First Drafts

First Drafts is a series of musicals that reimagine, reconstitute, and reanimate the Western “musical theatre canon” in a way that acknowledges the truth of where we are now and where we hope to go. First Drafts is grounded in an urgency to make space for stories that must be told now and must continue to be prioritized in our art form.\nEach installment of the initiative supports three teams of writers/composers to generate 30 minutes of a new musical to be developed with and performed by Sheridan’s fourth-year students. This writing development program perfectly encapsulates Sheridan’s dual interest in training exceptional musical theatre performers, and using our resources to create an engine for producing a more diverse canon of work, one that speaks to the issues we’re facing presently, and represents the stories of the next generation. Small Gods the Musical An ode to the creative joy that is found in Queerness. Small Gods the Musical is a coming-of-age musical about a group of teenagers working in a mall while exploring first love, grappling with next steps, and following their dreams. Written by Makram Ayache Composed by Landon Doak Director: Makram Ayache Music Director: Avery-Jean Brennan Stage Manager: Kasie Rayner 18 Palace Road Have you ever had a mentor who changed your life? Carly’s music teacher, Marge, is a source of comfort and strength until the unthinkable happens. A story of love, connection and processing grief through music. Book, Music, & Lyrics by Shreya Jha Director: Raha Javanfar Music Director: Athena So Stage Manager: Kelsey Jensen Piper A town plagued by rats hires a musically-inclined exterminator to enchant them away. An adaptation of The Tale of the Pied Piper, this new musical empowers younger audiences to follow their hearts to the people, spaces and places that make them feel the safest, and encourages older audiences to let them. Book, Music, & Lyrics by Shreya Jha Director: Raha Javanfar Music Director: Athena So Stage Manager: Kelsey Jensen