Hamilton’s Theatre Aquarius becoming hub for creation of new musicals
- Michael Kras
- 30 Jun 2023
Hamilton is about to become a major hub for the creation and development of new musicals.
Theatre Aquarius – the city’s professional regional theatre – recently announced the National Centre for New Musicals, which will become an incubator and launch pad for Canada’s next generation of musical theatre artists and storytellers.
A funding commitment of $1 million has been secured for the program’s first five years as part of the total budget of $2 million. This funding will go directly to supporting exciting new works by emerging and established composers, lyricists, book writers, and theatre artists.
“We are thrilled to position ourselves as a launchpad for national and international opportunities,” says Mary Francis Moore, Artistic Director of Theatre Aquarius.
“Aquarius has a storied history of talent development; and with our dynamic team, exciting partnership opportunities and our proximity to Toronto and New York, NCNM is poised to solidify Hamilton firmly on the ‘arts and culture’ map nationally and internationally.”
Joining the NCNM team are Michael Rubinoff and Lily Ling, Co-Chairs of the NCNM Advisory Committee. Rubinoff has a storied history in the development of new Canadian musicals, most notably through his deep roots as a producer on the global smash hit Come From Away. Ling is a Chinese-Canadian music director, conductor, pianist, and educator with international credits to her name, including Broadway.
Aquarius recently had a strong hit with the new Canadian musical Maggie, with a book by Matt Murray and a score by popular recording artist Johnny Reid. The show saw sold-out houses during its run in Hamilton and is about to take the stage in Charlottetown, PEI.
Further details about the National Centre for New Musicals program will be announced this fall.
See more on the Theatre Aquarius website.
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