waiting in the wings

Planning ahead? Here's what's coming up!
 

Educator group bookings for 2025/26 open on June 5, 2025. You will be able to reserve tickets for your estimated number of students, then make adjustments in fall of 2025 when you have your class lists. Reservations will be processed and seats or waitlist spots allocated in the order recieved. 

For now, check out our show offerings, student matinee times, and topics, and make your plans! We have provided rough run time estimates based on other theatres, but they are not set in stone. Once each show has begun rehearsals we will have a better idea of their length.
All productions will have performances on weeknights at 7:30 PM, at least one 2:00 matinee, and weekend shows. Some productions will also have performances at 11:30 AM for students only.

MTC tries to provide any applicable content overviews and warnings in advance, but these are subject to change at the Director's discretion during each rehearsal process.

Mainstage Season 24/25 | Warehouse Season 24/25 | Mainstage Season 25/26 | Warehouse Season 25/26
 

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24/25 MAINSTAGE Season

  

INDECENT

By Paula Vogel
Directed by Kelly Thornton
Feb 12-Mar 8, 2025 / Student Matinee 11:30 Mar 6

A play about real, dramatic history from Pulitzer Prize winner Paula Vogel. In 1906, Polish-Jewish writer Sholem Asch pens The God of Venegence in Yiddish, about the love between a prostitute and the daughter of the brothel's owner. Despite initial reactions to the lesbian storyline, and fears that the script would give people an excuse to be antisemitic, the play's portrayals of love and conflict make it a success in Europe. In 1923 New York though, the cast and producers struggle with cultural assimilation and language, and the English translation is recieved very differently: the entire team is arrested for obscenity. Against the backdrop of Europe's descent into the Holocaust, stage manager Lemml takes the script back home to where it was once celebrated. 
Indecent explores love, artistic censorship, and the power of theatre with music, song, dance, and even comedy while connecting to our past and present in a poignant and powerful way.
Topics: Based on historical events, immigration, artistic censorship, queer representation, antisemitism, power of art, acceptance, intolerance, persecution
Recommended for grade 10 and up (mention of brothels and prostitution, lesbian relationships referenced as wrong, depictions of antisemitism and reference to death and destruction of Jewish people, references to sex)
Unofficial run time estimate: Approximately 1 hour 45 minutes, no intermission.
 

CASEY AND DIANA

By Nick Green
Directed by Andrew Kushnir
A co-production with Theatre Aquarius
Mar 19-Apr 12, 2025 / Student Matinee 11:30 ​Apr 10

Thomas wasn’t planning to be at Casey House much longer but an upcoming visit from Princess Diana gives him reason to stick around and rally the other residents to hang on - for just seven more days. But in hospice, a week is a long time. Thomas entertains with gallows humour, his roommate frets about unfinished business and they both struggle with family relationships. Inspired by Princess Diana’s historic visit to Toronto’s Casey House in 1991, Casey and Diana is a moving and surprisingly funny portrait of the men at the heart of the AIDS crisis, their devoted caregivers, and the ‘People’s Princess’ who had the the compassion to hold their hands when no one else would. 
Topics: Compassion, community, LGBTQ+ life, dignity, stigma, AIDS
Recommended for grade 9 and up (Strong language; the AIDS crisis, death and dying)
Unofficial run time estimate: Approximately 2 hours 40 minutes including intermission.

 

ELEVATE: Manaaji ' idiwin  

By David McLeod
Directed by Herbie Barnes
Apr 23-May 17, 2025

What happens when your elevator gets stuck on the way to a high-profile meeting? That is just what Jonesie and Tallahassee are about to find out! As tempers rise, the space shrinks and becomes a pressure cooker as the men struggle to get it back up and running. Told with hilarious hijinks, the two attempt a series of adventurous escapes, and through these mishaps, a brutal and bitingly funny conversation about power emerges.  As this is a world premiere, more information relevant to educators will be communicated as it's discovered!
Topics: Judgement, prejudice, bias, hard truths, Indigenous play, comedy
Recommended for grade 10 and up (Strong language; racism)
Unofficial run time estimate: World premiere, unknown at this point!

24/25 Warehouse Season

KING JAMES

By Rajiv Joseph
Directed by Ray Strachan
Mar 5-22, 2025

Matt's been going to Cleveland Cavaliers games since he was six, so having to sell his season tickets to someone he's never met to make some cash is like giving a piece of his heart away. To add insult to injury, the Cavs are showing promise with LeBron ‘King’ James now holding court. But Matt and Shawn become fast friends. As the team’s fortunes rise and fall, they go through their own highs and lows. At the end of the day, they’ll never agree on Jordan vs. LeBron but they’re diehard fans and tight as brothers. If one of them goes out of bounds with something they say, they’ll always bounce back – right? An exploration of a deep friendship told in four quarters over 12 years.
Topics: Friendship, life lessons, self-discove​ry
Recommended for grade 10 and up (Strong language; content may be appropriate for younger viewer but may not resonate with them)
Unofficial run time estimate: 2 hours including intermission

MURDER FOR TWO

Book & Music by Joe Kinosian | Book & Lyrics by Kellen Blair
Directed by Chase Winnicky
Apr 2-19, 2025 / Student Matinee 11:30 Apr 16

A high-energy musical whodunit, Murder for Two is a blend of classical musical comedy and a murder mystery with a twist, where two actors play a dozen different characters - and a piano. Marcus Moscowicz is small town police officer and an aspiring detective. Moments before the surprise birthday party for renowned author Arthur Whitney, shots are fired, and the writer is killed! Marcus seizes the opportunity to showcase his sleuthing, with the assistance of his silent partner Lou. Now, the question remains: with a collection of wildly unhelpful (and just plain wild) suspects, who could be the culprit?
Topics: Mystery, music, vaudeville, theatricality
Recommended for grade 9 and up (Strong language; crass humour, anti-fat sentiment, suggestive jokes, cartoonish violence)
Unofficial run time estimate: 1 hour 40 minutes, no intermission
 

25/26 Mainstage Season

  

LIFE OF PI

Based on the novel by Yann Martel
Adapted by Lolita Chakrabarti
Directed by Haysam Kadri
In Partnership with Citadel Theatre
Oct 15-Nov 8, 2025 / Student Matinee 11:30 Nov 6

Amid political unrest in 1970s India, Pi’s family decides to move their zoo to Canada. In the chaos of a storm, the ship goes down, and Pi’s family and animals are lost in the chaos. The teenager survives 227 days on a lifeboat in uneasy companionship with a Royal Bengal tiger. As Pi drifts aimlessly in the vast ocean, he struggles to keep his wits while avoiding being the tiger’s next meal. Based on the international best-selling novel, Life of Pi roars to breathtaking life with riveting storytelling and stunning puppetry. This astonishing tale will have us question what we see with our own eyes and believe in the power of theatre.
Topics:  The essence of truth, faith, survival, storytelling, nature, magical realism, literary adaptation.
Recommended for grade 9+. (No strong language or sexual content. Stylized violence and scenes of simulated animal ferocity. Depiction of animal deaths. Potentially distressing content. Possible haze or fog, flashing lights, loud sounds.)
Unofficial run time estimate: Approximately 2 hours 15 minutes including intermission.
 

ELF - THE MUSICAL

Book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin,  Music by Matthew Sklar, Lyrics by Chad Beguelin  Based upon the New Line Cinema film written by David Berenbaum
Directed by Julie Tomaino
Nov 25-Dec 24, 2025 / Student Matinee 11:30 Nov 28
 
Buddy the elf is happy, big-hearted and larger than life. Buddy is also larger than the other elves, which makes sense when it’s revealed he’s actually human. Gobsmacked by this discovery, Buddy sets off in search of the World’s Greatest Dad. When he arrives in New York, the irrepressible elf is disappointed to find out his human dad is far from the world’s greatest anything. Undaunted by a series of misadventures, Buddy sings his way into the lives and hearts of his new family and friends.
Topics: Finding joy, embracing differences, being yourself, believing, family, musical, film adaptation.
Recommended for Grade 5+ (Reference to unplanned pregnancy, unknown parentage. The running time may be difficult for some children. Loud volume levels.)
Unofficial run time estimate: Approximately 2 hours 35 minutes including intermission.
 

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS

By Agatha Christie
Adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig
Directed by Kelly Thornton
Jan 14-Feb 7, 2026 / Student Matinee 11:30 Feb 5
 
In the 1930s, detective Hercule Poirot is on a train journey when an unlikeable wealthy American is murdered. As the debonair detective investigates, he encounters a cast of intriguing passengers, including the glamorous Mrs. Hubbard and the enigmatic Princess Dragomiroff. With his unparalleled eye for detail and keen instincts, Poirot uncovers secrets and motives as he seeks the truth behind the murder in this suspenseful tale of deception, revenge and justice. Showcasing the Queen of Crime’s signature twists and turns, and a luxury train onstage, this lighthearted adaptation keeps us guessing until Hercule Poirot delivers his breathtaking verdict.
Topics: Justice, grief, historical, mystery, literary adaptation.
Recommended for grade 7+ (Occasional strong language. Reference to and depictions of murder, reference to suicide, alcohol use. Occasional ethnic stereotypes of the time period, eg someone is “exotic” or “hot-blooded.” Probable use of blood, loud noises, flashing lights, haze.)
Unofficial run time estimate: Approximately 2 hours 20 minutes including intermission.
 
Royal MTC Presents a Crow’s Theatre Production

ROGERS V. ROGERS

Adapted for the stage by Michael Healey
Based on the book by Alexandra Posadzki
Directed by Chris Abraham
Starring Tom Rooney
Feb 18-Mar 14, 2026
 
In a one-person show starring an acclaimed Canadian actor, and by a celebrated Canadian playwright, Rogers v. Rogers examines the merits of fighting back, the cost of ambition, and the complicated legacy of love and defiance in the shadow of power. Telecom tycoon Ted Rogers spent a lifetime turning Canada’s airwaves into money — and a company into a virtual monopoly. Now his son Edward is fighting to take control of the family empire. At the same time, a wily public servant is determined to block a billion-dollar merger. Ambition, defiance and public interest collide in a battle of wills. A David vs. Goliath story for a new age.
Topics: Family drama, business, Canadian story, Canadian playwright, based on true events, new work, solo show.
Recommended for grade 10+. (Strong language, references to drugs and alcohol, fat shaming. This content may be appropriate for younger viewers but may not resonate with them.)
Unofficial run time estimate: Unknown; this play will have its world premiere at Crow’s in November!
 

THE LAST WIFE

By Kate Hennig
Directed by Cherissa Richards
Mar 25-Apr 18, 2026
 
Katherine Parr, a sharp and determined woman, agrees to marry King Henry VIII on her own terms. As she asserts her agency and fights for equal rights for Henry’s daughters, the volatile King struggles for control and authority. These iconic historical figures really existed, but Canadian playwright Hennig reimagines them with modern voices and fresh perspective through her contemporary lens. With sharp dialogue and compelling characters, this is a funny and powerful dissection of patriarchy, sexual politics and women’s rights.
Topics: Gender roles, power, modern retelling of history, Tudors, Canadian playwright.
Recommended for grade 9+ (Strong language, mature themes including death and domestic and sexual violence, suggestive content.)
Unofficial run time estimate: Approximately 2 hours 25 minutes including intermission.
 

RUBABOO – A Métis Cabaret

By Andrea Menard
Music by Andrea Menard & Robert Walsh
Directed by Alanis King
Apr 29-May 23, 2026 / Student Matinee 11:30 May 21
 
Métis singer-songwriter Andrea Menard's feast for the senses blends master storytelling with the beauty of Métis culture through music, dance and visual art. Derived from the Michif word for “leftovers stew” or “big pot,” Rubaboo combines diverse cultural influences and invites us to reflect on the ongoing journey of cultural preservation and pride. Featuring the sounds of drums and guitar, this grand musical feast includes songs of reconciliation, unity, love and resilience.
Topics: Métis culture and history, lore and legend, sharing culture, resilience, reciprocity, music, Canadian history. 
Recommended for grade 7+ (Occasional crude language, mention of alcohol and alcoholism, death of animals, discussion of residential schools and impacts of abuse – not explicit).
Unofficial run time estimate: Approximately 90 minutes, no intermission.

 

25/26 Warehouse Season

 

Royal MTC presents a Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes Production

WONDERFUL JOE

Created and Performed by Ronnie Burkett
Oct 8-25, 2025
Please note that per agreement with the presenting company, there will be no sales to student groups. Youth over the age of 16 and adults may purchase individual tickets. 

A singular and world-class talent, Ronnie Burkett brings his marionette puppets and signature style to Winnipeg. Joe and his dog Mister are evicted and head into the neighbourhood for one last grand adventure. The world seems broken, but Joe sees magic in the mundane, beauty amid brutality, and life in the lost and lonely. A seemingly simple tale of a simple man, Wonderful Joe is a tender nod to imagination, hope, and the art of filling broken hearts with gold.
Topics: Gentrification, aging, fantasy, puppetry, Canadian creator.
Recommended for grade 11+; under 16 not admitted.
Unofficial run time estimate: Approximately 90 minutes, no intermission.
 

A NUMBER

By Caryl Churchill
Directed by Alex Poch Goldin
Nov 12-29, 2025

Father and son relationships can be complicated at the best of times but take on new meaning in a world where humans can be replicated. Bernard has contentedly navigated life as an only child. When his father reveals the truth about his place in the family order – Bernard isn’t the only Bernard – his world is turned upside down. Caryl Churchill is at her unsettling best with this thought-provoking psychological thriller about nature versus nurture, the emotional impact of cloning and the moral implications of creating human beings for experimentation.
Topics: Cloning, identity, family dynamics, humanity, postmodern theatre.
Recommended for grade 10+. (Occasional strong language, references to suicide, alcohol, neglectful parenting, animal abuse. This content may be appropriate for younger viewers but is unlikely to resonate with them.)
Unofficial run time estimate: Approximately 90 minutes, no intermission.
  

HOLLAND

By Trish Cooper
Directed by Suzie Martin
In Partnership with Theatre Projects Manitoba
Feb 4-21, 2025
 
Carrie and Paul are good people with solid friends and great kids. Another constant in their life is Alice, an antagonistic social worker who holds all the cards when it comes to their disabled son. Alice makes promises but keeps few, drowning the couple in paperwork, denying basic services and bewildering them with impossible deadlines. Pushed to the brink, Carrie takes matters into her own hands – in the most outrageous way possible – and goes from doing everything for her family to risking it all. This hilarious madcap adventure is an unflinching look at disability rights and caregiving.
Topics: Advocacy, caregiving, disability rights, parenting, challenging systems, comedy, new work, Canadian playwright, local playwright.
Recommended for grade 10+ (Strong language, suggestive humour and content, theatrical violence. This play is told from the parents’ point of view and as such may not be as relatable to younger teens.)
Unofficial run time estimate: Unknown, as this is a world premiere! We will update as more information becomes available.
 

IN THE SHADOW BEYOND THE PINES

By Rhonda Apetagon
Mar 11-28, 2026 / Student Matinee 11:30 Mar 25
 
Set in modern times but steeped in a dark and haunting past, this atmospheric ghost story explores the shadows of Indigenous life and lore with a hint of humour. Amid the mysteries of the vast wilderness of northern Manitoba, three young men wrestle with the loss of their friend by reclaiming the cultural practice of lighting a sacred fire. When they realize they’ve forgotten the flashlight and their phones have died, legends and memories are all they have to guide them through the night. Created in the Pimootayowin Creators Circle, this world premiere will draw you in – while making no promises of letting you go.
Topics: Traditions, cultural connection, remembrance, supernatural horror, male friendship, community, new work, Indigenous play, local playwright.
Recommended for grade 9+ (Strong language, reference to suicide, reference to abusive parenting, reference to violence, potentially frightening content. Probable haze or fog.)
Unofficial run time estimate: Unknown, as this is a world premiere! We will update as more information becomes available.