Segal Centre to Mount Musical Adaptation of THE HOCKEY SWEATER for Montreal's 375th Anniversary

In honour of Montréal's 375th, Canada's 150th, and the Segal Centre for Performing Arts' 10th anniversary, the Segal will continue its mission to bring great Canadian stories to the stage with another brand new musical.

The Segal has commissioned and will produce the world premiere of the musical adaptation of Roch Carrier's beloved story The Hockey Sweater. The production will pay homage to this treasured Quebec story by reinventing the classic tale into a modern musical for the whole family. The Hockey Sweater: A Musical will premiere at the Segal in the fall of 2017 as part of the official program of Montréal's 375th anniversary celebrations.

A tribute to one of Montréal's great passions! Originally published in 1979, The Hockey Sweater recalls Carrier's childhood hockey mishaps during the winter of 1946. "To retell The Hockey Sweater in 2017 is to not only revisit who we once were but reflect the multicultural society we are today," explained Book Writer and Co-Lyricist Emil Sher (Hana's Suitcase, The Boy in the Moon, and Beneath the Banyan Tree).

The moving story of a young boy's desire to fit in features music and lyrics by Jonathan Monro (Composer of No Matter What, Variations on a Nervous Breakdown, and Music Supervisor on The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz: The Musical), and will be directed and choreographed by Donna Feore (her multiple Stratford Festival credits include A Chorus Line, The Sound of Music, and Crazy for You). The musical celebrates a cherished part of our past through a contemporary lens.

"I am thrilled that my story The Hockey Sweater that has brought back so many childhood memories for Canadians of all ages will now be told in such a spectacular way to celebrate Montréal's 375th and Canada's 150th anniversary," said author Roch Carrier.

The Segal Centre is proud to make the development and production of new Canadian musicals part of its mission. This major project follows the successes of Belles Soeurs: The Musical, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz: The Musical, and most recently, Prom Queen: The Musical.

"I can think of nothing more fitting to celebrate Montréal's 375th and Canada's 150th anniversaries than to give The Hockey Sweater, a timeless Canadian tale, 'the Broadway treatment'. I am grateful to be able to join in the celebrations thanks to the support of the Society for the Celebrations of Montréal's 375th Anniversary," said Segal Centre Artistic and Executive Director Lisa Rubin.

"Montrealers love hockey and the sport is a big part of our city's history. Celebrating hockey in a musical that will delight the entire family is an excellent way of celebrating Montréal's 375th anniversary," said Montréal Mayor Denis Coderre.

"As a partner of Montréal's 375th celebrations, the Gouvernement du Québec is pleased to take part in a production dedicated to Roch Carrier's classic tale. This musical will offer young and old an opportunity to rediscover, through a literary work that reflects our collective history, the cultural identity of an era defined by hockey," said Martin Coiteux, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy, Minister of Public Security and Minister responsible for the Montréal region.

"The Segal Centre invites us to re-explore The Hockey Sweater, which taps into the DNA of Montrealers, Quebecers and Canadians. If there is one passion that speaks to all Montrealers, it's our abiding love for hockey and its heroes. For Montréal's 375th anniversary, The Hockey Sweater: A Musical is a unique production with a touching story that will bring people together and transport them back to their childhoods," said Serge Postigo, Assistant Commissioner for Celebrations for Montréal's 375th anniversary.

More information will be revealed in the coming months.

Select tickets are on sale now at 514.739.7944 or at www.segalcentre.org, purchase them now to pay this season's price on the 2017-2018 production.

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 Montréal and beyond. A part of the community since 1967, the organization was reborn in 2007 as the Segal and 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. Visit www.segalcentre.org for more.

The Society for the Celebration of Montréal's 375th Anniversary is a non-profit organization whose mission is to organize the celebrations and socioeconomic contributions that will mark Montréal's 375th anniversary in 2017. With a focus on promoting Montréal expertise, it acts as a catalyst for local forces in carrying out its mandate: to mobilize the community, implement a funding strategy, rigorously manage public funds, develop quality programming and ensure the visibility of the celebrations.

The Society benefits from the support of the Ville de Montréal, the Québec government, the Canada government and private funding from 11 Great Montrealers. For more information, see www.375mtl.com.

THE HOCKEY SWEATER
Book and lyrics by Emil Sher
Music and lyrics by Jonathan Monro
Based on the short story The Hockey Sweater by Roch Carrier, translated into English by Sheila Fischman and published by House of Anansi Press
Directed and Choreographed by Donna Feore

Pictured: The Hockey Sweater official poster (CNW Group/Société des célébrations du 375e anniversaire de Montréal).

To post a comment, you must register and login.

 

---

Join Team BroadwayWorld

Are you an avid theatergoer? We're looking for people like you to share your thoughts and insights with our readers. Team BroadwayWorld members get access to shows to review, conduct interviews with artists, and the opportunity to meet and network with fellow theatre lovers and arts workers.

Interested? Learn more here.

---