Shakura S'Aida
ART & MUSEUMS
Fordlandia: The Lost City of Henry Ford
Plagued by waste, violence and vice, the company town built for rubber had trouble from the beginning, and it never did bounce back. The photographer Dan Dubowitz sets his lenses on what's left of Henry Ford's failed attempt at a Brazilian jungle-set utopia – a miniature Midwest community mostly abandoned since 1945. To May 31. Free. Bau-Xi Photo, 324 Dundas St. W., 416-977-0400.
CLUBS
P.S. I Love You
Hardly an afterthought, the squalling, yelping guitar-and-drums duo from Kingston is making a name for itself on the taste-making music blogs. Its sophomore album is Death Dreams, a darker work (as you might have guessed) than its noisy, melodic debut LP Meet Me at The Muster Station. May 15, 9 p.m. $10.50. The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W., ticketweb.ca.
Shakura S'Aida
The versatile blues lady will be in show-off form on Thursday and Friday, when she does a brawny show one night, followed with a more subtle acoustic performance the next. Her new album is Time to Rock My Soul, and the woman is nothing if not punctual. May 17, 9 p.m. $25 to $30. Revival, 783 College St ., 416-535-7888 ; May 18, 8:30 p.m. $30 to $32.50. Hugh's Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., 416-531-6604.
CONCERTS
The Royal Conservatory's 125th Anniversary Royal Occasion
An intimate concert such as this, with the peaceful pop-star Feist and the fantastic soprano Measha Brueggergosman, comes along once every, oh, 125 years or so. On Tuesday, the pair is named Honorary Fellows of the Royal Conservatory – a special occasion hosted by CBC's gush-ready Jian Ghomeshi. May 15, 9 p.m. $125 ($1,500 royal gala tickets). Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W., 416-408-0208.
Glenn Gould Prize Gala Concert: In Honour of Leonard Cohen
Speakers, readers and recording artists – Colm Feore, Gordon Pinsent, Cowboy Junkies, John Prine, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and more – salute the lifetime achievements of Leonard Cohen, the fedora-topped poetic brooder who will not perform himself. May 14, 8:30 p.m. $34.95 to $149.95. Massey Hall, 178 Victoria St., 416-872-4255.
THEATRE
Gruesome Playground Injuries
A play from American playwright Rajiv Joseph tracks two injury-prone, opposite-sex pals over the course of two decades – a "slightly sick but touching portrait of a friendship founded on mutually reassured self-destruction," says Globe theatre critic J. Kelly Nestruck. May 12 and 13, 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. $20 to $30. Theatre Centre, 1087 Queen St. W., 416-538-0988 or totix.ca.
Stockholm
Self-billed as "passionate, poetic, raw and physical" and described by the Guardian newspaper as "needle-sharp" and "terrifyingly erotic," a play about a seemingly perfect couple and their much-anticipated holiday to syndrome-city makes its North American premiere. May 15 to June 3 (in previews now). $15 to $30. Tarragon Theatre Extra Space , 30 Bridgman Ave. , 416-531-1827.
Panamerican Routes
Opening a new international festival, involving human rights issues and voices from the Latin Canadian and Latin American Diaspora, are Urban Odyssey (dance, theatre and larger than-life puppetry, from Bogota via New York) and Parting Memories (a retelling of a migrant's physical and psychic journey). May 15 to 20 (first week's program). $30 ($100 festival pass). Theatre Passe Muraille, 16 Ryerson Ave., 416-504-7529 .
High
Kathleen Turner is a broad of a nun in a potent performance involving a drug-addicted teen and an enabling priest. May 12 ( 2 and 8 p.m.) and May 13 (2 and 7 p.m.). $50 to $150. Royal Alexandra Theatre , 260 King St. W., 416-872-1212.
DANCE
Dance Marathon
So, do you think you can dance? And dance, and dance and dance? And dance some more? An immersive, interactive production is guaranteed to get audiences on their feet. May 18 and 19, 7 p.m. $35. Enwave Theatre, 231 Queens Quay W., 416-973-4000.
National Chinese Acrobats
They contort, they dance, they dare devils and stack themselves unimaginably. The Kardashians? No, they're Far East acrobats who perform here with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony. May 12, 3:30 and 8 p.m. $38 to $74.75. Sony Centre, 1 Front St. E., 1-855-872-7669.
LITERARY and LECTURE
War Horse
The author Michael Morpurgo reads from War Horse, his novel that inspired the big movie and blockbuster musical about a boy, his horse and equine heroics on the Western Front. As well, Juno-winner Melanie Doane sings selections from the production (currently up and galloping at the Princess of Wales). May 13 , 7 p.m. $15. Princess of Wales, 300 King St. W ., 416-872-1212 .
Jeff Rubin: The End of Growth
It takes a lot of energy to fuel robust economic growth, but the cost of the most important source of energy for the global economy, oil, is getting higher and higher. Author Jeff Rubin and CBC Radio's Michael Hlinka get gloomy on economic matters. May 14, 7 p.m . Free. Sold out. Reference Library, 789 Yonge St., 416-395-5577.
FREE
Festival of Ideas and Creation
See and hear it here first: Canadian Stage's festival of workshops and readings supports the progress of new works, with Raoul Bhaneja, Richard Sanger and others. To May 13. Reserve seats at canadianstage.com . Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley St. , 416-368-3110.
EVENT
Cavalia's Odysseo
The storyline is loose, to put it kindly, but this spectacle of equestrian ballet and horse-back stunts involves 70 beasts, 50 performers and 80 gallons of water. Opens May 15. $29.50 to $119.50. Port Lands, 324 Cherry St., 1-866-999-8111 or cavalia.net.
SPORT
Toronto Roller Derby
Elbow-padded ladies skate at wind-speed and with the disposition of stockcars. Tonight's round-and-round features four squads, including the Smoke City Betties . May 12, 6 p.m. $12 to $18. The Bunker , Downsview Park, 40 Carl Hall Rd., torontorollerderby.com .
FUNDRAISER
The Piano Music and Song of Erik Satie (1866-1925)
The colourful French composer Erik Satie once said: "Before I compose a piece, I walk around it several times, accompanied by myself." Which, apropos of nothing, is similar to how our cat approaches its nightly dinner. Anyhow, Arraymusic is benefited with a delightful afternoon of wine, prizes and a program of piano music that includes Socrate, a seldom done legendary piece said to be a favourite of John Cage. May 13, 4 p.m. $25. Gallery 345, 345 Sorauren Ave., eventbrite.ca.
FAMILY
Franklin the Turtle
Canada Post just posted its first loss in 17 years, and now it's unveiling a series of stamps that feature a notoriously slow reptile. Sounds like a hard shell to us, but today the stamps are celebrated with a family-friendly occasion of postal pomp and activities. May 12, 11 a.m. Chapters Queensway, 1950 The Queensway, 416-622-2838.
The Hockey Sweater
"The winters of my childhood were long, long seasons," wrote Roch Carrier. "We lived in three places – the school, the church and the skating rink – but our life was on the skating rink." The classic of Canadian literature is interpreted by composer Abigail Richardson, whose world-premiering piece is presented by the TSO, with hockey great Ken Dryden and Mr. Carrier himself on hand to host and narrate, respectively. May 12, 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. $20 to $32. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St., 416-593-4828.
CONTINUING
Contact Photography Festival To June 6. scotiabankcontactphoto.com.
BOOKING AHEAD
Kids' World of Energy Festival May 15 to 19. Evergreen Brick Works, 416-583-2233.
The Next Star: Open Casting Call May 19 and 20. Metro Convention Centre, nextstar.ytv.com.
Toronto International Circus Festival May 19 to 21. Harbourfront Centre, 416-973-4000.
bwheeler@globeandmail.com
Brad Wheeler