Musical TheatreWorks

Musical TheatreWorks is a not-for-profit musical theatre company based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was formed in April 1993 by four theatre professionals — Robert McQueen, Denis Simpson, Jan Carley, and Diane Stapley — with a mandate "to foster and maintain musical theatre as an art form and to nurture its artists through development, production and performance." The company describes itself as the only not-for-profit company in Vancouver dedicated to the development of new musicals. The organisation produces on a project-by-project basis. Its activities include the development and workshopping of new musicals, the production of musical works, and the creation of work opportunities for musical theatre artists. Its stated artistic aim is to blend the indie and the mainstream, the commercial and the artistic, and to create works that are exciting as well as entertaining. In 2006, Barbara Tomasic and Tracey Power were chosen by the founding members to become co-artistic directors of Musical TheatreWorks. Under their leadership the company has staged a range of original and adapted musical works, including "Hey Viola! Viola Desmond – The Soundtrack of a Life" (created by Krystle Dos Santos and Tracey Power), "Miss Shakespeare" (by Tracey Power and Steve Charles, winner of a Jessie Award for Outstanding Musical and an Ovation Award), "Chelsea Hotel: The Songs of Leonard Cohen" (created by Tracey Power and Steve Charles), "Lady Macbeth and The Not Quite Dead," "Goblin Market," "The Back Kitchen Release Party," "Back to You: The Life and Music of Lucille Starr," and an adaptation of "The Jungle Book." The company operates primarily in Vancouver and has toured or booked productions such as "Hey Viola!" for tour dates in 2021/2022. It presents its work through a season of shows and maintains an active presence through its website, where it shares news, media, and donation information. As a not-for-profit entity, it relies on a mix of ticket revenue, grants, and donations to support its development and production activities.

Musical TheatreWorks was formed in April 1993 in Vancouver by a group of four highly committed theatre professionals: Robert McQueen, Denis Simpson, Jan Carley, and Diane Stapley. The company was established with a mandate "to foster and maintain musical theatre as an art form and to nurture its artists through development, production and performance." From its inception, it operated as a not-for-profit organisation producing on a project-by-project basis, with activities including the development and workshopping of new musicals, the production of musical works, and the creation of work opportunities for musical theatre artists. The company states that it is the only not-for-profit company in Vancouver dedicated to the development of new musicals. In 2006, Barbara Tomasic and Tracey Power were chosen by the founding members to become the co-artistic directors of Musical TheatreWorks. Under their leadership, the company has developed and produced a number of musical works. Notable productions include "Chelsea Hotel: The Songs of Leonard Cohen" (created by Tracey Power and Steve Charles, 2011), which was nominated for a Jessie Award and won an Ovation Award; "Miss Shakespeare" (by Tracey Power and Steve Charles, 2016), which won a Jessie Award for Outstanding Musical and an Ovation Award and was nominated for a Jessie Award for Outstanding New Work; and "Hey Viola! Viola Desmond – The Soundtrack of a Life" (created by Krystle Dos Santos and Tracey Power, 2019). Other past shows include "The Back Kitchen Release Party," "Goblin Market," "Back to You: The Life and Music of Lucille Starr," and an adaptation of "The Jungle Book." The company has also engaged in touring and booking of its productions; for example, "Hey Viola!" was booked for tour dates in 2021/2022. In 2021, the company announced "Lady Macbeth and The Not Quite Dead" for a run from March 27 to April 3, 2021. Throughout its history, Musical TheatreWorks has maintained a focus on Canadian musical theatre creation, aiming to blend the indie and the mainstream, the commercial and the artistic, and to create works that are exciting as well as entertaining.

• Musical TheatreWorks formed in Vancouver by Robert McQueen, Denis Simpson, Jan Carley, and Diane Stapley.

• Barbara Tomasic and Tracey Power chosen as co-artistic directors.

• "Chelsea Hotel: The Songs of Leonard Cohen" created by Tracey Power and Steve Charles; Jessie Award nominated and Ovation Award winner.

• "Miss Shakespeare" by Tracey Power and Steve Charles; Jessie Award Winner for Outstanding Musical and Ovation Award Winner.

• "Hey Viola! Viola Desmond – The Soundtrack of a Life" created by Krystle Dos Santos and Tracey Power.

• "Hey Viola!" booking tour dates for 2021/2022.

• "Lady Macbeth and The Not Quite Dead" runs March 27 – April 3, 2021.

Not-for-profit musical theatre company focused on developing and producing new Canadian musicals, blending indie and mainstream, commercial and artistic.

• 2019

  Hey Viola! Viola Desmond – The Soundtrack of a Life

  Created by Krystle Dos Santos and Tracey Power.

• 2016

  Miss Shakespeare

  By Tracey Power and Steve Charles; Jessie Award Winner: Outstanding Musical; Ovation Award Winner.

• 2011

  Chelsea Hotel: The Songs of Leonard Cohen

  Created by Tracey Power and Steve Charles; Jessie Award Nominated; Ovation Award Winner.

• 2021

  Lady Macbeth and The Not Quite Dead

  Ran March 27 – April 3, 2021.

• The Back Kitchen Release Party

  Created by Trevor Devall, Sarah Donald, Alison Jenkins, Don Noble, Tracey Power, Sarah May Redmond and Jon Teague.

• Goblin Market

  Directed by Barbara Tomasic.

• Back to You: The Life and Music of Lucille Starr

  Script by Tracey Power; directed by Barbara Tomasic.

• The Jungle Book

  Adapted by Tracey Power; directed by Barbara Tomasic & Brian Dooley.

1. 1Musical TheatreWorks official websitemusicaltheatreworks.ca
2. 2About | Musical TheatreWorksmusicaltheatreworks.ca
3. 3Musical TheatreWorks on Wikidatawikidata.org