Book & Lyrics by Nick Green
Lyrics & Music by Kevin Wong
Commissioned by The Musical Stage Company in 2018 as part of the Aubrey & Marla Dan Fund for New Musicals.
Initially developed at the Canadian Music Theatre Project, Sheridan College.
SYNOPSIS
In Real Life is the story of a teen-aged computer prodigy who longs for connection in an age of technology and efficiency. With his final exam approaching, Max is on track for a promising future in the technological “Cubes” of Class Two, until a cryptic message from his mother in the work camps of Class Three awakens something within him. With the help of his friends, Max embarks on a journey to the depths of the super-illegal Dark Web, the gleaming heights of Class One, the front lines of an uprising in the woods, and to lost parts of himself.
DEVELOPMENTAL HISTORY
2018 FALL READING / WORKSHOP
October 14-16, Festival of New Works, Canadian Music Theatre Project (Sheridan College)
Directed by Ali Joy Richardson
Music Directed by Chris Barillaro
Cast: Rylan Allen, Noah Beemer, Jodie Edmunds, Graeme Hugo, Gunho Kwak, Kennedy Ledingham, Greg Liow, Lia Luz, Katie Martin, Macayla Paris, Mikayla Stradiotto, Elise Wilson
CMTP Program Assistant: Renée Strasfeld
CMTP Artistic Director: Michael Rubinoff
Festival Production Assistant: Tillie Morgan
Stage Manager: Anna Cragg
Presented publicly as part of the Canadian Music Theatre Project Presentations
2019 SPRING WORKSHOP
May 2019, Canadian Music Theatre Project (Sheridan College) / The Musical Stage Company
Directed by Ann Hodges
Music Directed by Jonathan Corkal
Cast: Noah Beemer, Lia Luz, Macayla Paris, Taylor Garwood, Aaron Ryder, Izaha Cochran, Bethany Monaghan, Matthew Reid
Stage Manager: Hannah MacMillan
CMTP Program Assistant: Renée Strasfeld
CMTP Artistic Director: Michael Rubinoff
Not presented publicly.
2019 FALL WORKSHOP
September 2019, Canadian Music Theatre Project (Sheridan College) / The Musical Stage Company
Directed by Ann Hodges
Music Directed by Jonathan Corkal & Chris Barillaro
Cast: Joel Cumber, Kelsey Verzotti, Peter Mundell, Rielle Braid, Kira Guloien, Sabryn Rock, Jeremy Carver-James, Amir Haidar
Stage Manager: Hannah MacMillan
CMTP Program Assistant: Renée Strasfeld
CMTP Artistic Director: Michael Rubinoff
Not presented publicly.
2020 WINTER WORKSHOP
February 2020, Canadian Music Theatre Project (Sheridan College) / The Musical Stage Company
Directed by Ann Hodges
Music Directed by Chris Barillaro
Cast: Joel Cumber, Kelsey Verzotti, Georgia Bennett, Graeme Hugo, Arinea Hermans, Kevin Dennis, Richard Lee, Tracy Michailidis
Stage Manager: Taylor Young
CMTP Program Assistant: Renée Strasfeld
CMTP Artistic Director: Michael Rubinoff
Not presented publicly.
2020 SPRING STUDENT ZOOM READING/WORKSHOP
March-April 2020, Canadian Music Theatre Project (Sheridan College)
Directed by Ann Hodges
Music Directed by Chris Barillaro
Choreographed by Janie Pinard
Projection/Video Design by Nick Bottomley
Set Design by Joe Pagnan
Costume Design by Barbara Rowe
Cast: Daniel Allain, Emily McKim, Alten Wilmot, Devin Cecchetto, Bethany Monaghan, Leah McKinney, Sydney Cochrane, Aveleigh Keller, Danie Dixon, Sinead Kennedy, Olivia Shad, Kristen McCormack, Isabella Wolder, Izaha Cochran, Dylan Hausdorf, Haneul Yi, Devin Alexander, Keenan Smits, Callum McGann
Stage Manager: Matthew MacInnis
CMTP Program Assistant: Renée Strasfeld
CMTP Artistic Director: Michael Rubinoff
This production was interrupted by the COVID-19 shutdown and was converted to a digital reading on Zoom.
2020 SUMMER ZOOM WORKSHOP
July 2020, The Musical Stage Company
Directed by Ann Hodges
Music Directed by Chris Barillaro
Projection/Video Design by Nick Bottomley
Cast: Thomas Olajide, Rosie Simon, Luc Tellier, Vanessa Sears, Tracy Michailidis, Hailey Gillis, Peter Fernandes, Thom Allison
Stage Manager: Cassandra Di Felice
Not presented publicly.
2021 SUMMER WORKSHOP
July 2021, The Musical Stage Company
Directed by Ann Hodges
Music Directed by Chris Barillaro
Assistant Music Directed by Jonathan Corkal
Not presented publicly.
2022 SUDBURY WORKSHOP
October 2022, Yes Theatre/Sudbury Theatre Centre & The Musical Stage Company
Directed by Ann Hodges
Music Directed by Chris Barillaro
Choreographed by Janie Pinard
Design consultation by Brian Dudkiewicz
Cast: Matthew Joseph, Michelle Yu, Joel Cumber, Jessica Sherman, Arinea Hermans, Katie Wise, Michael MacEachern, Anjul Greer
Not presented publicly.
Canadian Festival of New Musicals Presentation
May 24-26, 2024, The Musical Stage Company & fu-GEN Theatre Company (in Association with Canadian Stage)
Directed by Ann Hodges
Music Directed by Chris Barillaro
Choreographed by Janie Pinard
Lighting Designer: Imogen Wilson
Video/Projection Designer: VideoCompany (George Allister & Patrick Boivin)
Sound Designer: Brian Kenny
Costumes: Alex Amini
Stage Manager: Hannah MacMillan
Copyist: Jonathan Corkal
Apprentice Stage Manager: Kate Chubbs
Apprentice Director: Liam Eric Dawson
RBC Apprentice Director: Bryn Kennedy
Band: Chris Barillaro (Keys 1/Conductor), Jonathan Corkal-Astorga (Keys 2), and Peter Colantonio (Drums)
Mixer: Finn Browne
Audio 2: Everett Dalingwater
Lighting Board Operator: Josh Vlodarchyk
Video/SFX Operator: Allison
Cast: Alicia Ault, Janelle Cooper, Colleen Furlan, Hailey Gillis, Matthew Joseph, William Lincoln, Jacob MacInnis, and Daniel Williston
Festival Producer: Gabby Noga
Apprentice Producer: Nathan Gregory