Theatre Aquarius will debut new musical based on music of The Hip

It's a Good Life If You Don't Weaken is being produced by theatre superstars David and Hannah Mirvish and Michael Rubinoff and will hit the Hamilton stage in 2026.  

It seems like the most perfect time to be talking about a musical based on the music of Canada’s beloved and legendary The Tragically Hip.

And the best news of all is that It's a Good Life If You Don't Weaken will premiere in Hamilton in April 2026.

The new work, an original story about a family in turmoil and set in Toronto’s Kensington Market neighbourhood, uses the band’s music as its backdrop. It’s being produced by Michael Rubinoff, who produced the runaway hit Come from Away, along with Toronto theatre giant David Mirvish and his daughter Hannah.

"The Tragically Hip are a foundational part of Canadian culture and music," the Mirvishes said in a press release. "We are thrilled to support a musical that uses their music to tell a wonderful and uniquely Canadian story."

The musical is a partnership with Thousand Island Playhouse in Gananoque, Ont., which is about 30 kilometres from the Hip’s hometown of Kingston.

"The Tragically Hip’s music has had a huge impact on me and millions of other lives, transcending generations and people from all walks of life,” said Rubinoff in a press release. “This musical is an opportunity to not only honour the band’s legacy but also celebrate their glorious music. It is a dream project."

The producers say they will further develop the project at Toronto Metropolitan University's theatre school.

Casting calls are set for Theatre Aquarius and the Creative School Chrysalis at TMU.

This musical will build on a growing resumé for Theatre Aquarius as a place debuting new Canadian works. In 2023, came the world premiere of Maggie and last year it was Beautiful Scars.

Theatre Aquarius is home to the National Centre for New Musicals (NCNM), a one-of-a-kind incubator for developing new musical theatre in Canada. Rubinoff is co-chair of the NCNM advisory committee.

The title, It's a Good Life If You Don't Weaken, comes from a Tragically Hip song from 2002’s album In Violet Light, and the musical will draw on the band’s catalogue of Canadian classics, written by late frontman Gord Downie and fellow band members guitarist Paul Langlois, guitarist Rob Baker, bassist Gord Sinclair, and drummer Johnny Fay.

The book is written by Brian Hill, who worked on the Broadway musical The Story of My Life, and Ahmed Moneka, a nominee at this year's Juno Awards for global music album.

"Some of the country's best theatre makers have come together to create a show that honours our music," said the Tragically Hip in a press release. "It's exciting to see our songs interpreted in a new way that will continue to connect audiences, while supporting a compelling story for the theatrical stage."