STORYBOOK'S TOP SECRET MUSICAL
PRESENTED ONSTAGE

Fundraiser event, in support of
STORYBOOK THEATRE SUBSIDIZED PROGRAMMING

Each year StoryBook presents a top-secret musical event featuring many of Calgary's brightest and shining musical theatre stars.

Thank you for being part of the excitement to feel what it is like to sit down and have no idea what show you are seeing until the lights go down and the music begins. This night is a highlight of the Calgary musical theatre scene.

Past shows have included: Sweeney Todd, Curtains, Little Miss Sunshine, Titanic - The Musical, Assassins, The Secret Garden, In The Heights and Company.

THIS SHOW IS RATED 12+ and Includes mature themes and language

ONLINE PROGRAM
TOP SECRET MUSICAL 2024
A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE

lyrics by LYNN AHRENS

music by STEPHEN FLAHERTY

book by TERRENCE McNALLY

based on the film of the same name

A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE is presented through a special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

The videotaping or making of electronic or other audio and/or visual recordings of this production or distributing recordings on any medium, including the Internet, is strictly prohibited, a violation of the author’s rights and actionable under copyright law.

Production Photography by TIM NGUYEN

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SHOW SUMMARY

This tender story of family, friendship and acceptance teaches us that it really is a wonderful thing to "love who you love."

Winner of the 2003 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, A Man Of No Importance is the second successful collaboration by the team of Terrence McNally, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, all of whom won Tony Awards for Ragtime.

Alfie Byrne is a bus driver in 1964 Dublin whose heart holds secrets he can't share with anyone but his imagined confidante, Oscar Wilde. When he attempts to put on an amateur production of Wilde's Salome in the local church hall, he confronts the forces of bigotry and shame over a love "that dare not speak its name." But the redemptive power of theatre changes his life and brings his friends back to his side.

A Man Of No Importance is a rare gem in the canon of musical theatre, combining the depth and drama of a play with the lyricism and comedy of a musical. It is a tender and beautifully woven tale of love, friendship and coming to terms with who we are and the community we belong to.

RATING: PG | 12+
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Show Summary

A MESSAGE FROM THE SHOW'S DIRECTOR & SBT ARTISTIC PRODUCER

Dear Friends of StoryBook Theatre,

As we embark on this year’s Top Secret Musical, I am filled with excitement and gratitude. It is an absolute honour to collaborate with such incredible artists—many of whom are Calgary's theatre royalty. This collective talent not only elevates our production but also reminds us of the vibrant artistic community we are a part of.

Selecting the show is always my favourite part of the process. I love the thrill of keeping it a secret while knowing that the chosen musical will leave a lasting impact on the intimate audience of a few hundred lucky attendees. This year's selection, A Man of No Importance, written by the legendary Terrence McNally, with music by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, is a testament to the remarkable legacy these artists have created. Their previous works, such as Ragtime and Once on This Island, have touched hearts and captured imaginations.

A Man of No Importance tells the touching story of Alfie Byrne, a Dublin bus driver with a passion for the arts. Despite his quiet life and unassuming nature, Alfie longs to produce his own version of Oscar Wilde’s play, Salomé. As he faces resistance from his conservative community and grapples with his own fears of acceptance, he discovers that the transformative power of art and the love of friends can create a true sense of belonging. The musical beautifully captures themes of identity, love, and the courage to be true to oneself—messages that resonate profoundly with our Season to Belong.

Fundraising nights like tonight are crucial to our mission. Thanks to your generosity, over 5,000 children and families will enjoy the magic of theatre this season. We never say no to a child in need, ensuring that everyone has access to our performances regardless of their ability to pay. These evenings not only allow us to support our community but also create a sense of belonging among us all. Together, we are part of something much bigger than ourselves, and for that, I am truly grateful.

Thank you for being a part of our journey. I look forward to sharing this beautiful story with you and to celebrating the impact of theatre in our lives.

Warmly,
JP Thibodeau
Artistic Producer & Director, StoryBook Theatre

Production Inclusion Statics

65.79% FEMALE/NON-BINARY
REPRESENTATION

34.21% MARGINALIZED REPRESENTATION

5.26% BIPOC
REPRESENTATION

31.58% LGBTQIA2S+
REPRESENTATION

65.63% ON STAGE
66.67% OFFSTAGE

28.13% ON STAGE
66.67% OFFSTAGE

3.31% ON STAGE

16.67% OFFSTAGE

25% ON STAGE
66.67% OFFSTAGE

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Inclusion

CREATORS

ABOUT THE CREATORS

LYNN AHRENS - LYRICS

Lynn Ahrens won Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards and received two Grammy nominations for Broadway's Ragtime. For Twentieth Century Fox's animated feature film Anastasia, she was nominated for two Academy Awards and two Golden Globes. She and longtime collaborator Stephen Flaherty received the Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement, and in 2015 they were inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame. Broadway: Anastasia; Once On This Island (Olivier Award, Best Musical; Tony nominations, Best Book and Score); Seussical (Grammy nomination); My Favorite Year; Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life; Rocky; Madison Square Garden's A Christmas Carol; Ragtime (2010 Broadway revival). Off-Broadway and regional: Lincoln Center Theater's Dessa Rose, The Glorious Ones (both Drama Desk-nominated) and A Man of No Importance (Outer Critics Circle Award, Best Musical); Lucky Stiff; Little Dancer (Kennedy Center world premiere). Film and television credits include A "Christmas Carol" (NBC-TV); Camp (IFC Films); "Schoolhouse Rock" (ABC-TV) and others. (Emmy Award and four Emmy nominations). She is a Council member of the Dramatists Guild of America, a co-founder of the Dramatists Guild Fellows Program, and a Lilly Award winner for Lyrics. www.ahrensandflaherty.com

STEPHEN FLAHERTY - MUSIC

STEPHEN FLAHERTY is the composer of the Broadway musicals Ragtime (Tony, Drama Desk, OCC Awards, two Grammy nominations), Seussical (Grammy, Drama Desk nominations), Once on This Island (Tony nomination, Olivier Award, Best Musical) and Rocky. Additional Broadway includes Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life (original songs) and Neil Simon's Proposals (incidental music). Stephen has also written four musicals at Lincoln Center Theatre: The Glorious Ones (OCC, Drama Desk nominations), Dessa Rose (OCC, Drama Desk nominations), A Man of No Importance (OCC, Best Musical, Drama Desk nomination) and My Favorite Year. Other theater includes In Your Arms (Old Globe), Little Dancer (Kennedy Center), Lucky Stiff (Playwrights Horizons) and Loving Repeating: A Musical of Gertrude Stein (Chicago's Jefferson Award, Best New Musical.) Film includes Anastasia (two Academy Award and two Golden Globe nominations), the documentary After The Storm and Lucky Stiff. Mr. Flaherty's concert music has premiered at the Hollywood Bowl, Boston's Symphony Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Guggenheim Museum and Symphony Space. This year celebrates Stephen's 32-year collaboration with lyricist-librettist Lynn Ahrens. Stephen and Lynn are members of the Dramatists Guild Council and co- founders of the Dramatists Guild Fellows Program. In 2015 they were inducted into the Theater Hall Of Fame. AhrensAndFlaherty.com.