26 Nov 2025
Creative Writing - Advanced Lyrics
Our friend Tariq Hussain from UBC's Creative Writing department returns with his class for a special broadcast on CiTR. This year, the class focussed on musical Theatre and the class was kind enough to share dramatic readings from their musicals.
1. Werther's Original
Werther’s Original is a musical written by Jadan Vines that follows Tyler, a young bride, who, upon discovering her mother’s unwanted mingling in her relationship, runs away to her estranged Aunt Deborah’s diner. When familial secrets are revealed, the women of this family must learn how to let go, hold on, and move forward with love.
Writer: Jadan Vines
Song Title: “Get Outta Here”
Director: Fredy Espinoza-Dinsdale
Performances: Bree Barton, Tami Adewakun, Ash Wong, Fredy Espinoza-Dinsdale, Jadan Vines
2. A Day Underground
A Day Underground is a musical by Tami Adewakun, directed by Marina Nefedova and performed by Chris Lam and Stephanie Ionescu. It's a rom- com about two childhood best friends, Micah and Theo who have a somewhat fateful collision in the London Underground at the ages of 24. It’s been 12 years since they last saw each other and as they decide to embark on one of their favourite childhood past times…station hopping across London, secrets about their pasts and presents are revealed as well as their feelings towards each other. Think Before Sunrise meets Past Lives...
Song title: “This is London”
3. Cleaning Your Room
Cleaning Your Room is a musical written by Stephanie Ionescu, directed by William Rubel, and performed by Jadan Vines and Esar Rabadi.
Short summary: In this musical that follows the rocky relationship between a daughter (Jadan Vines) and her mother (Esar Rabadi), university freshman Elaine firmly believes that her dorm room is haunted, as she comes back home after each class to misplaced items and folded laundry. In truth, her lonely mother has been visiting her dorm in secret and cleaning after her. What will happen once Elaine pieces it together?
Song Title: "Ghostly Things"
4. BETTER
BETTER is the first act of a musical written by Bree Barton, directed by David Loti and performed by Ash Wong, Ross Fairbairn, Cat Stark, and Bree Barton.
BETTER is a story about a family. Sixteen-year-old Gem (Ash Wong) struggles to find her place at high school. Her dad Stuart (Ross Fairbairn), a failed science fiction author, sinks into depression. Gem's mom Madeline (Bree Barton), a bipolar quantum physicist, searches desperately for a parallel universe where she hopes to find a version of herself, her husband, and her daughter that's just a little bit... better.
Together, Gem, Stuart, and Madeline must grapple with the question: What does it mean to be enough?
"Not Quite" - Cat Stark
"Remaindered" - Ross Fairbairn
"A Little Bit" - Ash Wong & Bree Barton
