
A blue banner with the details of the show alongside a photo of a woman with red hair holding a microphone.
Gimpy: A New Musical
A new work by Realwheels’ inaugural Playwright-in-Residence
The public reading of Gimpy: A New Musical took place
virtually on November 25, 2020 @ 7pm PST.
Thank you for joining us!
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Gimpy: A New Musical follows Soren, a young woman with a disability living in Tulsa, Oklahoma, who dreams of becoming a Broadway musical star. Meanwhile, her father, the fictional mayor of Tulsa, insists she follow a more practical career path. Soren meets a musician who recognizes her songwriting talent and she discovers a different route to her dreams of being a performing artist, helping out her beloved town along the way. The universal themes in this story will resonate through the perspective of a person with cerebral palsy carving their own path in life. In addition to writing her first play, Kirsten Kirsch also plays the lead character.
About the Playwright: Following a national call for submissions for a playwright who lives with disability, Toronto-based artist Kirsten Kirsch was named as the recipient of our inaugural Playwright-in-
Kirsten has been working on her first original play, Gimpy: A New Musical, with support from dramaturges Liesl Lafferty, Susinn McFarlan, Lynna Goldhar Smith, and Realwheels Artistic Director Rena Cohen.
Thank you for experiencing this new work with us! We extend a huge shout out to our team,
and to our much appreciated donors! We couldn’t do this work without you.
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Credits:
Book, Lyrics and Co-Composer: Kirsten Kirsch
Co-Composer & Musician: Darin Meilleur
Additional Lyrics & Co-Composer: Katie Berger
Director: Rena Cohen
Musical Director: Caitriona Murphy
Dramaturges: Rena Cohen, Liesl Lafferty
Performances by: Kirsten Kirsch (Soren), Matt Ramer (Matthew), Krystle Dos Santos (Kirby),
& Mason Temple (Presley)
Play Development: Susinn McFarlen, & Lynna Goldhar Smith
Producer: Cadence Konopaki
Technical Director: Kimit Sekhon
Stage Manager: Michael Saunders
ASL Interpretation:
Realwheels is thrilled to be able to support Kirsten who brings heartfelt sensibilities about the human condition combined with a sense of humour that is matched by her multiple talents in music and storytelling.