OSCAR
World Premier of ‘Oscar’ - Jack Singer Concert Hall - October 23, 2025
Co-Produced by Honens and Samantha Whelan Kotkas, ‘Oscar’ is a joy-filled project celebrating the life and extraordinary talent of Canadian jazz icon Dr. Oscar Peterson. Through live music, storytelling, dance, and imagination, this uplifting production celebrates one of Canada’s greatest pianists—his childhood dreams, his boundless curiosity, and his love of the piano.
It all started with an idea to compose music to accompany the children’s book ‘Oscar Lives Next Door’ by Bonnie Farmer as a way to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Dr. Peterson’s birth. After 18 months of writing, revising, rewriting, and revising again, this labour of love, ‘Oscar’, made it to the Jack Singer Concert Hall Stage with an audience of over 1,000 children and families.
This production features music composed by two of Canada’s finest pianists and composers, Chris Andrew and Marianne Trudel, writing and narration by Priscille Bukasa and Samantha Whelan Kotkas and choreography and dancing by Sabrina Naz and Shemar Herbert. The World Premiere was directed by Karen Goerzen with stage management by Rikki Schlosser.
The World premiere of ‘Oscar’ took place in Calgary at the Jack Singer Concert Hall on October 23, 2026.
Oscar is proudly made possible through the generous support of Andrea Brussa and Irene and Walt DeBoni.
A special thank you to Honens for taking on this monumental project. Stay tuned for what is next for ‘Oscar’.
