Entertainment news: Immersive ‘Avengers’ exhibit to open at Yorkdale mall

Fans of the “Avengers” film franchise can try their luck at joining the superhero team in an immersive exhibition at Yorkdale Shopping Centre.

Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N.: The Experience will make its Canadian debut at the Toronto mall on Nov. 20, staying until Jan. 31, 2021.

S.T.A.T.I.O.N. stands for Scientific Training and Tactical Intelligence Operative Network.

Visitors to the exhibit, presented by Paquin Entertainment Group and Victory Hill Exhibitions along with Yorkdale, journey through a multi-room training facility with “unprecedented access to the most sensitive intelligence and cutting-edge science behind the Avengers,” the news release says. After completing training, they become members of the network.

The rooms feature Marvel characters like Captain America, Iron Man, Black Panther, the Hulk and Thor, with movie props and costumes on view, including Thor’s hammer, Iron Man’s Hall of Armour and Captain America’s shield.

In a Toronto exclusive, visitors will learn about Wakanda in a new Black Panther exhibit.

The organizers say all pandemic precautions will be taken at the 25,000-square-foot exhibit, including timed ticket entry and limited capacity, health screening upon entry, mandatory masks and “diligent cleaning protocols.”

See avengersstationcanada.com to buy tickets, which go on sale Nov. 12.

Debra Yeo

There’s no place like home for a Ross Petty panto

Ross Petty Productions is proving that you can’t take the panto out of a pandemic with the first virtual version of its annual family musical comedy.

Appropriately titled “There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays,” the production will follow Dorothy “from the iconic heel click in ‘The Wizard of Oz’” as she journeys home for her aunt’s and uncle’s annual holiday party.

This would have been the 25th live Ross Petty panto had the COVID-19 pandemic not intervened. “We’ve taken our beloved family winter holiday tradition at Toronto’s Elgin Theatre and reconfigured it to bring its silliness and joy into homes across Canada,” Petty said in a news release.

The cast is full of favourites, including Dan “Plumbum” Chameroy, AJ Bridel, Eddie Glen, Camille Eanga-Selenge and Sara-Jeanne Hosie, plus a couple of newcomers, Alex Wierzbicki, host of YTV’s “The Zone,” and Roberta Battaglia, the 11-year-old from Vaughan who made it to the finals of “America’s Got Talent.”

The panto will be available for viewing Dec. 19 and 20. Tickets, which are $35 per household, are now on sale at rosspetty.com with a portion of proceeds going to support Kids Help Phone.

Debra Yeo

Jazz fest showcases local musicians with weekly ‘Stories From Home’

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The TD Toronto Jazz Festival is keeping the music alive with a new online series, “Stories From Home.”

Each week, on the jazz fest’s Facebook page, a different local music will be profiled through personal stories, video and, of course, music.

“When our regular festival plans were cancelled this year, we wanted to find a way to highlight local musicians, some of whom were scheduled to play at the festival,” artistic director Josh Grossman said in a news release. “The musicians featured have all been seriously affected by the pandemic and have all found unique ways to persevere.”

The first three musicians featured are drummer, composer, bandleader and publicist Ernesto Cervini; Alex Pangman, “Canada’s Sweetheart of Swing”; and vocalist Dione Taylor.

Debra Yeo