Upcoming events.
Twelfth Night - "Bard in the Bar"
Twelfth Night - Directed by Felicia Holmes
Viola’s life is a wreck - a shipwreck. Left without her twin brother and stranded in this new town, Illyria, where two of the most popular people in town are suffering a series of romantic miscommunications. Olivia, having just lost her dad and brother, refuses to let anyone in. And then we have Orsino, who’s one goal is to take Olivia as his wife. The poor stranded Viola has no choice but to befriend Orsino, but how, oh how? She’ll have to be one of his boys... disguised as a dashing boy named Cesario! Understandably, chaos follows. Love triangles, duels, and forged letters all make this a laugh out loud comedy.
The audience and actors are invited to immerse themselves into the world of Twelfth Night at a local bar (to be announced soon!). The beach town of Illyria offers a space for artists to play around with Shakespeare's script through a modern and laidback lens. The play is cut down to 90-minutes, but by the end you’ll have wished it wasn’t! This is the first profit-sharing show Blue Canoe has conducted, this means a portion of ticket sales will be distributed to the artists that have worked on the show.
“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them” (Act 2, Scene 5).
Please note: There is no show on Saturday May 3rd, 2025.
Winnie the Pooh
“Disney's Winnie the Pooh KIDS is a delightful show based on the beloved characters of A.A. Milne and the 2011 Disney animated feature film. Featuring favorite songs from the film, as well as new hits by the Academy Award-winning Robert and Kristen Lopez (Frozen), this honey-filled delight is as sweet as it is fun.
Welcome to the Hundred Acre Wood, where Winnie the Pooh is once again in search of honey. Along the way, he meets his pals, Tigger, Piglet, Rabbit and Owl, but soon discovers that Christopher Robin has been captured by the mysterious Backson! As they prepare for a rescue operation, the animals learn about teamwork, friendship and, of course... sharing snacks.” - MTI
Amélie Teen Edition
Directed by Maysaa Alikhan & Brayah Pickard. Onstage at the Baby Grand Theatre as part of the Juvenis Festival from May 1st-4th.
“In this whimsical musical adaptation of the romantic comedy film, designed specifically for high school performers, an extraordinary young woman improvises small but surprising acts of kindness.” - Concord Theatrical
“We are so excited to bring the whimsical story of Amélie to this year's Juvenis festival! Having collaborated on last year’s Juvenis Teen Show, we are enthusiastic about the talent that Kingston’s youth has to offer. This musical adventure tells the story of a young woman navigating her quiet life with a vivid imagination. The adaptation of Amélie for teen performers is full of wonderful opportunities for them to captivate audiences and try new things!” - Directors Maysaa & Brayah
J.F. Youth Film Night
The J.F. Youth Film Night is a one-night event in Kingston that showcases local youth-made films. It gives those 30 and under an opportunity to screen their work and connect with other movie fans within the city. Juvenis has held this event at the Screening Room and The Broom Factory over the years, so we’re excited to announce that the film night will be returning again for the 2025 festival! Our vision for this year’s J.F. Youth Film Night is one of community, connection and celebration. We hope to bring together filmmakers and film lovers for one special night where we can highlight, celebrate and champion young artists and their work. We hope to inspire and connect others to be creative, get involved and support this amazing medium. This year we will be showing a handful of films ranging in genre, style and theme, from thriller, to drama, to romance and a little bit of experimental.
These filmmakers hail from all around the Kingston community and are thrilled to get to show everyone their work! Alongside the screening of the films, there will also be a roundtable Q&A where the audience can learn more about the films, their creation and the filmmakers behind them. The audience will also have a chance to ask any questions of their own as well. We would love to see you all come out to support the event at The Blue Canoe Studio on Friday May 2nd at 7 pm, 2025!
Battle of the Bands
Battle of the Bands is a one-night event where youth of all ages compete in front of guest judges for prizes. This event welcomes both post-secondary and high school students to perform a short set in front of a live audience. The bands competing this year are The Curiosos, Two Time, Isbistër, Not Yet, Nate the Nobody, Sound Chamber, and The Jade Peter Band.
For bands competing in the High School Division (TwoTime, The Curiosos, Not Yet, and Sound Chamber) the first place band will receive:
A paid performance at U20 Rockfest in August courtesy of Michelle Hauser and Harmony Lounge and Music Club
One recorded rehearsal session at Evergreen Recording Co. (up to four hours including set up and tear down), including use of professional level backline, guided set-up and monitor/headphone mixes, and professional-quality live-off-the-floor recordings of the rehearsal, including up to 3h of additional mixing and edits for demo purposes courtesy of The Wilderness
For bands competing in the Post Secondary Division (Nate the Nobody, Jade Peter, and Isbistër) the first place band will receive:
A paid gig at Saturday Sessions gig on August 9th courtesy of Jan MacDonald and Downtown Kingston
Recording and production of one original single from Evergreen Recording Co., including: Three hours of rehearsal/pre production time at Evergreen, separate to tracking, with guided set-up and monitor/headphone mixes, and production assistance. One day of tracking, including use of any in-house equipment, engineering services from Jonas Lewis-Anthony, and session performance as applicable from in-house musicians Nicholas Lennox & Hank Lawrence. Up to one additional day of mixing, edits, and revisions if necessary.
For the remaining five bands we have an Overall Runner Up prize which includes:
A keyboard courtesy of Joe's M.I.L.L.
A $100 Long & McQuade gift card
A $150 Kingston Music merch package and a free artist consultation with Marketing 101 assistance courtesy of Moira Demorest and Tourism Kingston
Resonance; Opening Launch
This dance showcase will be held on April 24th, 2025 at The Broom Factory and will highlight themes of interconnectedness, exploring what rhythms bind artists across mediums. The youth project leader, Ella Stotz, has the goal to fuse multiple art forms into a showcase. In addition to choreographing dance performances, the night will include live music and spoken word.
Since Resonance doubles as Blue Canoe’s opening launch, the dance portion of the event will wrap up around 8:15 pm. Afterwards, guests can enjoy a drink or two as the listen to our special guests, previous Battle of the Bands winners, Sons of Rick!
Anne of Green Gables
“Anne of Green Gables follows the misadventures of a wildly independent orphan with fiery red hair and a temper to match. Cherished by generations, L.M. Montgomery's timeless classic comes to life in a new musical commissioned by the award-winning Theatreworks USA.
Anne Shirley is mistakenly sent to live with a plainspoken farmer and his spinster sister, who thought they were adopting a boy! She wins over the Cuthberts and all of Prince Edward Island with her irrepressible spirit and imagination — and wins over audiences with this warm, poignant story about love, home and family.” - MTI
Book & Lyrics by Gretchen Cryer, Music by Nancy Ford.
Find Yourself
Original Play written & directed by Shay O’Brien, at the Tett Centre Rehearsal Hall from April 23rd-April 25th, 2025.
A young woman appears in a fae wood. She has spent her life an outcast, never quite fitting into the world around her. Perhaps, in this new and strange world of faeries, magic, and trickery, she will be able to find meaning, identity, and herself...
"Find Yourself" is, at its heart, an exploration of the self. Many young people struggle with identity and finding their place in the world, and our protagonist is just the same. With appearances from creatures of Celtic mythos, including the fae, a leprechaun, and more, "Find Yourself" is at once a deeply human tale and also a fantastical, magical, frightening adventure through unknown worlds.
Juvenis Festival 2025 runs from April 24th-May 4th, 2025.
Anastasia
“From Tony winners Terrence McNally, Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, creators of such Broadway classics as Ragtime and Once On This Island, this dazzling show transports its audience from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing con man and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love and family.” - Concord Theatricals
High Society
At their waterfront estate in Oyster Bay, the Lord family prepares for a lavish wedding weekend. The reluctant bride-to-be, famed socialite Tracy Lord, bristles when her playful ex-husband Dexter arrives to stir up trouble. Juggling a precocious younger sister, an uninspiring fiancé, a pesky ex-husband, a harried mother, a carousing uncle, and a pair of snooping reporters, Tracy struggles to make sense of her romantic life. The score is packed with Cole Porter standards, including “Ridin’ High,” “She’s Got That Thing,” “True Love,” “Just One Of Those Things,” “Let’s Misbehave,” “It’s All Right With Me,” and “Well, Did You Evah?” (Concord Theatrical)
Honk! Jr
Adapted for young performers, and with a score by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe (Mary Poppins), Honk! JR. is a heartwarming celebration of being different that is sure to delight audiences of all ages with its sparkling wit, unique charm and memorable score. Witty and hilarious, but also deeply moving, Honk! JR. will treat your audiences to equal amounts of laughter and tears.
Ugly looks quite a bit different from his darling duckling brothers and sisters. The other animals on the farm are quick to notice and point this out, despite his mother's protective flapping. Feeling rather foul about himself, the little fowl finds himself on an adventure of self-discovery, all the while unknowingly outwitting a very hungry Cat. Along the way, Ugly meets a whole flock of unique characters and finds out being different is not a bad thing to be. (Musical Theatre International)
Rent
Set in the East Village of New York City, Rent is about falling in love, finding your voice and living for today. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Rent has become a pop cultural phenomenon. with songs that rock and a story that resonates with audiences of all ages.
Based loosely on Puccini's La Boheme, Jonathan Larson's Rent follows a year in the life of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York's Lower East Side, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. The physical and emotional complications of the disease pervade the lives of Roger, Mimi, Tom and Angel. Maureen deals with her chronic infidelity through performance art; her partner, Joanne, wonders if their relationship is worth the trouble. Benny has sold out his Bohemian ideals in exchange for a hefty income and is on the outs with his former friends. Mark, an aspiring filmmaker, feels like an outsider to life in general. How these young bohemians negotiate their dreams, loves and conflicts provides the narrative thread to this groundbreaking musical. (Musical Theatre International)
The Lightning Thief: A Percy Jackson Musical
As the half-blood son of a Greek god, Percy Jackson has newly-discovered powers he can't control, a destiny he doesn't want, and a mythology textbook's worth of monsters on his trail. When Zeus's master lightning bolt is stolen and Percy becomes the prime suspect, he has to find and return the bolt to prove his innocence and prevent a war between the gods. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the thief. He must travel to the Underworld and back; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and come to terms with the father who abandoned him. Adapted from the best-selling book The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan and featuring a thrilling original rock score, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical is an action-packed mythical adventure "worthy of the gods" (Time Out New York).
The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe
This dramatization of C.S. Lewis' classic work faithfully recreates the magic and mystery of Aslan, the great lion, his struggle with the White Witch, and the adventures of four children who inadvertently wander from an old wardrobe into the exciting, never-to-be-forgotten Narnia. The intense action features chases, duels and escapes as the witch is determined to keep Narnia in her possession and to end the reign of Aslan. All the memorable episodes from the story are represented in this exciting dramatization: the temptation of Edmund by the witch, the slaying of the evil wolf by Peter, the witnessing of Aslan's resurrection by Susan and Lucy, the crowing of the four new rulers of Narnia, and more. The supporting characters are also here: the unicorn, the centaur and other forest animals, along with Father Christmas, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver and Tumnus the Faun. This story of love, faith, courage and giving, with its triumph of good over evil, is a true celebration of life.
Happy Days: A New Musical
Goodbye gray skies, hello blue! Happy days are here again with Richie, Potsie, Ralph Malph and the unforgettable "king of cool" Arthur "The Fonz" Fonzarelli. Based on the hit Paramount Pictures television series, Happy Days, A New Musical reintroduces one of America's best loved families, the Cunninghams -- yes, Howard, Marion and Joanie are here too -- to a whole new generation of kids and parents.
The famed drive-in malt shop and number one hangout, Arnold's, is in danger of demolition. So the gang teams up to save it with a dance contest and a TV-worthy wrestling match. Even Pinky Tuscadero, Fonzie's childhood sweetheart, returns to help and -- lo and behold! -- they rekindle their old flame.
Happy Days, A New Musical, with amazing music from Oscar-winner Paul Williams and a book by the TV series original creator Garry Marshall, returns to the days of 1959 Milwaukee, complete with varsity sweaters, hula hoops and jukebox sock-hoppin' fun. This perfectly family friendly musical will have you rockin' and rollin' all week long!
Magic Tree House: Pirates Past Noon
“Magic Tree House: Pirates Past Noon KIDS is an adaptation of the fourth of Mary Pope Osborne's award-winning fantasy adventure books from the Magic Tree House book series, which has sold more than 100 million copies and is available in more than a hundred countries around the world. This time around, Jack and Annie’s tree house takes them to an exotic island with pirates, where the two discover the power of friendship and the simple pleasures in everyday life.
The two siblings return to visit the magic tree house on a dreary, rainy day. They find a book where the sun is shining and the waves are crashing, so they wish to travel to this tropical place. They realize that they are in the eighteenth-century Caribbean, the time of pirates! The siblings meet Captain Bones, a mean old pirate who captures the two and forces them to help him find buried treasure. It's up to Jack and Annie to find their way back to the tree house and make their way home. “ (Music Theatre International)
The SpongeBob Musical
Our Teen Show in our Juvenis Festival!
“The stakes are higher than ever in this dynamic stage musical, as SpongeBob and all of Bikini Bottom face the total annihilation of their undersea world. Chaos erupts. Lives hang in the balance. And just when all hope seems lost, a most unexpected hero rises up and takes center stage. The power of optimism really can save the world!
The SpongeBob Musical is based on the beloved animated series created by Stephen Hillenburg and features a book by Kyle Jarrow, with original songs by Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alexander Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, Lady A, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants and T.I., and songs by David Bowie, Tom Kenny and Andy Paley. Additional lyrics are by Jonathan Coulton, with additional music by Tom Kitt. The musical production was conceived by Tina Landau.” (Concord Theatrical)