Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Toronto ON. “My father works at the Steel Plant and he’s always been fine. Why should it be different for a woman?” Three years ago, playwright and composer Wesley J. Colford took the Toronto Fringe by storm with his original musical comedy about two brothers making their way in Canada’s Vaudeville scene. The Wakowski Brothers won Best of Fringe and a host of other awards before being picked up for a professional run at Barrie’s Talk is Free Theatre.
In January, he and a cast of 21 (with credits from The Shaw Festival, Stratford, Mirvish, & Soulpepper) bring life to his new musical comedy set in the 1940’s: Heart of Steel.
Heart of Steel tells the story of several women from the East Coast Island of Cape Breton who go to work at the Sydney Steel Plant during World War Two. At the time, it was the largest steel mill in Canada generating more than 50% of the steel used in the war efforts. With multitudes of men leaving to fight overseas, women were given positions of power in labour intensive fields for the first time in history. Heart of Steel is the true story of their struggles and triumphs.
This new musical debuted in March, 2015 at the new Highland Arts Theatre in Sydney, NS where Colford operates as Artistic Director. It immediately sold out its original run and was extended through the summer for eight weeks in rep with three other shows.
Luke Brown (Jesus Christ Superstar/Hart House, Séance) directs this new Toronto Production with Marion Abbott (Musical Theatre Confidential) Music Directing and Amanda Nuttall (JCS/Hart House) as choreographer while Joe Pagnan returns as Set and Lighting designer. A cast of 21 features a mix of Veteran Toronto performers and bright young talent, including Eliza Jane Scott (Company, Spoonriver), Greg Campbell (Trudeau and the FLQ), Jan Alexandra Smith (Shaw Festival), Rose Napoli (Shakespeare in High Park), Richard Lam (Soulpepper Academy), Mercedes Morris (Summerland), Hilary Scott (Genesis & Other Stories), and Nicole Power (Evangeline) as Amelia MacPherson.
The musical features an original score, written by Colford, which is a mix of traditional East Coast Folk, ‘40’s Swing, and Boogie Woogie. Audiences are invited to revel in this untold tale of Canadian history that is part Rogers & Hammerstein, part Kitchen Party.
Aim for the Tangent Theatre
in association with 2016 Next Stage Festival presents
HEART OF STEEL – A STEEL PLANT MUSICAL COMEDY
Book, Music, & Lyrics by Wesley J. Colford
Directed by Luke Brown
Music Direction by Marion Abbott
Choreography by Amanda Nuttall
Set & Lighting Design by Joe Pagnan
Costume Design by Amy Marie Wallace
Associate Produced by Matt Pilipiak
Opens January 7th, 2016 runs to January 17th, 2016
At Factory Theatre Mainspace, 125 Bathurst St.
Running Time: 90 minutes
Performances:
Thurs. January 7th, 7:00 PM
Fri. January 8th, 5:00 PM
Sat. January 9th, 2:00 PM
Sun. January 10th, 8:30 PM
Tue. January 12th, 6:45 PM
Wed. January 13th, 8:45 PM
Fri. January 15th, 9:45 PM
Sat. January 16th, 6:15 PM
Sun. January 17th, 6:45 PM
There will be one late call, aprox. five minutes into the performance.
Ticket Prices: $15 plus tax/surcharge
Tickets:
Tickets can be purchase online at www.fringetoronto.com
or by phone at (416) 966-1062
Payment options: Visa or Mastercard
Photo: Scene from Heart of Steel. ©2015 Chris Walzak.
2015-12-10
Toronto: Aim for the Tangent presents the musical "Heart of Steel" at the Next Stage Theatre Festival"