The Who’s anniversary show, a Yousuf Karsh exhibition and nine other things to do this week
The Who’s golden-anniversary concert
The rebellious rockers have a good excuse for celebrating their 50th a year late: lead singer Roger Daltrey’s viral meningitis cut their anniversary tour short in 2015. He’ll be in full health for this arena-rock blowout—and he’ll need to be if he intends to holler his way through “Won’t Get Fooled Again” and “Baba O’Riley.” Tuesday, March 1. $51.50–$167. Air Canada Centre, 40 Bay St., ticketmaster.ca.
An acrobatic Alvin Ailey production
The members of the New York–based modern dance company vault, twirl and leap across the stage in violent bursts of motion. This program includes the world premiere of Ailey vet Rennie Harris’s Exodus, a hip-hop routine set to gospel, house and poetry; a performance of the company’s jubilant 1960 classic, Revelations; and a duet called A Case of You, set to the Joni Mitchell song of the same name. Friday, March 4 and Saturday, March 5. $69–$99. Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, 1 Front St. E., sonycentre.ca.
A collection of Yousuf Karsh’s poignant portraits
The Armenian-Canadian photographer created striking black-and-white portraits that seemed to both canonize and humanize his subjects. This retrospective of the late artist’s work contains some of his most iconic shots: the artist Jean-Paul Riopelle (shown above), a scowling Winston Churchill, a solemn Georgia O’Keeffe and Albert Einstein hunched over interlocked hands. Artwork $7,500–$21,000. Thursday, March 3 to Saturday, March 26. Nicholas Metivier Gallery, 451 King St. W., metiviergallery.com.
A dinner of Québécois bites and brews
The Gabardine is teaming up with beer sommelier Sylvain Bouchard, of the Quebec-based brewery Unibroue, for a very Québécois dinner. He’ll be pairing five of the brand’s beers with dishes from chef Graham Pratt, some of which will be made using products from Société-Original, who turn raw materials from Quebec family farms into delectable feasts. On the food menu: tourtière, foie gras, Pratt’s take on hot chicken and a whole lot of cheese. Wednesday, March 2. $75. The Gabardine, 372 Bay St., 647-352-3211, thegabardine.com.
Beach House’s laid-back two-night stand
The Baltimore indie duo plays two shows to match the back-to-back albums they released in 2015: Depression Cherry and Thank Your Lucky Stars. Both are hazy dream-pop collections that recall the band’s mellow beginnings. Regardless of the night, or which record’s on the bill, expect plenty of relaxed reverb. Saturday, March 5 and Sunday, March 6. $33.75–$38.75. Danforth Music Hall, 147 Danforth Ave., ticketmaster.ca.
Eleven days of non-stop sketch comedy
The highlight of this year’s Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival’s 2016 line-up is a comedic ode to Thunder Bay featuring Sean Cullen and music men Alex Lifeson (Rush) and Dave Bidini (Rheostatics, Bidiniband). Also on the bill: duo Pat Kelly and Peter Oldring, who send up public radio with their current-affairs parody show, This Is That; and the 10th-anniversary edition of the Comedy Bar’s beloved series, Laugh Sabbath. Thursday, March 3 to Sunday, March 13. $15–$39, passes $75. Various locations, torontosketchfest.com.
The resurrection of a two-decade-old dance piece
Twenty years ago, Canadian choreographer Julia Sasso premiered Sporting Life, a contemporary piece exploring male violence through movement. Its physical power, dark humour and aggressive footwork earned accolades the country over. Now, as part of NextSteps, she offers an updated version of the work, which should be every bit as relevant and prescient as it was in 1996. Thursday, March 3 to Saturday, March 5. $28–$37. Harbourfront Centre Theatre, 231 Queens Quay W., harbourfrontcentre.com.
La Sylphide, a romantic ballet classic
In the National Ballet’s invigorating remount of the 19th-century Romantic classic, a spirit called the Sylphide seduces a young farmer and whisks him into a wooded wonderland on the eve of his wedding. The performance melds pantomime with the tosses and twirls of classical ballet. Wednesday, March 2 to Sunday, March 6. From $37. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W., national.ballet.ca.
Weird and wonderful photos from the front lines of music festivals
Winnipeg photographer Sarah Anne Johnson captures the euphoria and free-loving vibes of North American music festivals in her new exhibition, Field Trip. Johnson manipulates her shots—of revellers dancing, dozing and day tripping—with neon hues, paint splotches and glitter for a fascinating, fantastical result. Saturday, March 5 to Sunday, June 5. McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 10365 Islington Ave., Kleinburg, mcmichael.com.
A raunchy garage-rock set courtesy of Ty Segall
The prolific American rocker is so committed to his lo-fi aesthetic that he announced his latest album, Emotional Mugger, by mailing VHS tapes to online indie news outlets. The record itself is similarly analog, filled with laid-back California vibes and fuzzy garage-rock tunes. Friday, March 4. $34.75–$39.75. Danforth Music Hall, 147 Danforth Ave., ticketmaster.ca.
Broadway’s take on Beauty and the Beast
A chorus of bakers and shopkeepers waltz around Belle (Les Misérables’ Brooke Quintana) and her love (Young Frankenstein’s Sam Hartley) in this swiftly paced Broadway stage adaptation of the Disney musical. “Be Our Guest,” “Belle” and the romantic title track are all ripe for a sing-along. Wednesday, March 2 to Sunday, March 6. $30–$125. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King St. W., mirvish.com.
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/culture/toronto-events-february-2016-the-who-yousuf-karsh-alvin-ailey/&title=The Who’s anniversary show, a Yousuf Karsh exhibition and nine other things to do this week&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/The-Who-2000x1331.jpg&description=The Who’s golden-anniversary concert
The rebellious rockers have a good excuse for celebrating their 50th a year late: lead singer Roger Daltrey’s viral meningitis cut their anniversary tour short in 2015. He’ll be in full health for this arena-rock blowout—and he’ll need to be if he intends to holler his way through “Won’t Get Fooled Again” and “Baba O’Riley.” Tuesday, March 1. $51.50–$167. Air Canada Centre, 40 Bay St., ticketmaster.ca.
An acrobatic Alvin Ailey production
The members of the New York–based modern dance company vault, twirl and leap across the stage in violent bursts of motion. This program includes the world premiere of Ailey vet Rennie Harris’s Exodus, a hip-hop routine set to gospel, house and poetry; a performance of the company’s jubilant 1960 classic, Revelations; and a duet called A Case of You, set to the Joni Mitchell song of the same name. Friday, March 4 and Saturday, March 5. $69–$99. Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, 1 Front St. E., sonycentre.ca.
[caption id="attachment_372146" align="alignnone" width="2000"] (Image: Yousuf Karsh. Jean-Paul Riopelle, 1965. Copyright Estate of Yousuf Karsh)[/caption]
A collection of Yousuf Karsh’s poignant portraits
The Armenian-Canadian photographer created striking black-and-white portraits that seemed to both canonize and humanize his subjects. This retrospective of the late artist’s work contains some of his most iconic shots: the artist Jean-Paul Riopelle (shown above), a scowling Winston Churchill, a solemn Georgia O’Keeffe and Albert Einstein hunched over interlocked hands. Artwork $7,500–$21,000. Thursday, March 3 to Saturday, March 26. Nicholas Metivier Gallery, 451 King St. W., metiviergallery.com.
A dinner of Québécois bites and brews
The Gabardine is teaming up with beer sommelier Sylvain Bouchard, of the Quebec-based brewery Unibroue, for a very Québécois dinner. He'll be pairing five of the brand’s beers with dishes from chef Graham Pratt, some of which will be made using products from Société-Original, who turn raw materials from Quebec family farms into delectable feasts. On the food menu: tourtière, foie gras, Pratt’s take on hot chicken and a whole lot of cheese. Wednesday, March 2. $75. The Gabardine, 372 Bay St., 647-352-3211, thegabardine.com.
Beach House’s laid-back two-night stand
The Baltimore indie duo plays two shows to match the back-to-back albums they released in 2015: Depression Cherry and Thank Your Lucky Stars. Both are hazy dream-pop collections that recall the band’s mellow beginnings. Regardless of the night, or which record’s on the bill, expect plenty of relaxed reverb. Saturday, March 5 and Sunday, March 6. $33.75–$38.75. Danforth Music Hall, 147 Danforth Ave., ticketmaster.ca.
Eleven days of non-stop sketch comedy
The highlight of this year’s Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival’s 2016 line-up is a comedic ode to Thunder Bay featuring Sean Cullen and music men Alex Lifeson (Rush) and Dave Bidini (Rheostatics, Bidiniband). Also on the bill: duo Pat Kelly and Peter Oldring, who send up public radio with their current-affairs parody show, This Is That; and the 10th-anniversary edition of the Comedy Bar’s beloved series, Laugh Sabbath. Thursday, March 3 to Sunday, March 13. $15–$39, passes $75. Various locations, torontosketchfest.com.
[caption id="attachment_372160" align="alignnone" width="2000"] (Image: Nicole Rivelli)[/caption]
The resurrection of a two-decade-old dance piece
Twenty years ago, Canadian choreographer Julia Sasso premiered Sporting Life, a contemporary piece exploring male violence through movement. Its physical power, dark humour and aggressive footwork earned accolades the country over. Now, as part of NextSteps, she offers an updated version of the work, which should be every bit as relevant and prescient as it was in 1996. Thursday, March 3 to Saturday, March 5. $28–$37. Harbourfront Centre Theatre, 231 Queens Quay W., harbourfrontcentre.com.
La Sylphide, a romantic ballet classic
In the National Ballet’s invigorating remount of the 19th-century Romantic classic, a spirit called the Sylphide seduces a young farmer and whisks him into a wooded wonderland on the eve of his wedding. The performance melds pantomime with the tosses and twirls of classical ballet. Wednesday, March 2 to Sunday, March 6. From $37. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W., national.ballet.ca.
[caption id="attachment_372210" align="alignnone" width="2000"] (Image: Sarah Anne Johnson)[/caption]
Weird and wonderful photos from the front lines of music festivals
Winnipeg photographer Sarah Anne Johnson captures the euphoria and free-loving vibes of North American music festivals in her new exhibition, Field Trip. Johnson manipulates her shots—of revellers dancing, dozing and day tripping—with neon hues, paint splotches and glitter for a fascinating, fantastical result. Saturday, March 5 to Sunday, June 5. McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 10365 Islington Ave., Kleinburg, mcmichael.com.
A raunchy garage-rock set courtesy of Ty Segall
The prolific American rocker is so committed to his lo-fi aesthetic that he announced his latest album, Emotional Mugger, by mailing VHS tapes to online indie news outlets. The record itself is similarly analog, filled with laid-back California vibes and fuzzy garage-rock tunes. Friday, March 4. $34.75–$39.75. Danforth Music Hall, 147 Danforth Ave., ticketmaster.ca.
[caption id="attachment_372169" align="alignnone" width="2000"] (Image: Matthew Murphy)[/caption]
Broadway’s take on Beauty and the Beast
A chorus of bakers and shopkeepers waltz around Belle (Les Misérables’ Brooke Quintana) and her love (Young Frankenstein’s Sam Hartley) in this swiftly paced Broadway stage adaptation of the Disney musical. “Be Our Guest,” “Belle” and the romantic title track are all ripe for a sing-along. Wednesday, March 2 to Sunday, March 6. $30–$125. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King St. W., mirvish.com.){kind=link}