Music & Lyrics by Ayanna Witter-Johnson
Book & Additional Lyrics by Susan Wokoma
Based on the book by Carolyn Whitzman

Developed by The Musical Stage Company
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

MEET THE CREATORS

Ayanna Witter-Johnson (she/her)
Ayanna is a composer, singer-songwriter, pianist, and cellist celebrated for blending classical, jazz, reggae, soul, and R&B. She’s collaborated with artists including Anoushka Shankar, Andrea Bocelli, Nitin Sawhney, Jools Holland and Peter Gabriel. A Trinity Laban and Manhattan School of Music graduate, and Amateur Night at the Apollo winner, Ayanna has composed for the London Symphony Orchestra, Kronos Quartet and productions at The Young Vic & Bush Theatres, among others. Her solo releases include Road Runner (LP) and Colour War (EP). She has performed on BBC, Jazz FM, and at the Royal Albert Hall and is a recipient of the Silver Clef Classical Award. Photo by Misan Harriman.

Susan Wokoma (she/her)

Susan is an acclaimed writer, actress, and director. She wrote and starred in the Sky Comedy short film Love the Sinner which was selected for London Film Festival, won a Broadcast award and was longlisted for a BIFA. She recently wrote and starred in her second short film Dark Skin Bruises Differently, which is also her directorial debut. Susan wrote for Sex Education S2 and The Reluctant Landlord S2, and is developing film and series projects with BBC Films, Objective Fiction, Complete Fiction, and Netflix. Acting credits include Enola Holmes, Crazyhead, and Chewing Gum. A RADA graduate, she has performed at top theatres including the Royal Court Theatre, Bush Theatre, Almeida Theatre, National Theatre, Old Vic, Donmar Warehouse and St. Ann’s Warehouse in New York.

Book & Lyrics by Kalos Chu
Music & Lyrics by Ian Chan
Developed by The Musical Stage Company

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

MEET THE CREATORS

Kalos Chu (he/him)
Kalos is a Los Angeles-based writer, likely currently sitting in traffic. Most recently, he wrote the book for OUT: An Asian American Musical, which premiered at the Agassiz Theater in April 2023. He has also previously written for The Hasty Pudding Theatricals, the oldest theatrical organization in the United States. Kalos currently works at DreamWorks Animation in the Feature Development department.

Ian Chan (he/they)
Ian is a Hong Kong-Canadian composer, arranger/orchestrator, and music director/pianist. Broadway: Queen of Versailles, Hell’s Kitchen, SMASH, The Heart of Rock and Roll, 1776. Off-Broadway: See What I Wanna See, CATS: The Jellicle Ball, Walk On Through. Regional: Working Girl, DOLLY: A True Original Musical, Carol of the Bells, many projects at A.R.T. He is the composer of OUT: An Asian American Musical, which was part of the inaugural National Centre for New Musicals at Theatre Aquarius.

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. 

45 Minute Books & Stands Reading

Based on Angela Carter’s The Tiger’s Bride

Adapted to music by Frank Cox-O’Connell, Hailey Gillis, & 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. 

90 Minute World Premiere New Musical (Full Production)
*This is an add-on experience in addition to the festival pass

Book & Lyrics by Nam Nguyen
Music by Wilfred Moeschter & Nam Nguyen
Developed by The Luminato Festival

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?

45 Minute Books & Stands Reading

45 Minute Panel Discussion

Hosted by Olivia Ansell
With Michael Rubinoff and special guests
Presented by the Luminato Festival
  

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?