INCITE: Making beautiful music(als)

By Meredith MacLeodOct 20, 2024

The Incite Foundation for the Arts supports the contributions of the National Centre for New Musicals at Theatre Aquarius.

The Incite Foundation for the Arts has contributed more than $9 million to 50 Hamilton-area organizations in grants from $2,500 to $300,000 since it was founded in 2011.

It is the legacy of the late Carl and Kate Turkstra who believed the arts are key to quality of life and critical to the future of Hamilton. And they believed anyone, regardless of circumstance, should be able to enjoy and pursue music, theatre and visual art.

HAMILTON CITY Magazine is showcasing the incredible, creative and talented recipients of Incite grants. Here we share the work of the National Centre for New Musicals (NCNM) at Theatre Aquarius.

Read all about the legacy of Carl and Kate Turkstra here!

The National Centre for New Musicals is a groundbreaking initiative that has set out to transform the landscape of musical theatre in Canada and beyond. NCNM is now in its inaugural year and is dedicated to the incubation of new Canadian musicals in Hamilton. NCNM is committed to offering unparalleled opportunities by fostering Canada’s up and coming musical theatre writers.

The Incite Foundation for the Arts is presenting sponsor for the NCNM, pledging $500,000 over five years.

NCNM is driven by a visionary goal: to be a unique program in Canada where writers can take risks. We emphasize the creative process, fostering innovation and artistic growth in an environment that nurtures creativity. Our aim is to elevate Canada’s presence on the global musical theatre stage, making a significant impact on the international arts community.

NCNM supports projects at every stage of development, from early concepts to pieces that have already been presented. We break the barriers of traditional development models by recognizing that even musicals that have been showcased may still require further development and support. Our program is distinct in its approach, meeting Canadian composers, lyricists and book writers where they are and identifying the specific needs of each project.

We connect them with resources and the finest talent in the industry, both nationally and internationally. This ensures that every musical, whether in its infancy or further along, receives the tailored support necessary to thrive and succeed. NCNM provides seed funding for development and builds a local pathway for new musicals to be workshopped and presented.

NCNM is guided by a distinguished advisory committee of celebrated theatre practitioners: co-chair Michael Rubinoff (Come from Away) and co-chair Lily Ling (Hell’s Kitchen, Hamilton), as well as Sean Mayes (Hadestown, Lion King) and Mary Francis Moore (Maggie and Aquarius’ artistic director).

“I’ve always believed Canadians are great storytellers in different aspects of the arts,” said Rubinoff, who was originating producer of mega-hit Come From Away and the producing artistic director of the former Canadian Music Theatre Project at Sheridan College.

“We’ve seen Canadians succeed in music, in comedy, in animation. I’ve always believed Canadians could succeed in the genre of musical theatre. What they needed was two things: continuous support, and the opportunity to fail and to learn from that failure how to succeed.”

Michael Rubinoff and Mary Francis Moore are among those guiding the National Centre for New Musicals. Photo: Dahlia Katz

With the support of the Incite Foundation for the Arts and private donors, NCNM has selected five new musicals to champion. Those works were chosen last fall by the advisory committee and a team of 25 multi-disciplinary and diverse Canadian artists from among more than 260 applications.

“The national appetite for a bespoke developmental process has been overwhelming,” says Moore. “We thought we were looking for two to three pieces. With the overwhelming number of applications and calibre of talent we’ve seen, we were delighted to expand to five works, four in the development phase and one in the incubation phase.”

The application process re-opens this fall for another round of musicals to develop within NCNM.

Theatre Aquarius is already leading the charge in presenting new Canadian musicals, including Maggie (2023), which is now heading to Goodspeed under the direction of Moore, as well as Pollyanna (2023) and Beautiful Scars (2024). These successes highlight the theatre’s commitment to fostering homegrown talent and showcasing Canadian stories on both national and international stages.

Hamilton’s unique blend of artistic vibrancy, community support, and strategic location makes it the perfect place to launch this transformative initiative. Located just a short distance from Toronto, Hamilton benefits from proximity to one of North America’s major cultural capitals. This relationship mirrors the connection between Brooklyn and New York City, where Hamilton serves as a vibrant and inspiring counterpart to Toronto’s bustling arts scene. Theatre Aquarius is one of Canada's premier A-House professional theatres, making it an ideal venue for new works to grow and capture the attention of other theatres, establishing a strong pipeline for their shows to journey across the country.

Maggie made its world premiere at Theatre Aquarius in 2023. It has now finished its run at the renowned Goodspeed Theatre.
Photo: Dahlia Katz

The chosen shows

The five musicals chosen to make up the inaugural cohort with the NCNM are:

The Pryce Academy (In development): A group of idealistic students put on a musical to expose the founder of their private school, Thurgood Pryce, who made his fortune with sugar plantations in the 1800s. Book, music and lyrics by Mazin Elsadig & Philip McKee. Additional music by Juan Ayala & Jennifer Ayala.

Out (In development): A coming-of-age drama-comedy that weaves together the stories of three queer Asian kids in their mid-20s. Book by Kalos Chu, music by Ian Chan, lyrics by JuHye Mun.

The 7 Fires (In development): Inspired by the Anishinaabe 7 Fire prophecy, seven strangers meet in the woods where they receive dreams from their ancestors, a story of reconnecting, prophecy and resurgence. Book by Dillan Chiblow, usic by Landon Doak, lyrics by Landon Doak with Dillan Chilbow.

Clown Riot (In development): A rock opera based upon the true Toronto story of a travelling circus, a crew of local firefighters, and an 11-year-old boy caught between two worlds. Story by Christo Graham & Tyrone Savage, music and lyrics by Christo Graham.

Limerick Gaolbreak (In Incubation): Inspired by the true story of a 19th-century prison escape in Ireland, this is the true-ish story of nine women who hatch a plan to sing their way to freedom. Book by Mike Ross and Sarah Wilson, music by Mike Ross, lyrics by Sarah Wilson.