Openings We're Tracking This Week, August 13-19, 2012

When Neil Simon's play, Barefoot in the Park, premiered on Broadway people were just beginning to understand what a titan the man would become in American theatre...forget that - in international theatre. There was a time, Variety reported in the 70s, when Simon was making some $90,000 a week in royalties just from the plays he had running on Broadway (and that was an unheard-of amount of loot for a playwright...actually it still is!). With such popularity, of course, comes a certain amount of scorn. However, Barefoot in the Park always reminds naysayers why Simon is popular: fast (usually organic) quips, great human stories and huge heart. (Brampton, Ontario)

Evil Dead, the 1981 film, is an hilarious, ironic, OTT bloodfest. So, why not make it Evil Dead - The Musical! (Calgary)

Playwright Norm Foster is, as usual, everywhere this summer. The master of comedy is landing in Ottawa with a musical, Jasper Station. Five people meet, pass the time, learn and - presumably! - sing in a train station.