Out in Toronto: April 6–12, 2017

Choice events in the city this week


Thursday, April 6

Jack Charles V The Crown

A child of Australia’s Stolen Generation, 70+ year old queer artist Jack Charles has lived as an addict, actor, cat burglar, and been in and out of prison in Australia. He recounts his extraordinary life in Jack Charles V The Crown, a play spanning years of Australian social and political history. The venue is accessible (visit website for more information).

Runs until Saturday, April 8, various showtimes. Berkeley Street Downstairs Theatre, 26 Berkeley St. canadianstage.com

Queer artist Jack Charles recounts his life in Jack Charles V The Crown. Credit: Courtesy Bindi Cole

The Book of Mormon

When two young Mormon missionaries travel to Uganda to spread the so-called good word, they find the locals preoccupied with more important matters — AIDS, famine and warlords. Written by the creators of the cartoon South Park, this musical comedy mocks The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The venue is accessible (visit website for more information).

Runs until Sunday, April 16, various showtimes. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King St W. mirvish.com

Friday, April 7

Music for Lesbians

Canadian rockstar Carole Pope puts on a concert all about women and the female gaze. In an April 2017 interview with NOW magazine, Pope explained that the world is “too penis-y,” so this concert is about “art through a woman’s perspective.” Pope is joined by award-winning musician Rae Spoon and DJ Betti Forde. It’s music for lesbians, but everyone is welcome.

8pm–midnight. The Phoenix, 410 Sherbourne St. thephoenixconcerttheatre.com

Carole Pope performs at Music for Lesbians at The Phoenix on April 7, 2017. Credit: Carole Pope/Wikimedia Commons
 

The Anvil

It’s about time somebody made one of the early gay references from The Simpsons into the theme for a gay dance party (the episode where Homer and Bart are in a factory and a big burly guy says “we work hard, we play hard” and the place transforms into a gay club called The Anvil). Dresscode: “industrial gear encouraged.”

10pm–2:30am. The Black Eagle, 457 Church St. For more info, visit Facebook

Fit: Speedo Time

Guys get wet and wild at this water polo-themed dance party. According to billing, lots of gay water polo players from across North America are in the city right now to swim and dance with no shirts, and this bash is a celebration of that (and hopefully enough to lure some of them out to play). DJs Kris Steeves and Phil V spin.

10pm–3am. Blyss Nightclub, 504 Church St. For more info, visit Facebook

Saturday, April 8

Newbie Gay Rock Climbing Day

The TO ‘Mo Climbers, a group of gay rock climbers (and straight climbers who the gay climbers have given fanciful nicknames), host a day for indoor rock climbing novices. People of all skill levels are welcome to try climbing some walls. Attendees must pay a fee in advance (for more information on how to do that, see indicated Facebook event page or this Facebook fan page).

2–6pm. Toronto Climbing Academy, 11 Curity Ave. For more info, visit Facebook.

For more event listings, visit dailyxtra.com/lgbt-events.

Jeremy Willard is a Toronto-based freelance writer and editor. He's written for Fab Magazine, Daily Xtra and the Torontoist. He generally writes about the arts, local news and queer history (in History Boys, the Daily Xtra column that he shares with Michael Lyons).

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Culture, Event listings, Toronto, Arts

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