
ABOUT MAKESHIFT
Makeshift Company is a queer Toronto based company developing and producing original Canadian musicals
MAKESHIFT’S STORY
In the Summer of 2023, Makeshift was just an idea: A Toronto based company which would develop and present original Canadian musicals.
On September 18th, 2023, the Makeshift Company Instagram launched with the annoucement of “The Spark Project”. This project would become Makeshift’s principle developement stream, and it was bold: to take a writer’s idea or seed for a musical and spend 10 months developing it into a full length draft to be presented as a Workshop Production.
Jessa Richer’s idea for an original sapphic horror musical was selected as the first project entirely commissioned by the newly founded Makeshift Company: titled When You Close Your Eyes. Ally Chozik (as dramaturge) and Jessa Richer (as writer/composer) set out to accomplish this ambitious project. Workshop readings were conducted in December, January, and February, and in April when tickets went on sale for the Workshop Production, the entire run was sold out within a matter of weeks.
In June 2024, Jessa Richer’s When You Close Your Eyes opened at Theatre Passe Muraille, marking Makeshift’s debut production. The production ran for 8 performances, all of which were sold out. Upon concluding this project, Jessa officially joined Makeshift as its Writer in Residence, notably the first role added to the long-term team for Makeshift Company.
Annika Tupper’s All That She Wrote was selected for year two of the Spark Project, and in October of 2024 Makeshift held the first ever read through of the piece. Shortly thereafter, the piece was awarded First Runner Up for The Adams Prize by The Toronto Fringe. At the 2025 Makeshift Gala, it was announced that All That She Wrote would be mounting its full scale Production (for The Spark Project) as part of the 2025 Toronto Fringe Alliance for Canadian Musicals at Theatre Passe Muraille from July 2-12, 2025.
The first ever Makeshift Gala took place on January 18th, 2025 at the Tranzac Club main hall, and was a rousing success. All three of Makeshift’s original works were given modified cabaret style presentations to a full house. The Gala surpassed its fundraising goal, ensuring that The Calling (2025) and All That She Wrote (2025) would be well on their way to production.
The Calling opened at The Annex Theatre on February 25th to a full house and ran until March 2nd. More info about The Calling can be found here.
All That She Wrote completed its second workshop in March 2025, followed by a formal call for submissions. The piece was cast and rehearsed in May-June. All That She Wrote opened at the Toronto Fringe on July 2nd at Theatre Passe Muraille to a sold out house.
After two years of hard work and developing three full scale musicals, producing three full scale projects, and running countless workshops, readings, and events — Makeshift is currently on hiatus.

SUPPORT MAKESHIFT
When you donate to Makeshift Company, you are ensuring the future of Toronto based musical theatre! Your contributions go toward paying our team, our writers, future casts and technicians, and everything in between.
If you’re interested in support Long-Term, please reach out to emma@makeshiftcompany.ca to find out how you can become a sponsor, directly.




































































