The Musical Stage Company is thrilled to announce that the next Crescendo artist is Kevin Wong.
Launched in 2017, The Crescendo Series is an unprecedented career breakthrough to a composer of musical theatre in Canada through the multi-year residency and commitment to produce multiple original musicals by the artist. In addition to a production commitment, Crescendo Series artists also receive an annual bursary, dramaturgical support, and international advocacy and promotion.
The inaugural Crescendo Series artist was Britta Johnson, who saw musicals Life After, Dr Silver: A Celebration of Life, and the recent Kelly v. Kelly, produced by The Musical Stage Company. Life After has since gone on to have critically acclaimed runs at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego and at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. Anton Lipovetsky was added to the program in 2020 and his musical Blackout was produced in the summer of 2021.
Toronto audiences got a sneak peek of both Anton and Kevin’s next musicals in development (Anton’s Cowboy Tempest Cabaret and Kevin’s In Real Life) during the Canadian Festival of New Musicals in May 2024.
Kevin Wong’s In Real Life (with bookwriter Nick Green) will have its world premiere produced by Theatre Sheridan in collaboration with The Musical Stage Company March 31 – April 11. Learn more and book your tickets here.
CRESCENDO SERIES ARTISTS
Britta Johnson
Anton Lipovetsky
Kevin Wong
Sponsors
The Musical Stage Company is thrilled to announce that the next Crescendo artist is Kevin Wong.
Launched in 2017, The Crescendo Series is an unprecedented career breakthrough to a composer of musical theatre in Canada through the multi-year residency and commitment to produce multiple original musicals by the artist. In addition to a production commitment, Crescendo Series artists also receive an annual bursary, dramaturgical support, and international advocacy and promotion.
The inaugural Crescendo Series artist was Britta Johnson, who saw musicals Life After, Dr Silver: A Celebration of Life, and the recent Kelly v. Kelly, produced by The Musical Stage Company. Life After has since gone on to have critically acclaimed runs at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego and at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. Anton Lipovetsky was added to the program in 2020 and his musical Blackout was produced in the summer of 2021.
Toronto audiences got a sneak peek of both Anton and Kevin’s next musicals in development (Anton’s Cowboy Tempest Cabaret and Kevin’s In Real Life) during the Canadian Festival of New Musicals in May 2024.
Kevin Wong’s In Real Life (with bookwriter Nick Green) will have its world premiere produced by Theatre Sheridan in collaboration with The Musical Stage Company March 31 – April 11. Learn more and book your tickets here.
CRESCENDO SERIES ARTISTS
Britta Johnson
Anton Lipovetsky
Kevin Wong
Kevin Wong
Kevin is a composer-lyricist, singer/musician, and dramaturg. His musicals include: Recurring John: A Song Cycle; STAR!(ving): A Collection of Songs; Polly Peel (with Julie Tepperman); Out of Stock; Drama 101 (with Steven Gallagher); In Real Life (with Nick Green); Believers (with Ali Joy Richardson), Take Me Back (with Amir Haidar); Soft Magical Tofu Boy(s), and A Moment for Frayed Nerves (upcoming, Toronto Fringe 2026). Kevin streams online concerts weekly on the streaming service Twitch (twitch.tv/kevinywong). He is the only three-time winner of the Playwrights Guild of Canada’s Tom Hendry Dan School of Drama & Music Award for New Musical. He is the current Creative Lead for the Musical Stage Company’s UnCovered concert series, and the third Crescendo Artist at the Musical Stage Company. Most recently, he can be heard on his albums Small Ways to Move and Covers (on streaming services everywhere).
Anton Lipovetsky
Britta Johnson
Heralded by the Toronto Star as “Canadian Musical Theatre’s next great hope”, Britta Johnson is a composer, lyricist and writer based in Toronto. Her original musical KELLY v. KELLY, co-created with Sara Farb, premiered in 2023, and had a sold-out run at the Berkeley St. Theatre. Her 2018 original musical LIFE AFTER had an extended, multiple Dora Award-winning run with The Musical Stage Company and Canadian Stage before playing at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, and most recently Goodman Theatre in Chicago. Her other writing credits include: With her sister Anika Johnson: DR.SILVER (Musical Stage Co./Outside the March), BRANTWOOD (Theatre Sheridan), JACOB TWO-TWO (YTP), TRAP DOOR (Theatre Sheridan). With Katherine Cullen: STUPIDHEAD! (TPM). She was the inaugural Crescendo Artist with Musical Stage Company which included a commitment to produce three of her shows in three years and was named one of Fifty to Watch by the Broadway Women’s Fund of America. Upcoming projects include commissions from the Stratford Festival, South Coast Rep in California and Opera Avalon.
Kevin Wong
IN REAL LIFE
Book and lyrics by Nick Green, Music and lyrics by Kevin Wong
in collaboration with Theatre Sheridan
Anton Lipovetsky
BLACKOUT
Book by Steven Gallagher, Music & Lyrics by Anton Lipovetsky
A Musical Stage Company Production, produced in association with Canadian Stage
Britta Johnson
LIFE AFTER
Book, Music & Lyrics by Britta Johnson
A Musical Stage Company, Canadian Stage and Yonge Street Theatricals Co-Production
DR. SILVER: A CELEBRATION OF LIFE
Book, Music & Lyrics by Anika Johnson & Britta Johnson
A Musical Stage Company and Outside the March Experience
KELLY V. KELLY
Book by Sara Farb, Music & Lyrics by Britta Johnson
A Musical Stage Company Production, produced in association with Canadian Stage