I was invited to a press conference at the Canon Theatre with a cryptic invitation to "to attend a press conference for a major announcement." by David Mirvish. No hint of what the announcement might be, just a coy invitation to whet the media's appetites.

When I arrived I pushed my way through the throngs of high school kids that were leaving the matinee and got into the auditorium to be greeted by the cast of We Will Rock You on stage. I cozied myself down in a seat at the front and immediately started speculating what the apparently top-secret announcement might be. The woman from Canadian Press that I was talking to said that if it was just something to announce that We Will Rock you was going to be extended she was going to scream. I agreed, since, really, that's the kind of thing that a press release works just fine for.

It really is the time of festivals in the city. One of these is the Performance Spring Festival at Factory theatre. This is the second year of the festival which features premiers of work from companies across the Canada as well as a 'Late Night Series' which includes live music, comedy and play readings. The festival, that runs from May 7 - May 25 began with Sexual Practices of the Japanese by Vancouver's Theatre Replacement.

With a healthy mix of irreverent humour and serious thought-provoking moments, and of course some sexy scenes, this show makes for a good way to spend an evening out.

So, theatre festivals continue on their merry way. A couple more have been added this week, and the two festivals from last week are still going on. More details after the jump.

As always, if there is not a description with the show it has be described in a previous entry.

Once the theatre festivals start then you know it's getting to be summer in Toronto. This week marks the first one of the season - CrossCurrents. As always, if there is not a description with the show it has be described in a previous entry.

Listings after the jump.

Photo by St-Even from the blogTO flickr pool.

UPDATE (Sunday, April 27th, 2:30pm):
- Back-to-work legislation has been pushed forward and all TTC workers have been ordered back to work. Service is expected to slowly return within a few hours, and full service is expected in time for the Monday morning rush.

UPDATE (Sunday, April 27th, noon):
- Global News has told us that their sources predict a return of some service as early as 7pm today
- TTC Chair Adam Giambrone predicts a return of service by 9pm today (via Spacing, via Giambrone's Facebook)

We recommend that transit users not rely too heavily on these predicted service start times, because they're not confirmed, and there is sure to be a slow, varied return of service across the city.

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Stunned Saturday morning commuters:



Much more strike-reporting after the jump...

Tazed and Confused is Second City's current revue show. As expected, it made me and Matt, my show-partner, laugh a great deal.

When I asked Matt what he thought of the show overall he said "it was a hilarious show that effectively poked fun at being an early 30s Torontonian." And he's right. I felt a bit like they had written this show specifically for me and a bunch of my friends. That said, if you don't fit into that demographic, don't worry, it appeals to all ages. The audience ranged in ages from about fourteen to about sixty-five, and everyone was busting a gut.