JOIN US ON MARCH 27 FOR THE NOTEWORTHY NEW MUSICALS CONFERENCE
A Music Theatre Conference for Composers & Writers
The Musical Stage Company is pleased to announce The Noteworthy New Musicals Conference, a one-day musical theatre creation event dedicated to the development and education of composers, lyricists, playwrights, and new musical enthusiasts in Toronto. The Noteworthy New Musicals Conference aims to provide an opportunity for music theatre creators to meet new collaborators, test drive creative relationships, share work with like-minded peers, learn more from experts in the field, and engage in the conversation around the development of new musical theatre in Canada.
The Conference will kick off with a Keynote Conversation with Tony-nominated Canadian writing team Irene Sankoff and David Hein.
Next up, registrants will be given a prompt, introduced to five new collaborators, and have the opportunity to explore creative potential together by engaging in our “Speed Dating” Artistic Challenge.
Following that, registrants will participate in an illuminating Panel Discussion on the topic of Pathways to Production, featuring panelists alaska b, Britta Johnson, Matt Murray, and Rose Napoli.
After a brief networking coffee break, our Open Mic sessions will open up the floor to registrants who wish to share excerpts of their works in progress (4 minute open mic slots are limited, so reserve your spot today). Our panelists and registrants will be invited to give rich and immediate feedback to those who wish to receive it.
Rounding out the conference is a final networking opportunity – mix, mingle, and meet your newest creative partner!
ONLY 100 SPOTS ARE AVAILABLE, REGISTER TODAY!
JOIN US ON MARCH 27 FOR THE NOTEWORTHY NEW MUSICALS CONFERENCE
A Music Theatre Conference for Composers & Writers
The Musical Stage Company is pleased to announce The Noteworthy New Musicals Conference, a one-day musical theatre creation event dedicated to the development and education of composers, lyricists, playwrights, and new musical enthusiasts in Toronto. The Noteworthy New Musicals Conference aims to provide an opportunity for music theatre creators to meet new collaborators, test drive creative relationships, share work with like-minded peers, learn more from experts in the field, and engage in the conversation around the development of new musical theatre in Canada.
The Conference will kick off with a Keynote Conversation with Tony-nominated Canadian writing team Irene Sankoff and David Hein.
Next up, registrants will be given a prompt, introduced to five new collaborators, and have the opportunity to explore creative potential together by engaging in our “Speed Dating” Artistic Challenge.
Following that, registrants will participate in an illuminating Panel Discussion on the topic of Pathways to Production, featuring panelists alaska b, Britta Johnson, Matt Murray, and Rose Napoli.
After a brief networking coffee break, our Open Mic sessions will open up the floor to registrants who wish to share excerpts of their works in progress (4 minute open mic slots are limited, so reserve your spot today). Our panelists and registrants will be invited to give rich and immediate feedback to those who wish to receive it.
Rounding out the conference is a final networking opportunity – mix, mingle, and meet your newest creative partner!
The Noteworthy New Musicals Conference
Date: Monday, March 27 from 1:00PM – 8:00PM ET
Location: Old Flame Brewery (43 Tankhouse Lane)
Registration fee $25.00
The registration fee includes full day access to the Noteworthy Conference and a catered lunch.
Additional beverages can be purchased from Old Flame Brewery.
| 1:00 – 1:30 PM | Venue Opens – networking and snacks |
| 1:30 – 2:30 PM | Keynote conversation with Irene Sankoff & David Hein |
| 2:30 – 3:30 PM | Networking and Catered Lunch |
| 3:30 – 5:00 PM | “Speed Dating” Artistic Challenge |
| 5:00 – 5:45 PM | Panel Discussion: The Pathway to Production With: alaska b, Britta Johnson, Matt Murray, & Rose Napoli. |
| 5:45 – 6:00 PM | Networking and snacks |
| 6:00 – 7:00 PM | Open Mic |
| 7:00 – 7:05 PM | Closing Remarks |
| 7:05 – 8:00 PM | Networking and Drinks |
MEET OUR CONFERENCE SPEAKERS
Irene Sankoff & David Hein are a married Canadian writing team. Their first show, My Mother’s Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding (based on David’s mother’s true story) was the hit of the Toronto Fringe Festival, and then picked up for a commercial run by Mirvish Productions. It has now played and won Best Musical awards in the New York Musical Theatre Festival and across North America, with Sankoff and Hein performing in most productions. Come From Away was developed at the Canadian Music Theatre Project and Goodspeed Musicals’ Festival of New Artists, showcased at the NAMT Festival of New Works and enjoyed a record setting world premiere at the La Jolla Playhouse and Seattle Repertory, followed by Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto and the Gander Community Centre Hockey Rink. Produced by Sue Frost and her partners at Junkyard Dog Productions, Come From Away won three 2017 Dora Mavor Moore Awards, four Helen Hayes Awards, five Outer Critics Circle Awards and three Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical. David and Irene were nominated for Tony Awards for Best Book and Score, Grammy Awards for Best Musical Theatre Album, and won the 2017 Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk awards for Best Book. They are currently writing the screenplay for Come From Away. Irene and David are proud members of the Dramatists Guild and ASCAP. Find them online @sankoffandhein
alaska b is based in Toronto, Ontario, and has a Bachelor in Interdisciplinary Arts from Concordia University, a degree in Computer Animation from Sheridan college, and a passion for exploring the intersection between media and technology. Known for her problem solving skills, creative approach, and mix of expertise, her practice moves fluidly between digital media production, installation and musical performance. Her unique skill range has seen her trouble shoot as theatrical technician for large scale community engaged performances; produce and present her own animations and intermedia creations; and to build a striking musical catalogue that is grand in scope. As a composer and performer, her award-winning film and game scores (Canadian Screen Award 2019, Canadian Game Awards 2016) and songwriting (Polaris Prize nominated, Juno Awards nominated) have been heard all over the world.
Britta Johnson is a writer, composer and lyricist based in Toronto. Her original musical, Life After had an extended, multiple Dora award-winning run at Canadian Stage before playing at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, and most recently Goodman Theatre in Chicago in Summer of 2022. Her other writing credits include: With her sister Anika Johnson: Dr. Silver (MSC/Outside the March; Dora nomination), Brantwood (Theatre Sheridan, Dora Award), Jacob Two-Two (YTP, Dora nomination), Trap Door (Theatre Sheridan). With Sara Farb: Kelly v. Kelly (MSC/Canadian Stage; winner of the Playwright’s Guild of Canada best new musical award), Reframed (MSC/Art Gallery of Ontario, Dora nomination). With Katherine Cullen: Stupidhead! (Dora nomination). Upcoming projects include the world premiere of Kelly v. Kelly with The Musical Stage Company and Canadian Stage in Spring 2023, and new projects in development with the Stratford Festival and South Coast Rep in California. 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.
Matt Murray is a Toronto-based musical theatre book writer, playwright and lyricist. Musical credits include: GROW – book writer (collaboration with Colleen Dauncey and Akiva Romer-Segal) for Goodspeed’s Festival of New Musicals, world premiere at The Grand Theatre. MAGGIE – co-book, co-music and co-lyric (collaboration with acclaimed recording artist Johnny Reid). MAGGIE will have a co-world premiere at Theatre Aquarius and The Charlottetown Festival, spring/summer of 2023. GOING UNDER – book writer (collaboration with Colleen Dauncey and Akiva Romer-Segal). Writer of six Ross Petty Pantos – PETER’S FINAL FLIGHT, LIL’ RED ROBIN HOOD, THE WIZARD OF OZ, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, all at Toronto’s Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres, as well as two digital productions, THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS and ALICE IN WINTERLAND. A CHRISTMAS CAROL was recorded for broadcast by CBC/Family Channel. Plays: MYTH OF THE OSTRICH, Toronto Fringe, Next Stage Theatre Festival, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre. REMEMBER, MAGGY? (collaboration with Carol Anne Murray) Best of Toronto Fringe, Toronto Centre For The Arts, CHRONICLES OF SARNIA, Blyth Festival. Other: Adaptation – CELLBLOCK TANGO RE:IMAGINED (EveryBody Onstage, Musicals Re:Imagined).
Rose Napoli is a Dora nominated playwright, actor, screenwriter, and alumna of the Canadian Film Centre, where she now teaches. She is writing another musical with partner, Suzy Wilde, at the Tarragon Theatre and is working on commissions for several new plays. In the TV world, she has recently worked on shows for Bell/Crave, CBC, and is currently in development with Cameron Pictures and Banger Films. She is published with Scirocco Drama, loves carbohydrates, mystery novels, and the Toronto Blue Jays.
If you have a piece that you would like to share, and receive feedback on, please register your request for an open mic slot using this form. Registration for the open mic portion of the Noteworthy Conference is on a first come, first served basis.
A few notes about the open mic:
- Your piece does not need to be fully developed, or presentation ready.
- Your open mic could be the sharing of book, lyrics or music.
- The piece or excerpt you will be sharing must be no longer than 4 minutes long.
- Please be prepared to sing the music yourself. If you have a scene that requires more than one person, and will need a scene partner to read alongside you, please indicate that on the form linked above.
- Please bring any instruments or tracks, or printed scenes you may need for your slot.
- Please indicate what you are currently investigating or hoping to receive from the sharing of this particular piece of work.