{"id":117248,"date":"2025-09-04T05:05:53","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T09:05:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=117248"},"modified":"2025-09-04T20:01:14","modified_gmt":"2025-09-05T00:01:14","slug":"preview-crows-theatre-soulpepper-theatre-musical-stage-company-present-dave-malloys-octet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/09\/04\/preview-crows-theatre-soulpepper-theatre-musical-stage-company-present-dave-malloys-octet\/","title":{"rendered":"PREVIEW | Crow\u2019s Theatre, Soulpepper Theatre &amp; The Musical Stage Company Present Dave Malloy\u2019s OCTET"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_117251\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-117251\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-117251\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/09\/Copy-of-PREVIEW-2025-09-03T202538.741.jpg\" alt=\"Cast of OCTET (Photo courtesy of Crow\u2019s Theatre, Soulpepper Theatre &amp; The Musical Stage Company)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/09\/Copy-of-PREVIEW-2025-09-03T202538.741.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/09\/Copy-of-PREVIEW-2025-09-03T202538.741-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/09\/Copy-of-PREVIEW-2025-09-03T202538.741-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/09\/Copy-of-PREVIEW-2025-09-03T202538.741-768x402.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-117251\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cast of OCTET (Photo courtesy of Crow\u2019s Theatre, Soulpepper Theatre &amp; The Musical Stage Company)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Crow\u2019s Theatre, Soulpepper Theatre and The Musical Stage Company have teamed up to present American playwright Dave Malloy\u2019s OCTET. The Canadian premiere co-production is an original and ingenious work that takes choral performance and turns it into theatre.<\/p>\n<p>Dave Malloy is also responsible for the hit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/08\/14\/scrutiny-mirvishs-remount-natasha-pierre-great-comet-1812-exceeds-original-triumph\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Natasha, Pierre, &amp; the Great Comet of 1812<\/a>, directed by Chris Abraham for Mirvish.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HEdlEWr18jE?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<h2>OCTET by Dave Malloy<\/h2>\n<p>With music, lyrics, book, and vocal arrangements by Dave Malloy, the production is directed by Chris Abraham, with music direction by Ryan deSouza, and choreography by Cameron Carver. The cast includes Hailey Gillis (Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812\/Crow\u2019s and Musical Stage Company), Damien Atkins (De Profundis: Oscar Wilde in Jail\/Soulpepper), Alicia Ault (Dragon\u2019s Tale\/Tapestry Opera), Andrew Broderick (Choir Boy \/Canadian Stage), Ben Carlson (The Master Plan, Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812\/Crow\u2019s and Musical Stage Company), Zorana Sadiq (Comfort Food\/Crow\u2019s), Jaqueline Thair (Gypsy\/Shaw Festival), and Giles Tomkins (The Cunning Little Vixen\/COC).<\/p>\n<p>OCTET is an a cappella chamber musical for eight voices. It\u2019s set at a 12-step meeting with mysterious parameters, and juxtaposes heavenly choral harmonies with sharp-edged insight.<\/p>\n<p>The approach is distinctly original, and the work blends humour and intimate moments in a look at how we navigate the contemporary landscape, where we occupy both online and offline identities. Technology takes on a variety of roles, including magnifying issues that would otherwise pass under the radar, and complicating our lives \u2014 even as we search for a sense of connection.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSince I first discovered Dave Malloy\u2019s work, I have continued to be nothing less than amazed by how unique, layered, and ultimately soul-stirring his work is \u2014 there is truly no one in the world doing anything close to what he does,\u201d comments Crow\u2019s Theatre Artistic Director <strong>Chris Abraham<\/strong> in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhereas Natasha and Pierre looks back to the 19th-century and is this big, Baroque confection, OCTET lenses in on one of the most fundamental and complex issues of our lives right now. Like all Dave Malloy musicals, OCTET is irreverent, it is at times wildly funny, it might make you cry, it will most definitely make you feel something. I am absolutely thrilled to have these continued opportunities to give Dave Malloy\u2019s work a home in Toronto.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The piece, in keeping with Malloy\u2019s style, incorporates cultural references to everything from Candy Crush to QAnon. The playwright cites sources as disparate as Douglas Adams\u2019 The Hitchhiker\u2019s Guide to the Galaxy, Jon Ronson\u2019s So You\u2019ve Been Publicly Shamed, A Chorus Line, Blade Runner, World of Warcraft, Radiohead\u2019s OK Computer, and Philip Glass\u2019s Einstein on the Beach. He was also influenced by extended vocal experiments by composers Meredith Monk and Toby Twining. The lyrics incorporate snippets of text from gaming forums, social media feeds, and online conspiracy communities.<\/p>\n<p>Malloy\u2019s OCTET and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.crowstheatre.com\/shows-events\/the-welkin?#showtimes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lucy Kirkwood\u2019s THE WELKIN<\/a> launch the inaugural year of the landmark strategic partnership between Crow\u2019s Theatre and Soulpepper Theatre with a powerhouse double bill. Soulpepper\u2019s outgoing Artistic Director, Weyni Mengesha directs THE WELKIN.<\/p>\n<h2>Performance Details<\/h2>\n<p>Performances take place September 9 to October 12 in the Guloien Theatre, the mainstage space at the Crow\u2019s Theatre centre. Opening night is September 17.<\/p>\n<p>OCTET runs Tuesday to Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at 1:30 p.m.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Find tickets and show details [<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crowstheatre.com\/shows-events\/OCTET?#showtimes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a><\/strong>].<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><em>Are you looking to promote an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/advertising\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0e101a\"><u>event<\/u><\/span><\/a>? Have a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/masthead\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>news tip<\/u><\/a>? Need to know the best\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/events\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>events<\/u><\/a>\u00a0happening this weekend? 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