The audience comes in to a show where they don’t know the cast, nor the work they’ll be performing. Neither did the performers, until just an hour ago.
It’s raw, and spontaneous, and a showcase of talent.
Vita Bella Entertainment, a newcomer to Toronto’s performance scene, is reviving The Confidential Music Theatre Project with a performance on October 25 at Christ Church Deer Park.
How does it work?
The show is cast, and the performers are sworn to secrecy, both about their involvement, and the show they’ll be performing.
The performers themselves don’t know who else is in the cast.
They meet each other for the first time just an hour before the show begins.
The performance comes together as the show begins.
It’s an evening of experimental musical theatre performance, and as an audience member, you go in trusting that the artists will pull off something special. It takes the thrill of a live performance and amps up the energy.
The Confidential Theatre Project
The Confidential Musical Theatre Project is a concept that was created by Scarborough based theatre creator and pianist Marion Abbott in 2014. It was first presented in a park in an open air performance to sold out shows.
The CMTP took to the road, and played for audiences and artists in Ottawa, Montreal, Cape Breton, New York, Los Angeles, Pittsburg, Pickering, Halifax, Kitchener, Chicago, and Vancouver, among other cities. About 1,500 artists have taken part, including both Broadway pros and amateurs.
Personnel
The cast is, of course, secret, but sources have revealed that Toronto theatre veteran Duff MacDonald will be taking part. Highlights of MacDonald’s three decade plus career include performing as a member of the Original Canadian Cast of Les Miserables, in iconic television shows like 21 Jump Street, the original MacGyver, and Neon Rider, along with recent film and TV work in Netflix’s Locke and Key and Titans, the feature film Cinderella Man, and several nation-wide commercials.
Vita Bella Entertainment
Vita Bella Entertainment was founded by real life couple Paulina Luciani and Zachary Mansfield.
Award-winning actor, singer, arts worker and content creator Paulina Luciani is a graduate of York University’s Theatre program. She’s performed in productions across Toronto and the GTA, including originating the role of Eleven/Nancy in the Original Canadian Company of Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical, along with roles on TV and film. She has also worked in the field of content creation and marketing for organizations like the Luminato Festival, Tafelmusik, and Young People’s Theatre.
Producer, director, writer, and arts manager Zachary Mansfield is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University with a BFA in Performance: Production. He began his career after interning in the producing department of Soulpepper. Zachary went on to create and produce The Music of the Night, a revue celebrating the career and music of Andrew Lloyd Webber that was later revamped as Til I Hear You Sing, and which toured Ontario and Canada’s East Coast from 2019 through 2024.
He’s produced shows with rock legend Chubby Checker and Tony Award nominee Louise Pitre in concert, among many others. Zachary has also worked as a monitor tech for more than 200 rock shows, and is a Senior Producer for TO Live.
Show Details
Here’s what we can reveal…
It takes place October 25 at Christ Church Deer Park, with doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Use promo code LUDWIG to get 20% off their purchase if you buy online in advance ONLY.
- Find tickets and details [HERE].
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