this program is staged as a “concert recitation:” an intimate performance and dramatized reading by three local actors. Held within 2024 Biennial artist Charles Campbell’s installation, How many colours has the sea, the program will highlight overlapping themes Campbell’s work and Brand’s groundbreaking book, which both anchor the ocean and sea as sites of contemplation on Black being, ancestral memory, rupture, and mourning. While this adaptation contains excerpts from Brand’s book, it is not meant as a substitute and is instead offered as a visceral “tasting” by way of reframing passages from the book in a theatrical space, allowing for new and different interpretations. This performance explores the legacy that “A Map to the Door of No Return” created in articulating Black contemporary life in Canada, but also an incredible expansion and reimagining of Brand’s breathtaking and ruminative literary work through visual and performance art. Doors: 6:30 PM | Starts: 7:00 PM| End: 8:00 PM View the full program at the Toronto Biennial of Art Programs Calendar. If you have questions about attending a program, or would like assistance securing tickets, email programs@torontobiennial.org. — The Toronto Biennial of Art’s mission is to make contemporary art accessible to everyone. A ten-week event every two years, the Biennial commissions artists to create new works for a city-wide exhibition in dialogue with Toronto’s diverse local contexts. Year-round public and learning programs bridge Biennials and invite intergenerational audiences to explore the ideas that inspire our events. Building upon past editions and offering new ways of seeing and listening, each Biennial connects people to spark meaningful dialogues and imagine new futures. From September 21 to December 1, 2024, the TBA offers 10 weeks of free public art over 11 unique locations across Toronto. Information Source: Toronto Biennial of Art | eventbrite

13 Plays About ADHD All At The Same Time is, a 75-minute comedy of, well, thirteen plays, about ADHD, that happen, yeah, you get it: it's exactly what it says on the tin. It's basically as if The Muppets were trying to put on a seminar about ADHD. The hosts of the seminar wrestle with the other performers for control of the play, only to further unravel the show. Many of the creative team have ADHD, so the show speaks from lived experience (and was a living nightmare to schedule). Join us as we explore, laugh at, and maybe, hopefully, eventually, learn to accept our beautiful stupid brains. Starring top comedians from Second City mainstage, Sex T-Rex, and Circlesnake Productions: Sharjil Rasool, Danny Pagett, Jillian Welsh, Jon Blair, and Chloe J Sullivan. Directed by Alec Toller. 75-minutes, no intermission. Bar available at the theatre. Audience participation welcome! But don't worry we'll tell you when (mostly). https://www.circlesnake.com/ Information Source: Circlesnake Productions | eventbrite

Two of the funniest, wildest groups in the city - Little Miss Normal and Mrs Beast - join forces for one incredible improv show. Composed of TV stars, writers, accomplished standup comedians, past and present members of Second City Mainstage and Touring Companies, 7 former Bad Dog Featured Players, 2 former winners of the World's Biggest Improv Tournament, 2 successful podcast hosts, another podcast host, 2 former podcast hosts, and in all likelihood, future podcast hosts, these two teams are stacked with an exceptional amount of veteran comedy talent that guarantees a comedy show you won't want to Mrs. Bad Dog @ The Assembly Theatre $15 Little Miss Normal isAndy Assaf, Tyra Banda, Edward Choi, Emma Decorte, Bita Joudaki, Mike Mildon, Rhys Naylor & Griffin Toplitsky Mrs Beast isTim Blair, Ghazal Ghiami, Brendan Kane, Blair MacMillan, Malik Powell, Sachin Sinha, Ben Sosa Wright & Carley Thorne Information Source: Little Miss Normal | eventbrite

Ramleela - A tale of Valor and Love Join us for an enchanting evening of Ramleela, a timeless story of valor and love. Immerse yourself in the epic saga of Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, and the mighty Hanuman in this live theatrical performance. Experience the vibrant costumes, mesmerizing music, and thrilling drama that bring this ancient tale to life. Let the Ramleela cast a spell on you as you witness the triumph of good over evil and the power of unwavering love. Come with friends and family to witness this must-see event. Be prepared to be moved, inspired, and entertained by the magic of Ramleela. Information Source: Radio Dhishum | eventbrite

ABOUT THE SHOW Experience the raw, wild, and deeply improvisational nature of flamenco at Toronto's intimate underground venue BSMT 254. Acoustic and unamplified, come see flamenco at its purest, most intense and most thrilling. Modelled off the flamenco tablaos in Granada, nestled into caves in the city's hillside, this is flamenco as it is performed in Spain: improvised and dynamic. Taking place the first Sunday of every month, LA CUEVA showcases the city's most lauded and in-demand flamenco performers. Special guests from out of town will also be featured throughout the series. Let everything else slip away and experience flamenco as it is rarely seen outside of Spain. Learn about the history of flamenco, all while sipping on wine and tasting specially prepared tapas. THIS MONTH'S PERFORMERS To be announced! TIME Doors open at 7pm Show starts at 8pm Come early to get the best seat! Stay for the flamenco party at the end. SORRY, no refunds! MORE INFO Fabcollab.ca | @fabcollablive | lia@fabcollab.ca Bsmt254.com | @bsmt254 |connect@bsmt254.com Information Source: FabCollab | eventbrite

Join us for a hilarious night of Stand- Up Comedy at The Groove Bar & Grill! Get ready to be entertained by some of the funniest stand-up comedians in the GTA. Hosted By:Jessica Goddard (Groove Bar Comedy) Headliner: Ruby The Darkest Mind In Comedy (Valley Of Laughter Comedy Festival) Featuring: Up-And-Coming Comics from the GTA Sana Iqbal Jon Tamblyn Dan Watson Warren Hass Danielle Kerr Dair Shendale Kendalle LaBella Florence Casuga Michael Weinreib This show should not be missed. An open-mic to follow where you never know what might happen. That is part of the fun!! Information Source: The Comedy Green Room dot com | eventbrite

Willy Shakes Presents: Legends, Tales and Folklore Cabaret featuring Drag and Burlesque hosted by Drag King Willy Shakes. Doors at 8pm $20 ADV | $25 ATD Information Source: The Painted Lady | eventbrite

Chad Mallett hosts an unforgettable night of spontaneous comedy featuring Toronto musician and freestyle fanatic Brank Oh! plus a crew of hilarious special guests. The show kicks off at 8 pm on Monday, October 14th at Backroom Comedy Club. Tickets are $15 at the door or on Eventbrite. LaughScream features comedians seen on Netflix, Disney +, Tubi and more! Information Source: eventbrite

Knockout! is coming in with the heavy hitters of Canadian Oi!/Street Punk - No Heart (Victoria), Ain't Right (MTL), Black Dog (WPG), and Street Code (Toronto). Plus our normal heavy reggae sounds between bands and after until late! Information Source: Knockout! | eventbrite

2024 marks the 100th anniversary of Giacomo Puccini’s passing, one of Italy’s greatest opera composers. This anniversary is being commemorated in Italy and around the world with a series of concerts and recitals celebrating Puccini’s continuing influence on the world of music. Though Puccini is inextricably linked to Opera, in his youth, he also wrote remarkable works for string quartets. The Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Toronto presents a Concerto Pucciniano by renowned Italian string quartet, Quartet Nous. The youthful and dynamic Quartetto brings these early works to life in an evening of lively Italian chamber music. Note: Seating is limited. We recommend arriving early as seating is on a first come basis. Thank you for your understanding. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ ABOUT QUARTETTO NOÛS Ekaterina Valiulina Violin Alberto Franchin Violin Sara Dambruoso Viola Riccardo Baldizzi Cello Noûs (nùs) is a Greek word whose meaning is 'mind', and thence 'rationality', but also 'inspiration' and 'creativity'. Quartetto Noûs, formed in 2011, has established itself quickly as one of the most interesting chamber music ensembles of its generation. Its immersive performances result from professional training that combines the Italian tradition and the most influential European schools. The versatility and the interpretative originality of the ensemble can be heard in the quartet's whole repertoire. It has worked with several contemporary composers and taken part in many crossover projects with theatre and dance companies. The Quartetto Noûs has collaborated with renowned artists such Tommaso Lonquich, Andrea Lucchesini, Alain Meunier, Giovanni Scaglione, Sonig Tchakerian, Bruno Canino, Boris Petrushansky, Alessandro Taverna, Gloria Campaner, Enrico Bronzi. In Italy the Quartetto Noûs performs regularly for renowned concerts societies and festivals: Società del Quartetto Milan, Unione Musicale Turin, Amici della Musica Florence, Bologna Festival and Musica Insieme Bologna, Società del Quartetto Bergamo, Società Veneziana dei Concerti, Associazione Chamber Music Trieste, Associazione Musicale Lucchese, Associazione Scarlatti Naples, I Concerti del Quirinale Rome, Stradivari Festival Cremona, Ravenna Festival and Settimane Musicali Stresa. The quartet is regularly invited to perform in Germany, Switzerland, England, France, Spain, Canada, the United States, Brazil, South Korea and China. Information Source: Istituto Italiano di Cultura | eventbrite

Come join us for a night of non-stop laughter at LAUGHING STOCK, showcasing professional and up and coming comedians in Toronto. Performances by comedians: Alex DeWitt (Dark Comedy Festival, NXNE) Mitchell Alvis (Dark Comedy Festival), Max Ross (Burbank Comedy Festival, Just For Laughs Toronto). Also featuring: Moe Ismail (Just For Laughs, SiriusXM, CBC) Kari Johnson (The Corner Comedy Club) Danish Anwar (Just For Laughs, Winnipeg Comedy Festival, CBC) and up-&-coming comedian, Sean Rampersad Don't miss out on the funniest stand-up comedy show in town! SATURDAY OCTOBER 26 DOORS OPEN| 7:30PM SHOWTIME| 8:00 PM The Real Jerk - Legacy (Downstairs)| 647 College Street, Toronto, ON Online - $17.50 Door - $20.00 Information Source: Laughing Stock Comedy | eventbrite

In-Studio Paint Night - Starry Night on the Lake Acrylic PaintingWelcome to our In-Studio Paint Night of a Starry Night on the Lake Acrylic Painting. In our guided, beginner-friendly step-by-step instructed paint night, you can explore your artistic side and create a stunning acrylic painting. Join us for an evening filled with creativity as our skilled instructors guide you through the steps to create a breathtaking masterpiece. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or a beginner, this event promises to be a fun-filled experience for everyone. So, grab your paintbrushes, immerse yourself in the beauty of an autumn sunset, cozy up with a cup of tea or coffee, and let your imagination take you on a relaxing creative adventure. You will be guided step-by-step by one of our experienced artists to create your version of the featured image. We will use acrylic paints during this paint night. No experience necessary. All materials provided (including aprons!). This painting session includes a 11 x 14 canvas. Sunday, October 27 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm Cost for instruction + supplies: $45 +HST Ages: 12+ Register today! Spaces are very limited. PLEASE NOTE: Event bookings are non-refundable. However, event bookings are transferable to another date for another future event. Information Source: Fresh Paint Studio + Cafe | eventbrite