In early 2010, Theatre 20 called for submissions from across Canada for new original musicals. The result was over 300 submissions coming from coast to coast and five solid days of presentations from this country's talented musical theatre creators. Although the goal of this venture was to find hidden gems by Canadian composers, we found something else: remarkable undiscovered composers, lyricists and librettists, all eager to have their hard work listened to and valued.

This cause speaks to the heart of Theatre 20's mandate, and the need is prevalent throughout the country. So, in April 2011, Theatre 20 created the Composium. It allows a group of musical theatre creators to receive constant attention to their current work, whether by dramaturges, music directors, peer composers and by Theatre 20's Founding Artists. Our Composium program offers these talented creators a sounding board as well as an opportunity to collaborate in a safe and nurturing environment. The ultimate goal for each Composium member's work is to reach full production, if not within a Theatre 20 season, then with another company.

A home for Canadian musical theatre simply doesn't exist; we want the Composium to change that. This extremely important initiative can only succeed with the help of generous, like-minded people, passionate about musical theatre and those brilliant artists who create it.

DANIEL ABRAHAMSON - Toronto Composium Director - A graduate of the Sheridan College Musical Theatre - Performance Program, Daniel has worked as a performer, musical director and composer across Canada. Training includes the Craft of Musical Theatre Writing Intensive and Lehman Engel Advanced Workshop Series for Musical Theatre through ScriptLab. Works include Funny Business: The Musical (2007 Toronto Fringe, internationally produced, now published by Samuel French Inc.), Tunnel Vision (Theatre Sheridan), and Act Now! (2010 Toronto Fringe, Patron’s Pick, Best of Fringe).

RACHEL BRITTAIN - Bookwriter and librettist, Sheridan College Music Theatre Performance program graduate. Works include Funny Business: The Musical (2007 Toronto Fringe, internationally produced, now published by Samuel French Inc.) and Act Now! (2010 Toronto Fringe, Patron’s Pick, Best of Fringe).

SCOTT CHRISTIAN -  University of Toronto grad (classical piano/composition). At school, Scott was always a bit of a square peg, favouring rock, pop and musical theatre over chamber music and opera. He has worked professionally as a musical director and composer on a number of independent theatre, dance and musical theatre pieces. His second musical, Hero & Leander, will be at the Factory Theatre as part of the 2011 Summerworks Festival.

DANIEL CUMMINGS - Lyricist and bookwriter. Studied Creative Writing at UBC. Daniel's first musical, Kid Cosmic (book and lyrics), was part of Summerworks 2008 and his second musical, Act Now! (lyrics), played at Toronto's Fringe Festival in 2010 (Patron’s Pick and Best of Fringe).

COLLEEN DAUNCEY- Composer writing alongside lyricist Akiva Romer-Segal for the past three years (thecollabos.com). Last year the duo wrote and produced the song cycle The Subway Songs, which she also musical directed. In June 2011 they attended the Johnny Mercer Songwriter’s Project where they were mentored by Craig Carnelia, Marcy Heisler and Lari White, and performed in a gala honouring legendary composer Charles Strouse. Recently received FACTOR grants for studio recordings of her work with Akiva and her pop/folk music group (pettyvictories.com).

BRAM GIELEN - Toronto-based composer and lyricist. After studying classical piano for nearly 15 years, Bram switched his attention to the double bass, which he studied at the University of Toronto's Jazz Program, graduating in spring of 2008. Bram's song cycle, Biggish Kids, premiered in Summerworks' "Musical Works in Concert" series in August 2010.

ROBERT GONTIER - Bookwriter & lyricist. Work: In Flanders Fields (Smile Theatre, Lunchbox Theatre); Central Park Tango (Theatre Aquarius readings); Johnny Jackson and His Heavenly Passion (Toronto Fringe). Training: Johnny Mercer Songwriter's Project (led by Lin-Manuel Miranda & Craig Carnelia); Craft of Musical Theatre Writing, Lehman Engel Advanced Workshop Series (ScriptLab). Education: MA in Voice Studies, Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London; BFA in Acting, Ryerson University. Mentors: Leslie Arden, Jim Betts, Sheldon Rosen. Membership: Dramatists Guild of America.

THOMAS MORGAN JONES - Director, playwright, dramaturg working in the city of Toronto. Most recently with Theatre Direct, The Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Theatre Passe Muraille and Cahoots Theatre Company.

NICKY PHILLIPS - Composer and lyricist. Most recently, composed music for The 39 Steps (Manitoba Theatre Centre). Musical works include In Flanders Fields (Lunchbox Theatre, Smile Theatre) and Central Park Tango (Theatre Aquarius readings). Training includes the Johnny Mercer Songwriter’s Project in Chicago (led by master teachers Craig Carnelia and Lin-Manuel Miranda) and being mentored by Leslie Arden. Nicky is a graduate of the Ryerson Theatre School and is currently working towards a certificate in arranging through the Berklee College of Music. Proud member of ASCAP and the Dramatists Guild of America. nickyphillips.com

AKIVA ROMER-SEGAL - Lyricist. After graduating from Ryerson Theatre School, began writing with collaborator Colleen Dauncey. Their full-length song cycle, The Subway Songs, was produced in June 2010. Selected to participate in a masterclass with William Finn, and the Johnny Mercer American Songwriters project in Chicago under Marcy Heisler, Craig Carnelia and Lari White. Colleen and Akiva have recently received a grant from FACTOR to record a demo of their compositions. Find out more at thecollabos.com

GRANT TILLY - Composer, lyricist and librettist. Works include  The Christian Republican Fundraiser in Dayton Tennessee (Toronto Fringe 2008, Best of Fringe), Red Fightin’ Blue (Talk is Free Theatre), My Side of the Country (ScriptLab workshop), and FOROPERA (commissioned by Ryerson University). Received a BFA with honours from the University of Calgary and trained through through ScriptLab’s Lehman Engel Advanced Workshop Series with Jim Betts and Leslie Arden. As an actor, Grant was in the Canadian national company of Jersey Boys, and has performed throughout the U.S. and Canada. His second singer/songwriter CD, “The World Keeps Passing By”, is due out in the fall of 2011. granttilly.com 

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