See our picks of the top theatre, concerts, comedy and more coming to town this month!

The unmissable comeback of Paul Simon!

Paul Simon
Massey Hall
May 27 - 30

Still crazy good after all these years
Paul Simon is coming out of retirement for a brand-new 2025 tour, 'A Quiet Celebration'! One of modern music's true pioneers, Simon first found worldwide fame in the 1960s as one half of the legendary folk duo Simon & Garfunkel. His solo career saw a remarkable resurgence in the 1980s when he became a leading figure in the world music movement, collaborating with a host of African musicians on his iconic album Graceland. Don't miss your chance to witness this once-in-a-lifetime experience!
BOOK HERE

Best-selling Broadway

The Lion King
Princess of Wales Theatre
Now showing through August 30

Reigning supreme!
Since opening on Broadway in 1998, The Lion King has smashed records, evolving into the highest-grossing show, playing to date, 6,700 performances and mounting new ones worldwide. The success is well deserved as the musical is a visually stunning affair, creating a realistic and thrilling landscape, with actors dressed as the wild animals and encompassing their characters in a spectacular, goose-bump-giving performance that keeps audiences coming back time and again.

Whether you want to see the spectacle for yourself for the first time or are a returning visitor, you can be sure that this is a musical that the whole family can enjoy!
BOOK HERE

Peter Pan
Ed Mirvish Theatre
May 21 - June 1

Second star on the left and straight on til morning! 
Prepare to soar with Peter Pan, the musical, based on the magical play by JM Barrie. The story of the boy who never grew up and his wonderful home, Neverland, Peter Pan will always be the ultimate childhood dream! Befriending fairies and battling nefarious pirates, when Peter flies in through Wendy Darling's window, there is no predicting what sort of enchanting adventure is to follow.

So come and join Peter and the Darlings, the Lost Boys, and Captain Hook on the journey of a lifetime! With great flying effects and original songs from Moose Charlap and Carolyn Leigh, including 'I'm Flying', 'Never Never Land' and 'I've Got To Crow', Peter will be a great fit for kids and those who've grown up a bit!
BOOK HERE

Local theatre highlights

Nashville Hurricane
CAA Theatre
May 7 - 11

The rise and fall and rise again.
After his much-lauded performance in 6 Guitars, musician and actor Chase Padgett returns with Nashville Hurricane, a compelling new show about the rise and fall of a mysterious guitar prodigy. In a 75-minute performance, Nashville Hurricane looks at the darker side of the music industry with wit, with creator Padgett skillfully taking on multiple roles, including lead character Henry Waltrip, his manager, his mother and his mentor.
BOOK HERE

Oliver!
May 1 - 4
Meadowvale Theatre

Lionel Bart's cherished musical theatre classic from Meadowvale Theatre!
When young Oliver Twist finds himself orphaned in Victorian England, he's left trying to find friends, find a family, and navigate life in the big city, which is filled with pickpockets, gangsters, and danger.

The Artful Dodger takes him under his wing, introducing him to conniving Fagin, kind-hearted Nancy, and the evil Bill Sykes. Only when he is wrongfully accused of theft does a wealthy gentleman come to his rescue and invite him to live with him. Whilst Nancy tried to help Oliver, Sykes had other plans; this classic musical, which won the Tony Award for Best Original Score, is told to a soundtrack of timeless classics including 'Food, Glorious Food', 'Oliver!', 'Oom-Pah-Pah', 'You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two', 'Who Will Buy?', and 'As Long as He Needs Me'.
BOOK HERE

A breathtaking adventure with Cirque Du Soleil

Cirque Du Soleil - Ovo
Under The Big White Top
May 1 - June 28

The secret life of bugs
OVO is a headlong rush into a colorful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non-stop riot of energy and movement. The insects' home is a world of biodiversity and beauty filled with noisy action and moments of quiet emotion.

When a mysterious egg appears in their midst, the insects are awestruck and intensely curious about this iconic object that represents the enigma and cycles of their lives. It's love at first sight when a gawky, quirky insect arrives in this bustling community and a fabulous ladybug catches his eye - and the feeling is mutual.

OVO is overflowing with contrasts. The hidden, secret world at our feet is revealed as tender and torrid, noisy and quiet, peaceful and chaotic. And as the sun rises on a bright new day the vibrant cycle of insect life begins anew.
BOOK HERE

Top comics coming to town

Nikki Glaser
Meridan Hall
May 10 - 11

Alive and Unwell tour
If you've ever had the pleasure of seeing an episode of Comedy Central mainstay 'Not Safe with Nikki Glaser', then you'll be well acquainted with her unapologetic, no-holds-barred comedy style -  but you may still blush when confronted with her racy live stand-up routine! Leaving no stone unturned when it comes topics including sex, relationships, the single life, Target fashion triumphs and invasive TSA practices, Glaser spreads her mischievous glee around venues across the country on 'The Alive and Unwell' tour!
BOOK HERE

Marc Maron
Winter Garden Theatre
May 3

Lock the gates, Maron is on the road!
The veteran stand-up comic, podcast trailblazer, and star of his own eponymous tv show returns to his first love, performing stand-up on the huge US home circuit. His WTF podcast has set the standard for every other interview show out there, his signature blend of honesty, insecurity, and resentment, and completely candid style always bringing the best out of his guests (or on some occasions their worst). A testament to the impact he's had on the format was the fact that Barack Obama chose to appear on WTF, and opened up about the everyday difficulties of being the most powerful man on the planet at the time.
BOOK HERE

More icons in concert

Shakira
Scotiabank Arena
May 26

Shakira, Shakira!
World music superstar Shakira heads out on her massive 'Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran' world tour this year. One of the few Latin music stars to also dominate the English language charts, Shakira, who hails from Colombia, is best known in North America for her breakout hit 'Whenever, wherever', and the inescapable jam 'Hips Don't Lie (feat. Wyclef Jean)', which remains one of the best-selling digital singles of all time. With her unmistakable vocals, which incorporate the odd yodel here and there, real songwriting chops and some very truthful hips, Shakira is a real all-rounder.
BOOK HERE

Barry Manilow
Scotiabank Arena
May 31

Saying goodbye to audiences on his final tour.
In terms of record sales and career longevity, Barry Manilow is one of the most successful adult contemporary singers ever. That success hasn't necessarily garnered universal respect (or even "ironic hipster" appreciation) in most quarters, but the facts speak for themselves; 65 million albums, over 3,000 concerts, and 28 platinum records. As well as producing and arranging albums for his fellow artists such as Bette Midler and Dionne Warwick, Manilow has also written songs for films, commercials, and musicals, including his own Broadway show, Harmony.
BOOK HERE

May the force be with you

Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back In Concert
Roy Thompson Hall
May 22 - 25

The original
Join the Toronto Symphony Orchestra as they present a screening of George Lucas and Lawrence Kasdan's 1980 sci-fi masterpiece, with John Williams' unforgettable score played live in accompaniment.

Regarded by many as the strongest entry in the Star Wars franchise, The Empire Strikes Back sees the rebellion doing battle with the Galactic Empire once again. Featuring the first appearance of Lando Calrissian, the snowy AT-AT battle on Hoth, and Luke's memorable training sessions with Yoda, this sequel builds upon A New Hope with a darker tone and an even more epic scope, and includes one of the most famous twists in movie history.
BOOK HERE