Photo/Illustrations: Akiva Romer-Segal

Bremen Rock City

Book By Sara Farb, Music and Lyrics by Colleen Dauncey & Akiva Romer-Segal

Loosely based on a Brothers Grimm fairy tale, Bremen Rock City follows the story of Jack, a guitar-shredding donkey, who escapes from his boring life on the farm to pursue his dream of becoming a rock star like his idol Spike.

On Jack’s quest he forms a band called The Strays, which includes Duke, a hopelessly muzzled canine drummer; the artistic and sardonic cat, Lex, who plays a fierce bass; and meek baby rooster Simon, with the riff‐tastic voice of an angel(fish). The Strays head Bremen Rock City, where music legends are born! But Jack soon gets swept up in the world of free snacks, hugs, and rock n’ roll, and must decide what’s more important: fame or friendship. Featuring a riotous libretto by Sara Farb and an exuberant pop-rock score by Colleen & Akiva, this show is fun for the whole family.

It gave me the happiest hour I’ve spent in a Toronto theatre in a long, long time. Once I saw it I felt I had to get everybody around to go see it. It’s filled with heart-stopping discoveries in every department. The last time a new Fringe musical rang so many bells, it went on to be a Tony Award-winning Broadway triumph.

Richard OuzounianThe Toronto Star

A solid cast, wide range of musical styles and clever book and lyrics make the show a winner. 'Bremen Rock City' deserves a life beyond the Fringe.

Jon KaplanNOW Magazine

It struck me on the way out that in ten years, some other Fringe show might be crowded with kids saying 'Are we going to see Bremen Rock City?' Yeah, it’s that good...The takeaway here is, this show is so good it seems destined to be a classic.

Mooney on TheatreS Bear Bergman

The Fringe survived our July monsoons to come up with record attendance and fielded a surefire commercial hit for the future with the hippest kids’ musical ever, 'Bremen Rock City', the brainchild of Colleen Dauncey, Akiva Romer-Segal and Sara Farb

Richard Ouzounian Toronto Star

Production Details

5 Male minimum, with option to expand cast

  3 Female minimum, with option to expand cast

Approx 60 minutes (no intermission)

Theatre for Young Audiences

 Book By Sara Farb, Music and Lyrics By Colleen Dauncey & Akiva Romer-Segal

April 5, 2011

PAST EVENT: Bremen Rock City – Original Kids (London, ON), May 16-19, 2019

February 18, 2011

PAST EVENT: Bremen Rock City – Bravo Academy, Youth Troupe (Toronto, ON), December 1-2, 2018

Production History

Bremen Rock City first began development at the Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project in Chicago, and through Theatre 20’s Composium initiative.
Bremen Rock City premiered in the 2013 Toronto Fringe Festival to a sold-out run and rave reviews.
The Toronto Star named the show “a must-see musical” and Now Magazine awarded it Outstanding in the categories of New Play Production, Ensemble, Direction and Design.
Bremen Rocky City was shortlisted by the Playwrights Guild of Canada for the Stage West Pechet Family Musical Award in 2014.
In the summer of 2015, Bremen Rock City received a two-week workshop and presentation with the Charlottetown Festival’s Young Company, directed by Bruce Dow.
A revised version of Bremen Rock City for young performers debuted at Bravo Academy for the Arts in August 2016.

BACK (L-R): Eden Richmond, Evan Dowling, Craig Burnatowski. FRONT: (L-R): Andrea Lewis, Becky Johnson, Mickey Myers, Josh Wiles, Jack Rennie. PHOTO: Lukas Peters

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