SLC musical theatre students to take the stage at Thousand Islands Playhouse

St. Lawrence College (SLC)’s Musical Theatre Performance Program students will be taking the stage at Thousand Islands Playhouse’s Firehall Theatre in Gananoque this month to present exclusive previews of two new musicals by some of Canada’s most exciting writers.  

The Next Big Thing will take place Nov. 22 to 24; it’s a stand-and-sing presentation of Take Me Back and Iris (says goodbye), featuring the program’s talented second- and third-year students.

In Take Me Back, an institute has implemented a new technology where one lucky participant each five years gets to go back into their past and change one decision they regret. Jess, who walked out on her wedding ten years ago, makes it her mission to be the next person chosen for this experiment so that she can fix the mistake that has filled the last decade of her life with regret. Hilarity and disaster ensue. 

It’s written by Amir Haidar and Kevin Wong, directed by Julie Tomaino and conducted by Athena So. 


Iris (says goodbye) is about a title character who is dead. She’s been selected to return to earth and live another lifetime. But first, she has to decide what life she would like to return to, choosing based on the final moments only. The audience witnesses every possible way her death can play out through individual musical acts. Ten of a possible thirty acts are selected at random and performed in the order of their selection, making for a randomized performance each night. From car crashes to suffocation, hypothermia to cannibalism, Iris (says goodbye) is a completely unique musical theatre experience. 

It’s written by Margot Greve and Ben Kopp, directed by Margot Greve , and music direction by Erin Puttee. 

Please note: these productions contain strong language and mature themes, including the discussion of death and grief.  

Tickets are $25 or less and can be purchased through Thousand Islands Playhouse Box Office.

Showtimes are as follows:

November 22, 7:30 p.m.
November 23, 2 p.m.
November 23, 7:30 p.m.
November 24, 2 p.m.

General – $25
Under 30 – $20