The Long Weekender: Sister Act The Musical, Toronto Oktoberfest and six other events on our to-do list

The Long Weekender: Sister Act The Musical, Toronto Oktoberfest and six other events on our to-do list

Dawn Petten and Jonathon Young in Tear the Curtain! (Image: David Cooper)

1. SISTER ACT: THE MUSICAL
Singing nuns. ’Nuff said. While Whoopi and Maggie aren’t making appearances this time around (we can still dream), the fish-out-of-water story of a Vegas lounge singer hiding out in a convent is no less irresistible. The 2011 Broadway production makes its pilgrimage to the Ed Mirvish Theatre this week, and features Ta’Rea Campbell in the to-die-for lead role of Deloris. To November 4. $35–$130. Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria St., 416-872-1212, mirvish.com

2. TORONTO OKTOBERFEST
Grab your lederhosen (who doesn’t have a pair or two at the back of their closet?) and head down to Toronto’s first Oktoberfest celebration at St. Lawrence Market. This Bavarian festival will separate the men from the boys (there’s a strongman contest), with Creemore, De Koninck, Weihenstephan, Erdinger and more breweries participating (there’s also food from Cheesewerks, The Bavarian Nut Shop and Prague European Kitchen). October 4­–5. $20–$25. St. Lawrence Market—North Building, 95 Front St. E., torontooktoberfest.ca

3. THANKSGIVING AT THE VILLAGE
Little Anne of Green Gables fans who fantasize about living in a simpler time (and their parents, who perhaps wouldn’t mind turning off their various beeping handheld devices for a few hours) will want to head to Black Creek Pioneer Village this weekend for a traditional Thanksgiving meal. The annual tradition features produce and meat from local Ontario producers and takes place at the Half Way House Inn and Restaurant. October 7–8. $54. Black Creek Pioneer Village, 1000 Murray Ross Parkway, 416-736-1733, blackcreek.ca

4. TEAR THE CURTAIN!
In this critically acclaimed play-within-a-mob-film-within-a-play (or something to that effect), a writer falls for a movie star and gets caught between two feuding families (sound familiar?)—except this time, one family controls the playhouses and one controls the cinemas (it all takes place in 1930s Vancouver). Exploring the creation and consumption of art, it will thrill and confuse in equal parts. October 7–20. $24–$99. Bluma Appel Theatre, 27 Front St. E., 416-368-3110, canadianstage.com

5. SACRED STONES AND STEEPLES —GUIDED ROM WALK  (FREE!)
This guided tour, which starts at 2 p.m. at the northeast corner of Church and King, looks at the city’s historical religious landmarks, and explores the role of the church during the War of 1812 (this month is full of commemorative events for the war). Plus it’s a good excuse to walk around downtown and look at some of the pretty autumn colours around St. James Park. October 7. Church St. and King St. E. (look for guide with blue umbrella), 416-586-8097, rom.on.ca

6. SUNDAY SCENE: MARC COUROUX (FREE!)
We’ve already told you why you need to see The Clock, Christian Marclay’s celebrated 24-hour cinematic mashup, which stitches together clips from the history of film. But after seeing it, you may wonder: what does it all mean? Marc Couroux (intermedia artist and associate professor at York) will be giving his take on the piece this Sunday at the Power Plant. October 7. The Power Plant, 231 Queens Quay W., 416-973-4949, thepowerplant.org

7. ROYAL CONSERVATORY ORCHESTRA
This is not your usual lanky, long-haired student garage band. These classically trained students, led by Maestro Uri Mayer, will perform a concert with harpist and Glenn Gould School Concerto Competition winner Sophie Baird-Daniel. The program includes Brahms’s Symphony No. 4 in E Minor, Gershwin’s Cuban Overture and the Harp Concerto by the Argentine composer Alberto Ginastera. October 5. Starting at $25. Koerner Hall, The Royal Conservatory, 273 Bloor St. W., 416-408-0208, rcmusic.ca

8. BENEATH THE SURFACE (FREE!)
An entirely differently spin on “underground” art, this exhibit uses those subway-platform TV screens you constantly check to see when your train is coming (it’s part of the ongoing Art in Transit series). Six Toronto-based artists will be showing works composed of eight or nine sequential images. Each work tells a story related to the theme of things that are hidden or out of reach (the project commemorates World Mental Health Day, October 10). October 6–14. Various locations, 416-762-7702, artintransit.ca