"Us" by J. Straker and yours truly, short-listed for Stage​ ​West​ ​Pechet​ ​Family​ ​Musical​ ​Award

So happy to finally announce: Us, the musical written by Jeffery Straker and yours truly, which opens in March 2018 at Globe Theatre main stage, has been short-listed for the Stage West Pechet Family Musical Award (Playwrights Guild Canada) for best new Canadian musical. So honored to be on this list. Huge thanks to Camp Fyreflysask, Globe Theatre, Saskatchewan Arts Board, University of Regina MAP dept, Roberta McKay & Elmer Brennan and Saskatchewan Playwrights Centre for their indispensable support of this project. Winner announced Oct 29 at the Tom Hendry Awards in TO.

Stage​ ​West​ ​Pechet​ ​Family​ ​Musical​ ​Award​ is given annually for a new musical work by a PGC-member, which has not yet had a premiere production. JURY: Ted​ ​Dykstra​ (Chair), Clara​ ​Bullock​, Meghan​ ​Gardiner​, and Peter​ ​Jorgensen​. Kelley​ ​Jo​ ​Burke​ ​(Co-creators:​ ​Jeffrey​ ​Straker)​ (​ SK) for​ ​Us​, Julie​ ​McIsaac​ ​&​ ​Corey​ ​Payette​ ​(BC) for​ ​Les​ ​Filles​ ​Du​ ​Roi​,​ ​and Joe​ ​Slabe​ ​(AB) for​ ​The​ ​Urban​ ​Jungle​ ​Book​.

Watch the announcement HERE

And so it begins....Jeffery Straker and I are making a musical.

from  Jeffery Straker

"Excited to share this! I've partnered with the multi-talented writer, playwright, woman of words, director/producer Kelley Jo Burke, to write --- a musical! the show is a glimpse through story & song at 3 days & nights of a summer camp for sexual minority youth - it's a story about coming IN.... to yourself. Songs & stories from the show will be previewed March 2016 with The Golden Apple Theatre Company, with full production TBA following that. Exciting new territory - off we go!! BIG thx to the Saskatchewan Arts Boardfor helping with this creation."

Huge thanks to The Golden Apple Theatre Company , Camp Fyreflysask and the Saskatchewan Arts Board for their irreplaceable support for this project.