MAKESHIFT COMPANY TO MAKE PRODUCTION DEBUT WITH ORIGINAL HORROR MUSICAL “WHEN YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES” BY JESSA RICHER

Jessa Richer’s most recent addition to the Toronto musical theatre canon promises to be unlike any musical you’ve experienced before, pushing bounds of what horror onstage can look like. Set in a nightmarish small town, When You Close Your Eyes follows a vulnerable group of young women dying to tie new strings. As they struggle to squeeze what they think they want out of life, the evil is revealed, and worlds turn upside down in a cacophony of dreams, screaming, purring, and betrayal.

Ally Chozik will lead the team and cast as director, dramaturge, and producer and is set to bring fresh life to Toronto musical theatre as the Artistic Director of Makeshift Company. Jessa Richer will also lead the interpretation of her compositions as music director. Also joining the creative team are Meghan Caine as choreographer, Rebecca Lashmar as intimacy and violence coordinator, and Hailey Tan as technical director. The rest of the team includes Jo Natale (Lighting Design), Kaela Saito (Stage Manger), Zev Levy (Assistant Stage Manager), Nat Zablah (Sound Design), and Kryslyne-Mai Ancheta (Assistant Director).

Cast includes (in alphabetical order): Callan Forrester, Jameson Mosher, Julia Schwartz, Azaria Shams, Josie Smith, Erin Jenelle Teodoro, and Emma Woodside. When You Close Your Eyes began development in 2023 as Makeshift Company’s first candidate for The Spark Project, which endeavours to develop one new musical from scratch, per year. You can follow Makeshift Company on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @makeshiftcompanyto.