Segal Centre Presents PROM QUEEN: THE MUSICAL

Following the success of their past original productions, the Segal Centre for Performing Arts is proud to present the World Premiere of a new Canadian musical inspired by the incredible, true story of Marc Hall, the Ontario teenager who took his Catholic School Board to court when they refused to let him attend prom with his boyfriend. A refreshingly fun and heartfelt story about a community coming together and being true to yourself, Prom Queen: The Musical will premiere at the Segal from October 27 to November 20, 2016.

A scintillating new musical about a story that made headlines across the globe! "The real-life story came complete with a charismatic hero, a national controversy and an uplifting message. With so much grand emotion and joy packed into one event - and with such an empowering universal message, Marc's story just had to be turned into a musical," stated Book Writer Kent Staines.

In 2002, Marc Hall took the Durham Catholic District School Board to court when they refused to let him attend the prom with his then-boyfriend Jean-Paul Dumond. What ensued was an international media frenzy that brought to light a fundamental human rights issue. Hall's court battle inspired people around the globe and set a great example for others facing similar struggles. Prom Queen: The Musical brings this important piece of civil rights history to life. Above all, Prom Queen is the story of a community coming together to support one of their own and realizing the importance of being true to yourself. It is a true celebration of individuality and diversity.

"What a joy it is to see Marc Hall's incredible story realized as a live stage musical! Marc is a pretty modest guy who I'm sure never in his wildest imaginings thought he'd one day be celebrated as the singing, dancing hero of a musical, fighting for what is right," explained Producer Mary Young Leckie.

Audiences will be treated to memorable musical numbers from the young and ultra-talented songwriting team Colleen Dauncey and Akiva Romer-Segal whose signature contemporary musical theatre sound pervades Prom Queen: The Musical. Fans of Legally Blonde: The Musical, RENT, and Kinky Boots will love the way the duo captures the tumultuous spectrum of teenage emotion in song, and will leave the theatre feeling elated.

"We had a blast writing the score for Prom Queen, delving into a variety of musical genres and weaving them into our own contemporary pop sound; The song "Inside Out" is a fun and flashy 90s-inspired dance number, "Mother Mary" is a modern hymn that sheds light on a mother's inner struggle, and "The Louder We Get" is a powerful rock anthem that closes out Act 1," said Colleen Dauncey and Akiva Romer-Segal when describing the songwriting process.

This will be the Segal's fourth original production in the past three years. Sherlock Holmes and Belles Soeurs: The Musicalhave gone on to tour nationwide, while the cast album of The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz: The Musical will be released in November. The Segal is also currently hard at work developing a new musical adapted from one of Quebec's most beloved stories, the title of which has yet to be revealed, to be presented as an official event of Montreal's 375th anniversary.

"I am proud to have made it part of our mission to dedicate ourselves to developing and producing new Canadian work. It is rewarding to create a show that can go on tour and touch audiences, both nationally and, one day, around the world. Prom Queen: The Musical is such an uplifting, universally resonant story with such incredible music that we just had to bring it to the stage," said Segal Centre Artistic and Executive Director Lisa Rubin.

The Playwrights Guild of Canada has shortlisted Prom Queen: The Musical for the Stage West Pechet Family Musical Award at the Tom Hendry Awards 2016.

Produced by the Segal Centre in association with Producer Mary Young Leckie (MAUDIE, starring Sally Hawkins & Ethan Hawke for release in 2017 and the television feature of Prom Queen), this original production is directed by Marcia Kash(Director of last season's The Secret Annex). Prom Queen: The Musical is written by Kent Staines (writer of the CBC seriesMVP: The Secret Lives of Hockey Wives, co-created with Mary Young Leckie) with lyrics by Akiva Romer-Segal and music byColleen Dauncey (they also wrote the scores for The Subway Songs, Scenes from the Bathhouse, and Bremen Rock City). The show has been workshopped with Sheridan College's Canadian Music Theatre Project, at Theatre Aquarius and twice by the Segal. It's ready to rock you.

Director Marcia Kash had this to say about her team, "In the last couple of years this group of extremely talented, intense, creative perfectionists has pushed and pulled itself into forming a very inventive and highly collaborative team that shares a real passion for telling this story the best possible way it can."

Joining Marcia in shaping the production are Musical Director, Orchestrator and Band Leader Mark Camilleri, who's collaborations with Canadian and international talent include Il Divo, Celine Dion, Sting, Eric Clapton, Paul Anka, and Sheryl Crow; and the internationally renowned So You Think You Can Dance choreographer Sean Cheesman, whose jazz and hip hop style will ignite the Segal stage.

They will be leading the highly-enthusiastic cast of 18 talented artists featuring Alessandro Costantini as Marc Hall, JoNathan Cullen as his boyfriend Jason, and stars of French stage Katee Julien and Sylvain Scott as his Acadian parents Emily and Audy. Sydney Scotia and Kolton Stewart, stars of YTV's Some Assembly Required, will be making their Segal Centre debuts as Marc's best friend Carly and the guy after her heart, Boomer.

David Silvestri, Zachary Counsil, Stuart Dowling, Gabi Epstein, Alexia Gourd, Hailey Lewis, Jamie Mayers, Lucas Meeuse, Mike Melino, Patrick Park, Stephanie Sy, and Jonathan Whittaker round out the stellar all-Canadian cast.

The creative team also includes Segal veterans John C. Dinning (Set & Costumes), Luc Prairie (Lighting), Peter Balov(Sound) and Luciana Burcheri (Stage Manager).

About the Segal Centre for Performing Arts

The Segal Centre for Performing Arts is a not-for-profit theatre company dedicated to nurturing, producing and presenting world-class English-language theatre and to showcasing the best professional artists from Montreal and beyond. Founded in 1967, the Segal Centre has expanded to become a nationally recognized venue for the performing arts with a focus on creation, innovation, diversity and cross-cultural collaborations. Driven by a belief in the power of the arts to strengthen and connect communities, the Segal's programming emphasizes original interpretations of popular classic and contemporary works, new Canadian musicals and engaging productions with universal appeal. www.segalcentre.org

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