Is it just me, or would life be more fun as a musical? Singing any and every feeling possible, no matter the hurdle, a perfect song would help express all your fears or dreams – the simplicity of that (although unrealistic), sounds like something I could get behind!
I’ve loved the theatre and musicals for most of my life, ever since I played Lucy, in A Charlie Brown Christmas, basically the highlight of my elementary school career. This love affair has followed me into adulthood, as I try and watch as many shows as possible.
I was browsing through the upcoming spring/summer musicals in Toronto, and I noticed that the current musicals on-stage this season were also movies, that were adapted to musicals. Movie and musical adaptations seem to be the norm nowadays, the most recent example of this being the film Wicked, originally a 2003 stage musical. I’ve seen both the movie and musical and I don’t think one version is better than the other – both are showstoppers in their own right! There is something incredibly nostalgic about that, the familiarity of the characters and soundtracks, that keep us engaged and coming back for more!
If you’re in Toronto, check out the shows below, and get your tickets before they sell out. Most of these shows travel from city to city, especially the big theatre hubs, so check your local listings, just in case. See you at the theatre!
Toronto Show Tickets: Upcoming Musicals
Disney’s The Lion King
The Lion King has been a worldwide phenomenon since Disney’s inception of the animated film in 1994. The musical debuted in 1997, and there have been countless iterations of this franchise since then.
We all know and love the familiar staple songs, like “Hakuna Matata” and “Circle of Life”, this brand recognition has resulted in global show productions that have been seen by millions of people. I’ll be joining that list of people very soon, not sure how I got away with not seeing this musical for so long, nonetheless I’m excited to watch the show this summer.
- Dates: Now-Aug 30, 2025
- Theatre: Princess of Wales Theatre
- Address: 300 King Street West, Toronto
Peter Pan
The character of Peter Pan has been part of the public’s consciousness since 1953, when Disney’s animated film was first introduced, and the hit musical followed soon after in 1954 – who knew there were 70 years of history!
With countless musicals, television and films adaptations, this familiar fan favourite will be featured on stage for only 2 weeks this spring! Grab a ticket and fly to neverland and hang out with Tinker Bell and embrace the theme of never growing up – we’ll at least for the duration of the show!
- Dates: May 20 – June 8, 2025
- Theatre: CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre
- Address: 244 Victoria Street, Toronto
Beetlejuice
When Beetlejuice Beetlejuice the movie came out last year, it felt nostalgic, I remembered the cartoon from the 90’s but hadn’t seen Tim Burton’s original cult classic. As any good student would, I decided to binge the 1988 version on the very same afternoon as watching the 2024 sequel, and it was worth it! I loved the dark comedy aspect, as well as the over-the-top quirky characters.
Beetlejuice the musical debuted in 2019 and hit the Toronto stage in June of this year, now that I’m caught up with the movies, I’m extra excited to watch the story of Lydia Deetz, and her introduction to the Netherworld, with a healthy dose of outrageous theatrics!
- Dates: June 3-July 19, 2025
- Theatre: CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre
- Address: 244 Victoria Street, Toronto
Back to the future: The Musical
Over the years, I’ve heard so many Back to the Future references that flew right over my head, whether it was “Doc, I’m from the future” or “Great Scott!”, I was in the dark smiling and nodding.
Back to the Future: The Musical launched in 2020, and is based mostly on the first film, although it does integrate aspects of the other films, that are part of the franchise.
Similar to Beetlejuice, I recently watched the first Back to the Future 1985 movie this year, there’s a reoccurring theme here, I know! If you’re looking for a challenge, and want to watch all 3 of the movies, you have some time, since this musical debuts closer to the end of July.
- Dates: July 23 – Aug 31, 2025
- Theatre: CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre
- Address: 244 Victoria Street, Toronto
