Hundred Years On Stage

musical in two Acts

(1 h 25 min)

 

SETTING

Savoy Theatre, Gracetown, Canada
A lovingly aged community theater, a place nestled among old houses, rain-soaked streets, and generations of volunteers in a small Canadian countryside community.

 

PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS
* CARLA BELL [soprano] - Artistic Director of Savoy Theatre.

Fiercely devoted, practical, quietly exhausted.
* LEO MOREAU [tenor] - Actor & Composer, born in Quebec, raised in Gracetown. Returned after a year away; secretly in love with Carla.
* MAGGIE O'Connell [mezzo]- Gracetown theatre legend. Decades on stage, mentor to half the town's performers.
* ASHA PATEL [mezzo]- Mysterious Indian fortune teller, psychic medium.
* NOAH RIVERS [baritone] - Aboriginal musician & cultural guide. Violin and guitar virtuoso. Brings land acknowledgment into living practice.
* The Theatre / Ensemble - Volunteers, ghosts of past productions, the heartbeat of Savoy Theatre. Symphonic orchestra, ballet, choir.​

The Ghosts in ACT TWO:

- Billy and Betty, actors from the past.

- James and Emily Campbell, the founders of the theatre.

- Mr. Collins, usher and handyman.

- male and female veteran soldiers from WW2.

- Kelly Williamson, director.

 

SYNOPSIS:
ACT ONE:

The Savoy Theatre's artistic director, CARLA BELL, is excitedly preparing for the theatre's 100th anniversary gala. The two owners of Brown & Bruce International show up with an offer they can't refuse: they will sponsor the theatre, but they expect their advertising and PR everywhere, even during the centenary gala performance. CARLA is in a dilemma.
Unexpectedly, LEO MOREAU, a talented young actor who left the theatre a year ago, enters. He has returned for the centenary to celebrate with the theatre's members. When CARLA asks why he left, LEO confesses that he was in love with CARLA and didn't want to cause tension in the theatre.
CARLA tells him her dilemma. LEO suggests they turn down the rich offer and celebrate with all the important members of the theatre's past hundred years. He confesses that he has already invited a medium, ASHA PATEL, who is ready to hold a séance where she will summon the spirits of late theatre members.
CARLA is impressed by LEO's enthusiasm and resourcefulness and confesses her feelings to him. The theater welcomes the séance in disbelief when ASHA, the medium, suddenly appears amidst thunder, smoke and lightning. The group stares at ASHA PATEL in surprise. Now they believe that séance is possible.
MAGGIE breaks the silence and encourages the group to prepare for the celebration. The entire crew enthusiastically supports her idea.​

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ACT TWO:

CARLA and the crew sit at a large round table with their eyes closed, their hands touching on the tabletop, listening to ASHA, the medium. ASHA summons the spirits one by one. The spirits of the founders, builders, costume makers, ushers, soldiers returning from World War II, and deceased actors appear and sing about the theatre's history. They promise to always be with the theatre in spirit. In the finale, they sing together with the crew about the theatre's bright future.

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​Click on picture to watch the MUSICAL:

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© 2026 John Varszegi​