Oak Bay Students Showcase Coming-of-Age Stories in 2025-26 Season

The Canadian College of Performing Arts (CCPA) and the Canadian Heritage Arts Society (CHAS) are set to present an engaging lineup of productions for the 2025-26 season, featuring a variety of coming-of-age stories. The season includes a pop-rock musical and a romantic comedy, with tickets now available for performances at the CCPA Performance Hall. Tickets for the highly anticipated year-end musical, Disney’s Newsies, will go on sale on September 22, 2025.

According to managing director Erin Gavaghan, this season is dedicated to exploring the vibrancy and complexities of youth. She stated, “Our productions are leaning into the vibrancy of youth that our artists-in-training bring, but also the complexities of finding your sense of self or identity amidst the pressures of expectation and relationships that change.” This focus highlights the growth and development of the students as they prepare for careers in the performing arts.

The season will kick off on October 16 with the play Significant Other by Joshua Harmon. This comedic exploration of weddings is marked by humor, heartbreak, and the quest for love. Following this, the darker production Concord Floral by Jordan Tannahill opens on November 27. Directed by Tom Arthur Davis, this play takes place in an abandoned greenhouse where teenagers experience freedom but are also confronted by the ghosts of their past choices.

On December 11, year two diploma students will present Blue Stockings by Jessica Swale, directed by R.J. Peters and Raugi Yu. This intelligent period drama, set against the backdrop of women’s suffrage, follows young women navigating societal expectations while pursuing their education.

The musical The Lightening Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, opens on January 30, with direction and choreography by Kaylee Harwood and music direction by Brad L’Écuyer. The season will culminate at the McPherson Playhouse with Disney’s Newsies, directed by Kayvon Khoshkam. This Tony-award winning musical features a score that captures the struggle for fairness, inspired by the 1899 strike of child laborers in New York City.

In addition to the main productions, the CCPA will host several special events throughout the season. These include the Studio Ensemble Cabaret on September 20, a Concert of Remembrance on November 8 featuring the Band of the 5th Field Regiment at the Dave Dunnet Community Theatre, a Winter Celebration on December 16, and Showtune Piano Bar Cabarets on February 12 and 19 at Hermann’s Jazz Club. The Festival of New Works is scheduled for March 5 and 6.

Subscriptions and individual tickets can be purchased at ccpacanada.com/tickets. All performances will take place at the CCPA Performance Hall, located at 1701 Elgin Road, Oak Bay, unless otherwise noted. This season promises to be a vibrant showcase of talent and storytelling, reflecting the journey of self-discovery that resonates with audiences of all ages.