SEASON proposal SUBMISSIONS ARE CURrently closed

Thank you for your interest in putting on a show with MTP! We are an entirely volunteer-driven organization dedicated to creating musical theatre performance, production, and viewing opportunities for members of the London Ontario community and surrounding areas. All our productions from the past 36 years have been driven by community members like yourself, and we're glad you want to help build our future! At this time we are not currently accepting show proposals, however please look below to learn more about the process and how you can get involved next year!

You can participate in our season planning process by:

• Submitting a proposal for a show you'd like to mount

• Applying as a free agent to be matched with a proposal in need of additional team members

• Joining the Season Planning Committee to help review the proposals and make recommendations to the MTP board

For all applicants, please review our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) statement below to ensure you are aligned with our goals. Should you have any questions regarding EDI, please email our EDI Director at dei@musicaltheatreproductions.ca. For all other questions pertaining to the season planning proccess, please contact the Season Planning Director at seasonplanning@musicaltheatreproductions.ca .

EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION STATEMENT

MTP is committed to ongoing work surrounding Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). It is our utmost priority that our stages reflect our diverse city, and all participants feel safe and supported. MTP is currently reviewing its 2025-26 EDI priorities and practices, and we will expect the artistic teams of selected productions to participate in EDI initiatives. In the past this has included:

• Diverse recruitment practices (i.e. being thoughtful in the communities we invite to audition);

• Inclusive audition and rehearsal practices (i.e. ensuring the physical space is accessible to all, looking at non-traditional casting, methods to report and resolve challenges);

• Relaxed performances (i.e. reducing volume and special effects, leaving house lights on, etc); and/or

• ASL (American Sign Language) interpreted performances.

This is not an exhaustive list, and it’s possible that not everything on this list is part of our 2025-26 initiatives. You will be expected to participate in EDI initiatives and the MTP Board will work with you to ensure you have the support and resources to achieve these initiatives (you won't be alone!). We expect these values and priorities to be reflected in any successful season applicant. We encourage you to speak on your ongoing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion work in your application.

2025-26 SEASON STRUCTURE

MTP generally programs three shows in a season; one in the fall (around November), one in the winter (around February), and one in the spring (around May). The exact dates are determined by venue and creative team availability.

For our 2025-26 season, we are looking to program three different kinds of shows, in no particular order:

1. A "FLAGSHIP" SHOW -- a large-scale, popular, crowd-pleasing musical with lots of roles for performers and crew. This is meant to be the headlining show of the season, casting a wide net to bring together numerous members of the MTP community, new and old, and an audience to match. Think "Broadway!" Examples from MTP's past seasons include:

   • The Little Mermaid (2016)

   • Sweeney Todd (2019), co-production with Allswell Productions

   • Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (2022)

   • Grease (2024), Silver Spotlight Theatre

2. A "STUDIO" SHOW -- a leaner production that focuses on strong performances and unique artistic choices. This is the place for offbeat shows and/or ideas! This production will have a smaller budget than our flagship, so we encourage you to think proactively about a "less is more" approach to the work and using it to discover unexpected creative opportunities. Examples from past MTP seasons include:

   • Bat Boy (2013), a show with cult/horror/musical/comedy appeal

   • Songs For A New World (2014), a production that expanded the cast from four actors to an ensemble of 21, built around strong musical storytelling

   • Jesus Christ Superstar (2015), a classic with a twist, theming the characters on the comic book superhero pantheon

   • Light in the Piazza (2018), an intimate scale production with a rich score, soaring romance, and complex characterization

   • Babes In Arms (2023), a rocket launchpad for Silver Spotlight Theatre that accommodated an enormous cast by limiting onstage facilities to a piano, bass, and projector

3. A "PRESENTATION" -- something other than a fully-staged book musical, to contrast with the rest of the season. Examples would be a concert performance, a themed cabaret/revue, a workshop of new work, a staged reading, or something else musical-theatre-adjacent. This production is intended to be more relaxed than a standard book musical on production/budget requirements, as well as on rehearsal commitments, to help provide opportunities for folks who may have obstacles to participation in a fully staged show. Examples:

   • Lovelash (2018) was an original work by Terence Vince, who directed and mounted it at the TAP Centre's theatre.

   • The Confidential Musical Theatre Project (2024), an experimental theatre format that acts as a staged reading with no group rehearsals and very few technical requirements.

   • MTP has produced many themed cabaret/revues over the past decade, including:

   • Dare To Dream (musical theatre songs about hopes and aspirations)

   • Night of Noir (jazz/noir-themed)

   • Defying Gravity (songs from mega-musicals)

   • Time Warp (rock musicals)

   • Broadway To The Max (a revival of another MTP revue from 1992)

   • Show Off (30th anniversary show featuring songs from all past MTP productions)

   • The Beauty Underneath (Halloween-themed)

Auditions

Auditions for our 2024/25 season are now closed. Subscribe to our e-Newsletter here to get audition notices, and check back in the spring to learn more about our auditions for our next season!

Follow us on our social media channels for audition updates and other opportunities to be involved in our future productions and special events!

MEMBERSHIP

Musical Theatre Productions welcomes anyone who is interested in musical theatre or a supporter of the local arts community. We encourage you to become a member in order to receive advance and up to date notice of all MTP auditions, shows, partner news and special events. Memberships are $25 and are valid for one year.

All participants in our productions (artistic team, production team, cast) are required to be members of MTP. There are four simple ways to obtain or renew your MTP membership:

1. By Interac e-transfer.  Email $25 to treasurer@mtplondon.ca with the following information
Password Hint: Membership Payment
Password: mtplondon
Comments: Your email address
2. Mail a cheque to Musical Theatre Productions, 1170 York St., London, ON, N5W 6C9
3. Contact treasurer@mtplondon.ca  to make arrangements to pay in person.

lifetime membership award

Each year, the MTP Board of Directors selects one or two members of the MTP community to honour with our Lifetime Membership Award, in recognition of their service and involvement both with MTP and the London community at large. These awards are presented at a special performance of one of our season shows and includes a reception in honour of the inductee. Our lifetime members are granted all of the rights and privileges of MTP membership for life to ensure that they will always be acknowledged as a member of the MTP family.

LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS

Art Fidler (2015)

Liz Van Doorne (2015)

Stephen and Deborah Mitchell (2016)

Chris Wood (2017)

Kevin Bice (2018)

Anne Cuthbert (2018)

John Gerry (2019)

Ross Davidson (2023)

Laura Wood (2023)

Angela Southern (2024)

Tom Smyth (2024)

Bob Gerow (2024)

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is elected by the members of Musical Theatre Productions at the Annual General Meeting held each year in September. Although the Board’s complement is a minimum of seven (7) and a maximum of thirteen (13), presently consisting of its maximum members. The terms are staggered with each newly elected member serving a three-year term unless he/she is simply completing the balance of the term of a member who has left office.

The Executive is chosen by the Board at its first meeting following the Annual General Meeting. The President, Vice-President and Secretary are each appointed for a one year term while the Treasurer is appointed indefinitely and continues to serve at the pleasure of the Board.

Meetings of the Board are held on the third Saturday morning of each month with additional meetings called as required. Board members who are not in attendance at three consecutive meetings, without good reason, may be removed from the Board.

For any comments and questions, please feel free to contact us.

Current Board Members

President
Mike Jewison

Vice President
Rick Smith

Treasurer
Chris Harrington

Secretary
Lisa Cardinal

Season Planning Director
Vacant - please contact us if you are interested in this role!

Publicity Director
Jacob Wiley

Fundraising Director
Dylan Borshell

Facilities Director
Jensen Caughlin

Volunteer & Membership Engagement
Brittney-Lee Lowey

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Director
Haley Gelinas

Silver Spotlight Liaison
Tracey Andrus

Board Liaisons
Tracey Andrus (Big Fish)
Laura Curiale (Blood Brothers)

Founding Members (1988)

The following persons were responsible for the formation of ‘London Musical Theatre’, in 1988 and for producing our first show – ‘Evita’:

Kevin Bice, Suzan Bingemann, Noreen DeShane, Eleanor Ender, Art Fidler, Vicky Fuss, John Gerry, John Hart, James Hill, Roger Macaulay, Ann MacMillan, Deborah Mitchell, Stephen Mitchell, Alec Richmond.