‘Say yes to possibility’: Theatre Calgary presents ambitious world premiere of The Tale of the Gifted Prince

Theatre Calgary is presenting the world premiere of The Tale of the Gifted Prince, a musical with book and lyrics by Lezlie Wade and music by Daniel Green, feat

With one musical Broadway-bound, Theatre Calgary is presenting the world premiere of another new musical.

The Tale of the Gifted Prince, with book and lyrics by Lezlie Wade and music by Daniel Green, opens Friday at Max Bell Theatre in Werklund Centre.

Based on the novel The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen by Lloyd Alexander, The Tale of the Gifted Prince takes place in a kingdom on the edge of rebellion, where Prince Ren is tasked with saving the throne--with his only weapons being five “humble gifts” that result in him enlisting the services of a shaman who helps his journey to discover what he’s actually capable of.

“This is a story about self-discovery, the strength of friendship and the ties of family,” said Wade. “It is also about something even more profound: how the gifts we are given, when used with humility and courage, have the power to effect real change—not just in a kingdom, but in the heart of the one who carries them.”

“This was (co-creator) Daniel Green’s favourite book as a child,” Wade added, “and it has become mine as an adult.”

Directed and choreographed by Darren Lee, the Tale of the Gifted Prince features an all-Asian cast, including Ma-Anne Dionisio, Kelvin Moon Loh, Kennedy Kanagawa, Kelsey Verzotti, Calgary’s Daniel Fong, Chromatic Theatre artistic director Kodie Rollan, Selina Wong and others.

With Beaches The Musical, which premiered in 2024 at Theatre Calgary, opening on Broadway April 22, Theatre Calgary artistic director Stafford Arima said taking the plunge on a world premiere sends a strong signal to the theatre world.

“Every time we commit to a world premiere, we are saying yes to possibility. Yes, to risk. Yes, to the patient process of helping an idea grow into something that can stand on its own in the world,” said Arima. “This musical arrives on our stage as a world premiere, and with it comes all the electricity and promise that only a first production can offer.”

Over its six-decade history, Theatre Calgary has premiered a number of musicals including 1970’s You Two Stay Here, the Rest Come With Me by Christopher Newton and Allan Laing, 2010’s Beyond Eden by Bruce Ruddell and Bill Henderson, The Little Prince - the Musical by Nicholas Lloyd Webber and James D. Reid, Mary and Max by Bobby Cronin and Crystal Skillman in 2018, The Louder We Get by Kent Staines, Akiva Romer-Stegal and Colleen Dauncey in 2020, and Beaches The Musical in 2024 by Iris Rainer Dart, Thom Thomas and Mike Stoller.

For more information about The Tale of the Gifted Prince, go here.