45 Minute Books & Stands Reading

Music & Lyrics by Ayanna Witter-Johnson | Book & Additional Lyrics by Susan Wokoma | Based on the book by Carolyn Whitzman | In Partnership with Birmingham Hippodrome & ArtyMan Ltd

Commissioned with funding from the Aubrey & Marla Dan Fund for New Musicals

Inspired by a real life Toronto true crime story in 1894, Clara at the Door with a Revolver is murder mystery meets courtroom drama, with a complex protagonist who goes on one hell of a hero’s journey. Clara Ford, a mixed-race, working-class, gender non-conforming, half Scottish, pipe-smoking, probably lesbian, 19th century single mother, gets arrested for the murder of a young wealthy white man. In police custody she confesses but once in court, pleads not guilty. If convicted, she will hang. Before a jury of 12 white men, Clara must give the performance of her life.

45 Minute Books & Stands Reading

Book & Lyrics by Kalos Chu (he/him) | Music & Lyrics by Ian Chan (he/they) 

Commissioned with funding from the Aubrey & Marla Dan Fund for New Musicals

After the disastrous opening day of his Toronto Chinatown restaurant, Kevin discovers an old family recipe from his late father, a soup made with extra-spicy Szechuan peppercorns, labeled “For Emergencies Only.” When he tastes it, everything changes. Kevin is transported to The Crossroads, a metaphysical realm where he can see the outcomes of his decisions before he has to make them. Armed with the ability to know what comes next, Kevin embarks upon a campaign to save his restaurant, uphold his father's legacy, and preserve the identity of his community — ultimately learning not just what it takes to keep a restaurant afloat, but also how our decisions, and, perhaps more importantly, our regrets, shape the people we become.

45 Minute Books & Stands Reading

The Vibe Is On

By Stew Stewart & Luke Reece

Developed by Soulpepper Theatre and YES Theatre

Crossing borders and generations, The Vibe is On blends laughter, harmonization, and music while tackling some of the biggest questions facing Black men in North America. At least—that’s the vibe. 

90-Minute Full Performance 

Based on Angela Carter’s The Tiger’s Bride

Adapted to music by Frank Cox-O’Connell, Hailey Gillis, and Andrew Penner

A rock-fueled, punk-infused reimagining of Angela Carter’s The Tiger’s Bride, this electrifying song cycle turns Beauty and the Beast inside out. Here, the Beast doesn’t become a man—the Girl becomes something wilder. 

45-Minute Panel Discussion 

Host: Olivia Ansell-Luminato Festival 

Speaker: Michael Rubinoff and special guests

Hear from Artistic Director and Broadway Producer Michael Rubinoff (Come from Away) and special guests on the complex, collaborative journey of developing a new Canadian musical. Discover what it takes to create a ‘hit’—from concept to a fully fledged production. What does it take and how far can/should you go?

45 Minute Books & Stands Reading

Book & Lyrics by Nam Nguyen | Music by Wilfred Moeschter & Nam Nguyen

Nam, a procrastination-prone Vietnamese Canadian university student, sets out with the vague ambition to write a musical about his diaspora as embodied by food, particularly the world-famous noodle soup pho. What follows is pure meta musical, genre-bending through thousands of years of history, featuring rapping ancient kings, communist spies, dancing sharks and refugees, and awkward first dates in suburbia. However, Nam eventually finds himself caught between his different characters as each argues what pho (the food and the show) truly represents. He struggles to find an answer that will satisfy everyone—in the end, isn’t this just a bunch of silly soup songs?