'Kimberly Akimbo' and Steve Martin-scored 'Bright Star' join Off-Mirvish season

Victoria Clark, left, and Justin Cooley, members of he cast of "Kimberly Akimbo," perform at the 76th annual Tony Awards on Sunday, June 11, 2023, at the United Palace theater in New York. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Charles Sykes

TORONTO - Tony-winner 鈥淜imberly Akimbo鈥 and Steve Martin and Edie Brickellsa国际传媒 鈥淏right Star鈥 are among the productions joining the 2025-26 Off-Mirvish season.

Canadasa国际传媒 largest theatre company says it will open the new season with 鈥淏right Star,鈥 a tale of a literary editor whose connection with a young Second World War soldier and aspiring writer awakens memories of a child she lost.

The musical launches in September and is co-produced by Toronto-based Garner Theatre.聽

It features music and story by Martin, the comedian and actor, and Brickell, whosa国际传媒 known for the 1988 pop hit 鈥淲hat I Am.鈥

鈥淜imberly Akimbo鈥 follows a teenage girl who seeks love while facing a rare genetic condition that makes her age four-and-a-half times faster than everyone else.聽

The musical, which picked up five Tonys in 2023 including best musical and score, makes its Canadian premiere in January 2026.

Among the three plays announced Tuesday is 鈥淎va: The Secret Conversations,鈥 an adaptation of a series of 1988 interviews with the Hollywood actress about her turbulent love life and legendary film career.

The stage production is written by Oscar-nominated actress Elizabeth McGovern, who also stars in the lead role. It opens in November.

Meanwhile, frightful adaptation 鈥淭he Woman in Black,鈥 one of the longest-running shows in Londonsa国际传媒 West End, will have its Canadian premiere in December.聽

Rounding out the season is 鈥淐yrano,鈥 a gender-flipped retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac, opens in March 2026.

Mirvish Productions says all of this season's shows will play at the CAA Theatre.

Producer David Mirvish described the thematic throughline of the season as one that embraces the 鈥渃ommonality of our human experience through the connections and the choices we make.鈥

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 15, 2025.

Note to readers:This is a corrected story. A previous version misstated the name of the theatre where the productions will be shown.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.