From Press Release
The 2018 winners of the Paul O’Sullivan Prize for Musical Theatre are thrilled to announce the cast and creative team for the in-development Fringe presentation of The Preposterous Predicament of Polly Peel (Act 1), an extraordinary new Canadian musical by Julie Tepperman & Kevin Wong, as part of the Toronto Fringe Festival July 5 – 15, 2018.
The Preposterous Predicament of Polly Peel (Act 1) explores a family grappling with death through the eyes and imagination of a biology-obsessed eleven-year-old girl. Originally inspired by acclaimed Canadian painter Paul Peel’s ‘The Young Biologist’, an early incarnation was presented in 2016 at The Art Gallery of Ontario as part of The Musical Stage Company’s Reframed. This reworked Fringe production represents an exciting step in developing a new Canadian musical.
Creators Kevin Wong & Julie Tepperman note ‘ We are overjoyed to have been recognized with the Paul O’Sullivan Prize for Musical Theatre and look forward to showcasing this new Canadian work with such a dynamite Canadian cast. The Preposterous Predicament of Polly Peel (Act 1) has been in development for the past two years and we hope to follow the extraordinary Toronto Fringe musicals that have come before us.’
The exciting principal cast will be led by Toronto’s Hannah Levinson who was recently seen as Small Alison in The Musical Stage Company’s Fun Home, which earned her a Dora Award nomination and a Toronto Theatre Critics’ Award for Best Female Performance in a Musical. Levinson is joined by Dora Award-winner Richard Lee (The Humans), Donna Garner (Once – U.S First National Tour), Jessica Sherman(Rumspringa Break), Troy Adams (Shrek the Musical – The Grand Theatre/Neptune Theatre), and newcomers Faly Mevamanana, Ben Page, and Alan Cui.
Behind-the-scenes, Aaron Willis, co-founding artistic director of Convergence Theatre, helms the production as director and dramaturg; Adam Sakiyama provides music direction; Nicola Pantin choreographs; Kelly Wolf provides set and costume design and Michelle Ramsay provides lighting design.
Director & Dramaturg Aaron Willis notes ‘The creation of a new musical is a long and winding road – and presenting the first act of Polly Peel at the Toronto Fringe is a unique opportunity for us to learn more about this piece as Julie and Kevin continue to develop it into a full two-act musical. This story of the Peel family grappling with a sudden death is remarkable for its exploration of the power of a child’s imagination, and how it affects the process of grieving. I’m thrilled to be directing this next stage of Polly Peel’s development, and to be working with such a phenomenal team of artists.”
The Preposterous Predicament of Polly Peel (Act 1)will be on stage at the Tarragon Theatre Mainspace, July 5 – 15, 2018. Tickets are $13 and are available online (fringetoronto.com), by phone (416-966-1062) or in person at the Fringe main box office (Fringe Patio – Scadding Court – 707 Dundas Street West).
Details
- The Preposterous Predicament of Polly Peel plays at the Tarragon Theatre Mainspace. (30 Bridgman Ave.)
- Tickets are $13, including a $2 service charge. The festival also offers a range of money-saving passes and discounts for serious Fringers.
- Tickets can be purchased online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Festival Box Office at Scadding Court (707 Dundas St. W.), and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
- Content Warning: Mature language.
- This venue is barrier-free. Designated accessible seating is in the middle of the auditorium.
- Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.
Performances
- Thursday July 5th, 8:15 pm
- Saturday July 7th, 5:15 pm
- Monday July 9th, 1:00 pm
- Tuesday July 10th, 10:00 pm
- Wednesday July 11th, 7:00 pm
- Friday July 13th, 3:30 pm
- Sunday July 15th, 5:15 pm
Photo of Hannah Levinson by Sam Gaetz