*TWELVE DAYS*: BACKSTAGE PASS

By Joe Slabe
**December 3- 21, 2024**
*A heartwarming new holiday musical co-produced with* *Forte Musical* *Theatre Guild.*
In *Twelve Days*, creator **Joe Slabe** brings to life a festive and touching story about finding love and connection during the holiday season.
With his signature blend of humor, heartfelt lyrics, and memorable melodies, *Twelve Days* is a holiday treat that will leave you full of joy and holiday spirit.
Check out the **Backstage Pass** below for fun facts about the play, cast and creative team!

Poster Artwork by Kate Beck

Forte Theatre Musical Guild

Lunchbox is proud to partner with Forte Musical Guild for this production! This is Joe’s ninth time as a musical director on the mainstage, the fifth co-production between Lunchbox and Forte, and the third time Lunchbox has premiered one of Joe’s musicals:

Twelve Days (2024)

Countries Shaped Like Stars (2023)

In Flanders Fields (2019)

Brave Girl (2018)

Lest We Forget (2016)

Can’t get enough of musicals? Forte is the only western Canadian professional theatre company dedicated exclusively to new musicals.

Learn more

Developed at Lunchbox

*Twelve Days* was developed at Lunchbox Theatre as a part of the Stage One Festival of New Canadian Work in 2015 and 2022.
Thank you to all of the artists who collaborated with Joe Slabe on the show's development:
Allison Lynch, Kodie Rollan, Bruce Petherick, Joel Stephanson, Karen Johnson-Diamond, Laurel Oneil, Brian MacDougall, Eric Wigston, and David Leyshon.
Enjoy this photo from 2022 (right), when it was workshopped with Allison Lynch, Bruce Petherick, Joel Stephenson, and Kodie Rollan in the cast. It was directed by Karen Johnson-Diamond and the stage manager was Laurel Oneil.

Did You Know?

Joe Slabe - Composer

Joe Slabe is an award-winning playwright, lyricist and composer who specializes in musical theatre. Joe earned his Masters degree in Musical Theatre from Goldsmiths College of the University of London and now works as the Artistic Director of Forte Musical Theatre Guild, writing and producing new musicals in Calgary.
Joe's works have been produced in London, New York, and in regional theatres across the United States and Canada.

*Fun fact: His last name rhymes with "The Bay".*

A Few of Our Favourite Things

Twelve Days Musical Numbers

The Twelve Days of Christmas - Company

Play My Part - Anton, Robert, Donna

Donna plays The Violin- Anton, Donna

Make It Christmas - Anton

Transistor Radio- Robert

Twelve Days- Anton, Donna

Make It Christmas (Reprise) - Robert, Anton

A Mansion in Rosedale - Donna

Further Down The Line - Papa

A Mansion In Rosedale(Reprise) - Donna

Merry Christmas, Bella Donna - Anton, Donna, Robert

Merry Christmas, Nonna Donna- Company

A Conversation between Artistic Directors Joe Slabe (Forte) and Bronwyn Steinberg (Lunchbox)

BRONWYN: We are so excited to welcome you, Joe—and Forte Musical Theatre—back to Lunchbox for this collaboration!

JOE: It’s kinda like a second home, to be honest. This is my ninth time as a musical director on the mainstage, the fifth co-production between Lunchbox and Forte, and the third time Lunchbox has premiered one of my musicals, so it's great to be back!

BRONWYN: Twelve Days is a project that you’ve been developing for quite some time, and I’m so excited to finally see this show on our stage! Some things are definitely worth waiting for!

JOE: I sure hope so! I first pitched the idea of a holiday musical to Lunchbox ten years ago and was lucky enough to get invited to Stage One in 2015. The consensus was that Twelve Days is a pretty ambitious show and probably needed a little more development before it was ready.

BRONWYN: Of course, the other reason Twelve Days had to wait to get onstage was that you’ve been a bit busy during the holidays over the past ten years.

JOE: It’s true. In the meantime, JP Thibodeau and I created a holiday revue called Naughty… but Nice! I never could have predicted it would take off the way it did and we just wrapped the tenth and final edition of the show last year.

BRONWYN: I’d say ten years makes you Calgary’s Christmas musical expert! And as much as I know we all love Naughty… but Nice, I’m so glad we’re able to get you back here at Lunchbox for a show that may not be naughty, but is definitely very nice. And I love how this show features actor/musicians, which is another specialty of yours.

JOE: I did two productions of The Buddy Holly Story early in my career, and I saw how audiences go wild seeing actors perform live music that’s integrated into the storytelling. Plus, I love being surrounded by such a crazy-talented cast.

BRONWYN: Well, I always love getting to see this kind of triple-threat performer, and I’m so impressed by the amazing Calgarian cast we’ve brought together for this show. Not to mention the incredible creative team! When you’re creating a brand-new show, each person who is part of the development and/or the eventual production really becomes an important part of the show.

JOE: Absolutely. Every actor, director and creative team member who’s been involved in the development of a show makes it better and leaves their personal stamp on it. Twelve Days wouldn’t exist without them, and Stage One.

BRONWYN: Thanks again Joe and Forte for joining with Lunchbox to bring Twelve Days to life! And thanks to all of you in our audience for choosing to spend a part of your holiday season with us! Enjoy the show, and happy holidays!