The Rainbow Stage’s ticket system crashed for the first time as Manitobans rushed to purchase tickets for the upcoming 2025 season.

“Tickets went on sale on Monday, December 2nd, and for the first time in our history, our ticket system crashed,” says Artistic Director Carson Nattrass, who was blown away by the enthusiasm. “We were like, we are not Taylor Swift, but we felt like it for a morning because we had never experienced anything like that.”

The 71st theatrical season, which was teased about for months, comes with the announcement of the much-anticipated stage adaptation of Frozen, the jukebox musical Rock of Ages, the return of the Winnipeg-made vampire rom-com Afterlight, and following the success of MA-BUHAY! A New Musical, a new commission of the Christmas classic A Christmas Carol, now with a Manitoban twist.

“The season announcement was about packaging something of that scale all the way down to our next new commission. So, it’s a really exciting time for us to start something new, bring back something that we created a couple of years ago, and then offer very diverse shows for our amazing audience.”

A Christmas Carol, set in “Dickensian Manitoba,” is being written by Nattrass and Cory Wojcik and will explore the historical context of Métis experiences during Manitoba’s formation. For Wojcik, telling a story of the Metis people is an honour, and although early in its development, he already has ideas to incorporate Métis traditions like jigging, dancing, and storytelling to make the story uniquely Manitoban.

For both Nattrass and Wojcik, the show is a unique opportunity to educate Manitobans about Métis culture and history, exploring themes of redemption and community as they speak on the impact colonialism has had on the province and will ask audiences to look at the future they are in and the future they can create.

It’s also about representation,” explains Wojcik, reflecting on his personal journey with his Indigeneity. “The younger generation, being able to see themselves up on the screen, up on the stage, or see that it’s possible that they can start to dream themselves. Dreams become things, and I really believe that.”

The approach focuses on Manitoban and Métis history and follows a broader cultural renaissance, celebrating Indigenous stories in various art forms.

“It wasn’t okay to be indigenous, now it is. Now let’s celebrate it, let’s bring it forth, let’s educate about it. I think we’re at a turning point right now where we’re bringing in all these different perspectives. Not only bringing but also embracing and welcoming, and it’s my honour to be at the precipice of that.”

Having worked together on stage and becoming close friends, Nattrass and Wojcik say they are brimming with excitement as they bounce ideas off each other. For Nattrass, who went from a performer to an administration position, creating something like this reconnects him to the magic of the stage.

“I’m excited to be creative, share space with Cory, and work together in a way we have never done before. We met on Rainbow Stage, and to come full circle and create something for Rainbow Stage means a lot to me.”

– Ryan Funk, U Multicultural