Skip to Content

A film noir/social drama/musical comedy

Little Mercy's First Murder

By Paul Sportelli & Jay Turvey

BOOK AND LYRICS BY MORWYN BREBNER

MUSIC BY JAY TURVEY AND PAUL SPORTELLI

A hard-boiled 1940's Manhattan newspaperman, sent to photograph a crime scene, goes on the lam with the suspect in Morwyn Brebner's hit play -- the first-ever film noir / social drama / musical comedy!

Little Mercy Callaghan has led a sheltered life. But her fugitive night with Weegee takes her from a four-alarm fire to a high society gala... and a nightclub where the floor show isn't the only entertainment. A hilarious romp from one of Canadian theatre's truly original young voices, Little Mercy's First Murder celebrates an awakening to the world in all its seedy magnificence.

Production History

Little Mercy's First Murder was first produced as a co-production between Tarragon Theatre and the Shaw Festival and premiered at the Tarragon Theatre, Toronto, on January 14, 2003.

AWARDS

  • Winner of the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Production of a Musical (Tarragon Theatre/Shaw Festival)

  • Winner of the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding New Musical

  • Winner of the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Composition

  • Winner of the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Musical Direction

  • Winner of the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Direction of a Musical

  • Winner of the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male in a Principal Musical Role (Peter Millard)

  • Winner of the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female in a Principal Musical Role (Melody Johnson)

More Works by Paul Sportelli & Jay Turvey

The Secret Garden

By Paul Sportelli & Jay Turvey

Learn More