Joshua Chong

Nuit Blanche 2025: Our critic on the good, the bad and the ugly from Toronto’s all-night arts fest This year’s iteration of Nuit Blanche was a mixed bag, writes the Star’s arts critic and reporter Joshua Chong.

My critic's notebook on Nuit Blanche 2025 is now up @thestar.com.

Some great exhibits in Etobicoke, but this year's festival was mostly underwhelming. (One of the biggest unforced errors: not having a single installation in Scarborough.)

Inside Canadian theatre: Join a live Q&A with Joshua Chong Arts reporter Joshua Chong takes your questions theatre in Canada, from Stratford’s new leader to Toronto’s top trends, in a live Q&A on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 1 p.m.

What do you want to know about Canadian theatre or arts criticism more broadly?

@thestar.com is hosting an AMA with me on Wednesday (Oct. 8) at 1 p.m. Leave your questions here in advance or join me for the live chat next week. #theaTO

‘Slave Play’ was one of the most controversial shows in Broadway history. At Canadian Stage, it’s unmissable Jeremy O. Harris’s satire is subversive, maddening, riveting and confounding, all at the same time. It also cannot be missed.

‘Slave Play’ was one of the most controversial shows in Broadway history. At Canadian Stage, it’s unmissable #theaTO

My 4-star review for @thestar.com

Stratford Festival announces new artistic director — a star British theatremaker with big ambitions The British theatremaker Jonathan Church will succeed Antoni Cimolino next year, taking the helm of North America’s largest repertory theatre company.

Stratford Festival announces new artistic director — a star British theatremaker with big ambitions

More in @thestar.com

Polarizing piano star Lang Lang delivers a fiery, flashy TSO return — hair flips, foot stomps and all The Chinese lodestar offered a fiery and flashy interpretation of Beethoven’s “Emperor Concerto” on Wednesday night at Roy Thomson Hall.

I love reviewing classical music, but rarely get the chance to do it. Yesterday was one of those rare opportunities.

Here's my review of Lang Lang's fiery return to the @torontosymphony.bsky.social, now up @thestar.com (Gift Link):

Review: ‘MJ,’ the Michael Jackson jukebox musical at Mirvish, never looks at the man in the mirror Lynn Nottage’s character rehabilitation features slick choreography by Christopher Wheeldon, but only skims the surface of Jackson’s life.

"MJ," the Michael Jackson jukebox musical at Mirvish, never looks at the man in the mirror.

My 1.5-star review is now up @thestar.com:

Shaw Festival unveils 2026 season, including ‘Amadeus,’ ‘Funny Girl’ and ‘Cinderella’ The lineup includes ‘Amadeus’ along with the musicals ‘Funny Girl’ and ‘Cinderella.’

BREAKING: Shaw Festival unveils 2026 season, including ‘Amadeus,’ ‘Funny Girl’ and ‘Cinderella.' Plus: a workshop presentation of a new play by Pulitzer Prize winner Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.

More in @thestar.com

Review: Stratford Festival’s ‘The Art of War’ is a profound play about a Canadian painter sent to the warfront Yvette Nolan’s deeply existential drama follows a Canadian painter sent to the front lines of the Second World War to bear witness.

Review: "The Art of War" at @stratfest.bsky.social is a profound new Canadian play, about creating art at the end of the world.

My 3.5-star review is now up @thestar.com:

‘Old Times’ review: Harold Pinter classic manipulates power with ease — and terror — at Soulpepper Peter Pasyk’s chic production manipulates power, perspective and memory with the ease — and terror.

‘Old Times’ review: Harold Pinter classic manipulates power with ease — and terror — at Soulpepper, via @thestar.com

This Montreal riding obtained $27 million in public arts funds. Others received zero. Is the system fair? A Star analysis has found significant disparities in how public arts funding is distributed across the country.

This Montreal riding obtained $27 million in public arts funds. Others received zero. Is the system fair?

My investigation into regional disparities in Canada Council for the Arts funding, now online @thestar.com:

In this electro-pop opera retelling of Tolstoy’s ‘War and Peace,’ the leads shine, but the emotions fall flat There’s little emotional depth in Dave Malloy’s sprawling retelling of Tolstoy’s “War and Peace.” But the leads in this Canadian company shine.

There are some fine performances and great direction, but I simply could not get behind "Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812," now running @mirvish.bsky.social. #theaTO

Here's my minority report, for @thestar.com:

Review: CanStage’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ in High Park squanders its interwar Italy setting Marie Farsi’s abridged adaptation features some solid central performances but doesn’t make the most of its interwar Italy setting.

My @thestar.com review of Canadian Stage’s production of “Romeo and Juliet,” staged at the High Park Amphitheatre. #theaTO

© CBC/Radio-Canada 2025. All rights reserved.

I joined CBC's Commotion with @elamin.bsky.social to discuss the wild Luigi Mangione musical now running in San Francisco.

Have a listen to the episode:
www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...

On an orange background, a copy of the program guide for the 2025 Toronto Fringe Festival, with a page of the schedule highlighting some shows on the first 2 days.

Here begins my @toronto-fringe.bsky.social '25 thread! Hopefully as the fest continues, all the #TheaTO & #ComedyTO folx I know on Meta & X will have figured out BSky's the only SM platform that 1. easily shares links & news, & 2. isn't overrun by toxicity. So yes, here (only here!) we go! #FringeTO

Toronto Fringe Festival 2025: A complete guide with reviews and our critics’ top picks Theatre critics Joshua Chong, Glenn Sumi and Alexa MacKie will review dozens of shows for the Toronto Star throughout the 2025 Toronto Fringe Festival.

So @thestar.com’s Fringe review hub has been updated, with more capsule reviews by @joshuachong.bsky.social @alexaamackie.bsky.social and me.

Festival ends this weekend, so read this and choose wisely.

www.thestar.com/entertainmen...

Toronto Fringe Festival 2025: A complete guide with reviews and our critics’ top picks Theatre critics Joshua Chong, Glenn Sumi and Alexa MacKie will review dozens of shows for the Toronto Star throughout the 2025 Toronto Fringe Festival.

New batch of #FringeTO reviews are now up @thestar.com, from @glennsumi.bsky.social, @alexaamackie.bsky.social and me.

We still have a few more coming later this week. #theaTO

Toronto Fringe Festival 2025: A complete guide with reviews and our critics’ top picks Theatre critics Joshua Chong, Glenn Sumi and Alexa MacKie will review dozens of shows for the Toronto Star throughout the 2025 Toronto Fringe Festival.

We now have 33 #FringeTO reviews up on @thestar.com, with many more still to come in the next few days. #theaTO

From @alexaamackie.bsky.social, @glennsumi.bsky.social and me:

Toronto Fringe Festival 2025: A complete guide with reviews and our critics’ top picks Theatre critics Joshua Chong, Glenn Sumi and Alexa MacKie will review dozens of shows for the Toronto Star throughout the 2025 Toronto Fringe Festival.

More Toronto Fringe reviews are up, including plenty of critic’s picks from myself, @glennsumi.bsky.social and @joshuachong.bsky.social! It’s been a beautiful festival so far — I’m feeling very grateful. Only a few more reviews and shows to go! 🎭

via @thestar.com:

www.thestar.com/entertainmen...

Toronto Fringe Festival 2025: A complete guide with reviews and our critics’ top picks Theatre critics Joshua Chong, Glenn Sumi and Alexa MacKie will review dozens of shows for the Toronto Star throughout the 2025 Toronto Fringe Festival.

Nine new #FringeTO reviews are now up @thestar.com. #theaTO

From @alexaamackie.bsky.social, @glennsumi.bsky.social and me:

Toronto Fringe Festival 2025: A complete guide with reviews and our critics’ top picks Theatre critics Joshua Chong, Glenn Sumi and Alexa MacKie will review dozens of shows for the Toronto Star throughout the 2025 Toronto Fringe Festival.

Toronto Fringe Festival 2025: A complete guide with reviews and our critics’ top picks

First eight reviews are up, including three critic’s picks. Check back every day @thestar.com for more. #FringeTO #theaTO

😂

Wrote about my experience being in The Lion King last week for @thestar.com

www.thestar.com/entertainmen...

It’s the first day of the 2025 Toronto Fringe Festival. Glenn Sumi (@glennsumi.bsky.social), Alexa MacKie and I will be reviewing more than 50 shows over the next week for @thestar.com

First batch of reviews will be out tomorrow! #FringeTO #theaT

Stratford Festival plans to remount ‘Something Rotten’ and stage new revival of ‘Guys & Dolls’ next year The company will remount its 2024 production of ‘Something Rotten’ and stage new revival of ‘Guys & Dolls.’

SCOOP: Stratford Festival plans to remount ‘Something Rotten’ and stage a new revival of ‘Guys & Dolls’ next year. Both productions are expected to be directed and choreographed by Donna Feore.

More details in @thestar.com

Dora Awards 2025: The complete list of winners Toronto’s top performing arts awards were handed out Monday night at Meridian Hall, at a ceremony hosted by actor Peter Fernandes.

Dora Awards 2025: The complete list of winners #theaTO

Dora Awards 2025: ‘Mahabharata’ dominates Toronto’s top theatre honours amid major upsets The retelling of the ancient Sanskrit epic won five awards in the general theatre division, including for outstanding new play.

“Karma, The Life We Inherit,” the first half of Why Not Theatre’s two-part play “Mahabharata,” won five Doras in the general theatre division on Monday night. #theaTO

More for @thestar.com:

Love this excerpt about critics disagreeing with each other about a show from yesterday’s reader Q&A with @theglobeandmail.com Theatre Reporter @aislingmurph.bsky.social

(Reader pointed out how her rave differed from @joshuachong.bsky.social’s pan)

Luminato Festival 2025: This new ‘immersive experience’ is a monstrosity on the waterfront This new ‘immersive experience’ is a monstrosity on the waterfront.

Even without reading @joshuachong.bsky.social’s 1.5 star review, you couldn’t pay me to experience this installation at Luminato. Instant claustrophobia activated.

www.thestar.com/entertainmen...

Tony Awards 2025: The snubs, surprises and top moments from Broadway’s biggest night “Wicked” star and past Tony winner Cynthia Erivo hosted the glittering ceremony Sunday night at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

My roundup of the 2025 #TonyAwards is now up @thestar.com.

Here are the snubs, surprises and top moments from this year's ceremony.

One of Canada’s most beloved novels has a new adaptation at the Stratford Festival — and it’s unmissable, whatever the purists might think This unmissable new stage adaptation, written and directed by Kat Sandler, lends the classic story some contemporary relevance.

4/4 stars from me for Kat Sandler's unmissable new adaptation of "Anne of Green Gables" at @stratfest.bsky.social.

Watching "The Winter's Tale" on Friday and this the following afternoon was a wonderful theatrical doubleheader.