On Tuesday, April 2, we welcomed some of Turtle Island's finest talent to Theatre Aquarius for the first day of rehearsal for Beautiful Scars, a New Musical by Tom Wilson and Shaun Smyth.

Oblivious to a secret deeply held by his parents, Tom Wilson’s search for identity started on East Hamilton Mountain in the 1960s and 1970s.

For decades after, Tom carved out a life for himself in the shadows, battling demons along the way as he waited for the secret of who he was and where he came from to reveal itself. And when it did, it swept up the St. Lawrence River to Kahnaw’a:ke Mohawk territory and exposed a story generations in the making.

The musical is a story of loss, love, and forgiveness that will leave you spellbound to the final note.

We ended the first day of rehearsal with a party and a stirring rendition of the title song from some of the cast.

Beautiful Scars a new musical

created by Tom Wilson & Shaun Smyth

inspired by the book Beautiful Scars: Steeltown Secrets, Mohawk Skywalkers and the Road Home, by Tom Wilson

April 24 - May 11, 2024

The Cast:

Sheldon Elter as Tom

Thompson Wilson as Young Tom

Phil Davis as the Indigenous Collaborator/Artist

Kristi Hansen as Bunny

Brandon McGibbon as George

Valerie Planche as Janie

Jeremy Proulx as Bear

The Band:

Gary Craig, Drums 

David Gray, Guitars 

Anna Ruddick, Bass 

The Creative Team:

Tom Wilson, Playwright/Co-Creator

Shaun Smyth, Playwright/Co-Creator

Mary Francis Moore, Dramaturgy and Original Direction

Bob Foster, Music Supervision & Orchestrations/Arrangements

Kevin Fraser, Lighting Designer

Jay Havens, Set Designer

Yolanda Skelton, Costume Designer

Ranil Sonnadara, Sound Designer

Barbara Kaneratonni Diabo, Movement Director

Josephine Ho, Stage Manager

For tickets visit theatreaquarius.org