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Tell Tale Harbour
View on Wikipedia| Tell Tale Harbour | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Music | Alan Doyle Bob Foster |
| Lyrics | Alan Doyle Bob Foster |
| Book | Alan Doyle Adam Brazier Ed Riche |
| Setting | Atlantic Canada |
| Basis | The Grand Seduction by Ken Scott Michael Dowse |
| Premiere | June 14, 2022: Confederation Centre of the Arts, Charlottetown |
Tell Tale Harbour is a musical comedy with music and lyrics by Alan Doyle and Bob Foster, and a book by Doyle, Adam Brazier, and Ed Riche.[1] It is based on the 2013 Canadian comedy film The Grand Seduction by Ken Scott and Michael Dowse.[1][2] The musical, like the film, follows a small town who work together to try to convince a visiting doctor to make their beloved harbour village his new home.
Premise
[edit]The musical is set in the fictional town of Tell Tale Harbour, a small harbour community in Atlantic Canada. The community is struggling due to the closure of the fish factory. However, the community is being considered for a frozen french fry facility, if the residents can manage to hire a full-time resident doctor. Led by the mischievous Frank, the residents of Tell Tale Harbour try to work together to lie, cheat, and con a visiting doctor to live and practice in their community.[3]
Production history
[edit]In November 2021, it was announced that Alan Doyle would star in Tell Tale Harbour, which he had co-created with Adam Brazier and Ed Riche.[4]
Tell Tale Harbour premiered at the Charlottetown Festival in 2022. It played between June 14 and September 24, 2022, and performed to sell-out audiences. The production set a record for ticket sales at the Confederation Centre of the Arts, becoming the top selling show in the festival's history.[5] The production was directed by Jillian Keiley and choreographed by Linda Garneau.[6]
Following the original production, David and Hannah Mirvish encouraged the show's creative team to expand and refine the musical.[7] The reworked musical, which includes new songs, returned to the Charlottetown Festival with direction by Brian Hill and choreography by Robin Calvert. It ran between June 14 and August 29, 2025.[3] Following this run, the musical transferred to Toronto, where it played at the Royal Alexandra Theatre between September 23 and November 2, 2025.[8][9]
Cast and characters
[edit]| Role | Charlottetown[10] | Charlottetown/Toronto[9] |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2025 | |
| Frank | Alan Doyle | |
| Kathleen | Michelle Bardach | Melissa MacKenzie |
| Dr. Chris | Jahlen Barnes | Kale Penny |
| Yvon | Laurie Murdoch | |
| Vera | Charlotte Moore | Susan Henley |
| Barbara | Alison Woolridge | |
| Henry | Jacob MacInnis | Daniel Williston |
| Gus | Cameron MacDuffee | Joel Cumber |
| Gina | Marlane O'Brien | Gabrielle Jones |
| Louise | Alana Hibbert | Karen Burthwright |
| Marie | Marquita Walsh | AP Bautista |
| Gord / Chip | Stephen Guy-McGrath | |
Cast recording
[edit]A cast recording featuring the cast of the original 2022 production was released.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Smellie, Sarah (16 November 2021). "Alan Doyle to star in musical 'Tell Tale Harbour' headlining Charlottetown Festival". Toronto Star. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- ^ Abdelmahmoud, Elamin (26 August 2025). "Is Tell Tale Harbour the next Come From Away?". CBC Arts. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
- ^ a b Brun, Stephen (15 November 2024). "Alan Doyle and Tell Tale Harbour returning to Charlottetown Festival mainstage in 2025". CBC. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ Chang, Arturo (16 November 2021). "Alan Doyle to star in new musical premiering at 2022 Charlottetown Festival". CBC. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ Ravichakaravarthy, Tharsha (15 June 2022). "Tell Tale Harbour sets record for Confederation Centre ticket sales". CBC. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ "Tell Tale Harbour World Premiere to Headline The 2022 Charlottetown Festival". Confederation Centre of the Arts. 16 November 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ "The Return of Tell-Tale Harbour". CBC. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ Wild, Stephi (4 February 2025). "Shucked, & Juliet and More Set For 2025/26 Main Mirvish Theatre Subscription Season". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
- ^ a b Wild, Stephi (27 May 2025). "Tell Tale Harbour Will Make Toronto Premiere This Summer". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
- ^ "Full Cast and Creative Team Announced for Tell Tale Harbour at The Charlottetown Festival". Confederation Centre of the Arts. Archived from the original on 6 April 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ Staskus, Edward (11 April 2022). "Making a new harbour". Buzz PEI. Retrieved 31 December 2024.