OVERVIEW
Stay tuned for our call for submissions for the 2025 Marquee Ensemble!
The Marquee Ensemble is a free multi-arts program where people from all walks of life can explore music, dance, theatre, to see how they can connect art to their lived experience. Over one month of weekly sessions, artists and arts lovers will participate in performing workshops together and study material from a show in the Musical Stage Company’s current season. This is a great program for folks looking to begin their exploration in storytelling through music theatre.
This program is for:
- Those who are interested in exploring contemporary music theatre practices, using music, theatre, and movement as storytelling devices. No professional experience is required.
- People interested in sharing creative space with folks of different lived experiences, ages, while exploring various performance art forms
- Adults, ages 18 and up. Folks ages 30, 40, 50 and beyond are encouraged to apply!
- People of all abilities, genders, and lived experiences
Season Sponsor
OVERVIEW
Stay tuned for our call for submissions for the 2025 Marquee Ensemble!
The Marquee Ensemble is a free multi-arts program where people from all walks of life can explore music, dance, theatre, to see how they can connect art to their lived experience. Over one month of weekly sessions, artists and arts lovers will participate in performing workshops together and study material from a show in the Musical Stage Company’s current season. This is a great program for folks looking to begin their exploration in storytelling through music theatre.
This program is for:
- Those who are interested in exploring contemporary music theatre practices, using music, theatre, and movement as storytelling devices. No professional experience is required.
- People interested in sharing creative space with folks of different lived experiences, ages, while exploring various performance art forms
- Adults, ages 18 and up. Folks ages 30, 40, 50 and beyond are encouraged to apply!
- People of all abilities, genders, and lived experiences
ABOUT THE MARQUEE ENSEMBLE
The Marquee Ensemble, formerly known as the MARQUEE Program, is an annual community arts enrichment program offered by the Musical Stage Company. Each year, program workshops and activities are designed in alignment with a production from that year’s season with the aim of fostering new, meaningful connections to contemporary music theatre with local professional artists and audiences.
We encourage applications from people who have previously felt uninvited to and unwelcome in music theatre spaces. We acknowledge that the practice of conventional North American musical theatre can be hostile to people of many cultural backgrounds, classes, abilities, marginalised identities and languages. We are looking forward to collaborating with participants to co-create a space that celebrates your lived experience, your histories, and your interests in music, dance, and theatre. Your level of experience in the arts is warmly welcomed.
ACCESS
Creating more access is very important to us at the Marquee Ensemble, and we are always learning how to do this better. We are open to speaking more about access with anyone who’d like to.
In past Marquee Ensemble years, creating more access has looked like offering childcare stipends, additional transportation support, appropriate snacks, etc. There will be alternative ways to apply for this program, including by phone.
Previous Years
MARQUEE 2023
The 2023-24 MARQUEE program took place over 4 weeks in November/December at the High Park Nature Centre, for 21 members of the LGBTQ2S+ community, newcomers to Canada, and/or survivors of cancer, and all of their intersections.
Artists and arts lovers participated in performing workshops together and studied material from The Musical Stage Company and Crow’s Theatre’s Canadian premiere of NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812.
All participants also received a free ticket to attend a performance of NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812.
MARQUEE 2021
The 2021 MARQUEE program took place over the 4 weeks of August at the High Park Nature Centre, for 21 members of the LGBTQ2S+ community, newcomers to Canada, and/or survivors of cancer, and all of their intersections.
Participants had the unique opportunity to engage in a series of workshops, panel discussions, forums and seminars, including a couple of Q&A panels hosted by BLACKOUT creative team members, Steven Gallagher (Bookwriter) and Wayne Gwillim (Music Supervisor).
All participants also received a free ticket to attend a performance of BLACKOUT.
MARQUEE 2020
The 2020 MARQUEE program took place over 5 weeks in January/February, with 5 sessions for 25 young members of the LGBTQ2S community in Toronto and surrounding areas.
Participants had the unique opportunity to engage in a series of curated seminars and workshops, including a storytelling and movement exploration seminar led by Esie Mensah, and a theatre workshop facilitated by CAROLINE, OR CHANGE Apprentice Director, Tsholo Khalema.
All participants also received a free ticket to attend a performance of CAROLINE, OR CHANGE.
MARQUEE 2019
The 2019 MARQUEE program took place over 3 weeks in April, with 3 sessions for 25 young members of the LGBTQ2S community in Toronto and surrounding areas.
Participants had the unique opportunity to engage in a series of curated seminars and workshops, including a storytelling and creative exploration seminar led by Kai Cheng Thom, and a theatre workshop facilitated by NEXT TO NORMAL Assistant Director, Sabryn Rock.
All participants also received a free ticket to attend a performance of NEXT TO NORMAL.