MAY 28 - JUNE 25

Photos by Dahlia Katz, Design by Sherpa Creative.
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MARQUEE

CELEBRATING WHY IT’S BETTER WITH MUSIC

A city-wide celebration of musical storytelling, The Musical Stage Company’s MARQUEE offers 4 weeks of wildly joyful musical programming throughout the Greater Tkaronto Area. Embracing the city as our stage by lighting up parks, porches, streets and traditional theatre venues, MARQUEE unleashes a burst of musical experiences across Toronto with unexpected moments of musical creativity and spontaneous community gatherings.

Running May 28- June 25, MARQUEE’s slate of multifaceted, electrifying activity will explore the central theme of ‘Turning Points‘, inviting Toronto’s most imaginative artists to draw upon personal moments of sweeping change, transforming them into a multitude of musical experiences. Full productions, star-studded concerts, community-based performances and participatory pop-ups will reinvigorate the city, reminding us all why it’s better with music.

PHOTO GALLERY

A distanced shot of 2 performers spotlighted on a dark, wooden outdoor stage (left), mid-performance and in deep conversation. The audience is seated on large outdoor concrete stadium style benches, a dense forest surrounding the scene - the only lighting in the night time, coming from the hanging stage lights.  A wide shot of a patio concert at an elderly care home, with a group of residents (and a few caretakers) in assorted chairs/wheelchairs watching. Brittany Miranda (right) is standing in a black dress, mask, and heels, singing into a standing mic between two speakers. The building’s red brick wall and tall windows are the backdrop.
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An image of a handful of people standing along the walkway and in front of a red bricked home and driveway, their backs to the camera and facing Vicky (right). Vicky Wang is standing on the driveway, smiling at the camera while singing and playing her acoustic guitar. Mitchell (left) standing on a wooden outdoor stage, addresses an excited audience. The audience is seated on large outdoor concrete stadium style benches, a dense forest surrounding the scene.

Sponsors

Founding Presenting Sponsor
Founding Lead Donor
Funding Provided By
Leading Light
Canada Life
Leading Light
Anonymous
Leading Light
Mark & Cherie Daitchman
Leading Light
Penny Fine & Hugh Furneaux
Leading Light
Roger & Kevin Garland
Leading Light
The Catherine & Maxwell Meighen Foundation
Leading Light
Lucy White
Musical Moments Program Sponsor
William J.S. Boyle, C.M.
Official Radio Sponsor

Credits

Venue

Frequently Asked Questions

Show Calendar

PROGRAMMING

DIXON ROAD

A new Canadian musical with book, music and lyrics by Fatuma Adar. DIXON ROAD tells the story of a Somali family who immigrate to Canada in 1991 as the civil war begins to tear their homeland apart. They settle in Dixon Road, in a neighbourhood near Pearson airport that is still the heart of Toronto’s Somali community today.

Combining R&B, contemporary verse and traditional Somali melodies, DIXON ROAD is an exhilarating journey about dreams, displacement, and finding a new sense of home. Join The Musical Stage Company & Obsidian Theatre Company from June 1 – June 19 at the outdoor High Park Amphitheatre for one of this summer’s hottest musical events!

TAKE THE MOMENT

An intimate evening with Cynthia Dale marks the celebratory return of The Musical Stage Company to the Winter Garden Theatre.

With personal stories and songs set to the musical catalogue of Stephen Sondheim, TAKE THE MOMENT honours the extraordinary life-changing moments that shape us all.

RBC Creators’ Project

Rosie Callaghan and Matthew Joseph, The Musical Stage Company’s 2021-22 Syd & Shirley Banks Prize winners, present a passionate cabaret performance at Black Sheep Irish Cocktail Bar. This cabaret series is a joyful self-discovery of personal roots, artistic expression and the journey that brought these two artists together.

This 10th anniversary Banks Prize showcase is created by our eight RBC apprentices and features extraordinary musical selections.

PORCHSIDE SONGS

The Musical Stage Company’s celebrated outdoor cabaret series returns summer 2022, bringing music into Toronto communities via street-facing front porches. Two dynamite musical duos will tour around the GTA, creating music in the streets and providing space for communities to gather safely.

Exploring The Musical Stage Company’s MARQUEE theme of ‘Turning Points’, each cabaret will feature personal stories of imagination, determination, and musical triumphs. Purchase an intimate concert for your friends and neighbours, and we’ll take care of the rest.

MUSICAL MOMENTS

Infusing the city with explosive street parties, interactive jam sessions, and surprise performances, MUSICAL MOMENTS brings pop-up experiences into Toronto communities by harnessing the imagination and creativity of artists. 7 different Musical Moments developed by local artists will bring a series of performances and creative experiences across the city.

Running May 28 – June 10, MUSICAL MOMENTS explores The Musical Stage Company’s MARQUEE theme of ‘Turning Points’. All projects will be unique interpretations of establishing roots, discovering dreams, and building futures.

Want to catch them all? Join us on June 11 & 12 as our MUSICAL MOMENTS take over Toronto’s High Park for a weekend of musical joy and wonderment.

PARTICIPATORY EXPERIENCES

The Cultural Exchange at High Park Amphitheatre

An exploration of Somali culture where guests sample and celebrate the cultural heritage of Somalia.

Onsite before each performance of DIXON ROAD.

Somali Day on Dixon Road (Istar Restaurant)

A one night celebration of DIXON ROAD on Dixon Road! Join The Musical Stage Company at Istar Restaurant for a celebration of the community that inspired the musical. Enjoy authentic Somali cuisine at Istar Restaurant, followed by transportation to The High Park Amphitheatre to see Fatuma Adar’s new musical, DIXON ROAD.

Offered on Friday, June 3 before the performance of DIXON ROAD.

Pre-Show Chats in High Park 

Join us before each performance of DIXON ROAD for a pre-show conversation with members of The Musical Stage Company and the artistic team of DIXON ROAD. Learn exciting behind-the-scenes content about the creation of this new Canadian musical. Purchase authentic Somalian cuisine on-site or bring your own picnic!

Offered 45 minutes before each performance of DIXON ROAD.

BLACK OUT NIGHT

On June 7, 2022, Obsidian Theatre & The Musical Stage Company, in collaboration with Canadian Stage will be hosting a Black Out Night for Dixon Road, a new Canadian musical by Fatuma Adar.

Black Stories. Black Artists. Black Audiences. BLACK OUT NIGHT!

This Black Out Night is an evening, exclusive to the Afro/Black community, dedicated to celebrating Black stories, artists, and audience members by providing a safer space for them to experience theatre that is about the Afro/Black community and by the Afro/Black community. Before the performance, we welcome you to experience our Culture Exchange, where we will have Somali vendors, Somali musicians, and a dedicated prayer structure for anyone who wishes to use it. Join us before the show at 7:15 PM for a pre-show chat, celebrating Black stories in theatre, facilitated by Obsidian Theatre.

Offered on June 7, 2022.

Putting it Together: In Conversation with Richard Ouzounian

Join us before each performance of TAKE THE MOMENT for a pre-show conversation, hosted by director Richard Ouzounian. Putting it Together creates a point of contact for patrons with compelling local theatre artists to discuss the development of Canadian musical theatre.

Offered 60 minutes before each performance of TAKE THE MOMENT

The Marquee Ensemble

The Marquee Ensemble is a free performing arts program that aims to enrich the lives of people connected to the themes, stories and songs of The Musical Stage Company’s MARQUEE Festival.

Working within the theme of ‘Turning Points’, The Marquee Ensemble offers a community of art-loving people a chance to connect with the performing arts in new ways. Participants can expect performing arts workshops, panel discussions, facilitated independent creation time, presentations from the DIXON ROAD team, as well as an opportunity to make and discuss art in an affirming space.

TICKETS

Tickets for all Marquee Productions are now on sale! Please visit each individual production page to learn more about the unique ticketing options.

PORCHSIDE SONGS

Questions? Please contact Nick Fassbender (Events & Audiences Services Associate) at ticketing@musicalstagecompany.com.

SCHEDULE

DIXON ROAD
High Park Amphitheatre: June 1 – 19

  • June 8 (12 PM) – Audio Described Performance
  • June 18 (12 PM) – Audio Described Performance

TAKE THE MOMENT
Winter Garden Theatre: June 23 – 25

PORCHSIDE SONGS
Across the GTA: June 14 – July 13

MUSICAL MOMENTS
Across the GTA: May 28 – June 10

  • Karaoke for the Community (May 29, June 4 & 5)
  • Mobile Mini Powwow (May 28, June 4 & 7)
  • MusicalWheres (May 28 – June 10)
  • Say Your Peace: Jamming Through the Pain (June 3)
  • Songs of Hope: A Travelling Clown Show (June 2 – 5 & June 8 – 10)
  • Sprucecourt Shorts: A Musical! (June 4 & 6)
  • The Year I Learned to Skate… Again (June 5, 7 & 9)

RBC Creators’ Project
Black Sheep: June 14

  • June 14 (3 PM)
  • June 14 (8 PM)

 

PARTICIPATORY EXPERIENCES

The Cultural Exchange at High Park Amphitheatre

Somali Day on Dixon Road (Istar Restaurant)

Pre-Show Chats in High Park 

  • 45 minutes before each performance of DIXON ROAD.

Putting it Together: In Conversation with Richard Ouzounian

ACCESS

Accessibility

On-site accessibility initiatives include ASL interpretation, open captioning, and audio-described performances. Please see individual program pages for more information on where these initiatives are available.

Digital Access

The Musical Stage Company is making select MARQUEE programming available online to ensure that audiences unable to leave their house still have access to musical theatre.