THEATRE | Oh What a Lovely War
As millions of young men marched towards almost certain death on the battlefields of Europe during World War I, they sang. They sang to give themselves courage, they sang to remind themselves of home. Songs like "Over There", "It's a Long Way to Tipperary", and "Keep the Homefires Burning" have endured for nearly a century, reminding us of the fighting spirit of these men who faced the horrors of war. Tonight Soulpepper begins its run of Oh What a Lovely War, the seminal British musical based on songs from the Great War. Directed by former Street Legal star and Soulpepper founder Albert Schultz. Runs til April 10.
Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill Street, Building 49, $37 - $46 general admission, $29 students, Monday - Saturday 7:30 pm, Wednesday and Saturday 1:30 pm and 7:30 pm

GALLERY | 01 - Presented by 01 Magazine
01 Magazine is a Vancouver-based online magazine focusing on contemporary art, photography, and fashion created by young and emerging artists. Sort of like Vice, but with intelligence and a purpose. Tonight at 107 Shaw, the magazine opens a gallery show featuring the work of literally dozens of artists from all over North America. Depicting truck stops on American highways, small town graveyards inhabited by deer, girlfriends naked with cigarette in hand, and litter-strewn driveways after a party, the raw photos comprise a visual document of the continent's low culture.
107 Shaw Gallery, 107 Shaw St., Free, Reception 7 pm tonight, Gallery hours Wednesday and Saturday 12 pm - 6 pm

BALLET | Swan Lake
We've all been there before. You meet a perfectly nice girl, she's pretty and a good dancer, you think you might have a future together, and then you discover she's a species of waterfowl. That universal story is at the centre of Swan Lake, which begins its eleven night run at the Four Seasons Centre tonight. Originally considered too complex when it debuted in Russia in 1877, Tchaikovsky's ballet is now the highlight of any company's season. The National Ballet's production is based on the 1999 revival by legendary choreographer James Kudelka and if the company's staging of previous classics such as the Nutcracker are any indication, Toronto's ballet fans won't be disappointed by this incarnation. Friday's performance will see the Canadian debut of Jiri Jelinek, the National Ballet's newest hunky Czech principle dancer. Runs til March 21.
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W., $20 - $159, Tuesday - Friday 7:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday 2 pm and 7:30 pm

URBAN ARCHEOLOGY | The Pocketology Field Research Onsite Excavation
Now that we're on the verge of spring, it's time to ditch your winter coat for your more stylish warm-weather digs. Stuffing your hands into the pockets you'll no doubt come across a cornucopia of objects you'd forgotten about; the pizza parlour receipt from that disastrous date you had last September, the ticket stub from that bitching Reel Big Fish concert, a couple of US dollar bills, and probably a healthy collection of lint. "Every pocket tells a story" is the motto of the Pocketology crew, who collect and photograph objects found in the hidden spaces of our coats, wallets and backpacks and reveal the forgotten histories behind these often overlooked artifacts. The Pocketology Field Research team will be excavating onsite this afternoon, so stop by if you think your pockets have a story to tell.
Sam James Coffee Bar, 297 Harbord St., Free, 12 pm - 4 pm

DANCE | Toronto Salsa Festival
While Toronto's indie music fans will be running all over town this weekend to catch their favourite bands at CMF, another festival will be heating up the lakeshore. The Toronto Salsa Festival celebrates the spiciest of sensual dances with four days of performances, workshops, and parties. There are a wide array of events on offer, including salsa lessons for beginners, performances by international dance professionals, the finals of the Pro-Am Salsa Competition, and nightly social dancing. Why? Because people like to say salsa.
Palais Royale, 1601 Lakeshore Blvd. West, $40 - $299, Thursday and Friday 8 pm - 2 am, Saturday and Sunday 11 am - 2 am

THEATRE | Hair
The Victoria College Dramatic Society closes its 2009-2010 season with the classic 1960s tribal love musical Hair. Set and written in New York City in 1968, the play tells the story of a group of hippies from the "Age of Aquarius" who are immersed in a sexual and political revolution. The musical was hugely controversial when it debuted in 1968, particularly for a nude scene which shocked Broadway audiences at the time. At this point, no one who's watched cable television in the last 20 years will find its content scandalizing, but it's still an insightful document into the politics of one of the most tumultuous decades of the 20th century. Runs til Saturday.
Isabel Bader Theatre, 93 Charles St. W., $12 adults, $8 students, Thursday - Saturday 8 pm with a 2 pm Saturday matinee

MUSIC | Canadian Music Fest
Canadian Music Fest continues tonight with performances from a handful of the 700 artists currently in town to play shows. Highlights for tonight include glam-rock troubadour Diamond Rings at the Garrison and Audioblood at the El Mocambo. Check out blogTO's full coverage of the festival here.

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Photo: "Invariant Set 1b" by Medmoiselle T, member of the blogTO Flickr Pool.