Musicals Timeline

His love of musicals led Karl Hugo to contribute his talents as an arranger, orchestrator, musical director and live musician to numerous official Canadian productions of works such as Fiddler on the Roof, La Cage aux Folles, My Fair Lady, Nine and The Sound of Music.

Building on his new experiences, Karl returned to musical theatre writing, which he had started as a teenager, this time tackling musicals with a large-scale original work: Noémia. He wrote the book and the music and entrusted the creation of the lyrics of the 28 songs to his friend Pier Davi. Since work in progress is the prerogative of musicals, after a workshop de luxe (with costumes and sets) successfully presented in 2008, a new version of Noémia will see the light of day in 2025.

2025

Noémia

Book and music by Karl Hugo and lyrics by Pier Davi

NEW VERSION IN 2025

Noémia is a musical that tells the unusual story of a brilliant and ambitious scientist trapped in a love triangle and desperately searching for her ill sister.

2010 - 2015

The Sound of Music

Music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and book by Howard Lindsay et Russel Crouse

Arrangements and live virtual orchestra by Karl Hugo

Directed by Denise Filiatrault

Starring: Florie Gauthier-Valiquette, Catherine B Lavoie, Robert Marien, Yves Soutière, Étienne Dupuis and Noëlla Huet.

Produced by Just for Laughs

Théâtre St-Denis, Montreal and a grand tour of Quebec

Karl Hugo came full circle by performing in the musical that ignited his passion for the genre and that inspired him to write his own. He joined with musician friends Pierre Benoît, Marc Bonneau, Jacques Roy, Patrick Vetter and made new ones: Philippe Dunnigan, Lucie Cauchon and Heather Schnarr, becoming part of a large family with whom he shared many magic moments over the course of 175 performances.

2009 - 2010

Fiddler on the Roof

Violon sur le toit6

Music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick and book by Joseph Stein

Accompaniment tracks by Karl Hugo and Pierre Benoît

Directed by Denise Filiatrault

Starring: Sylvain Larocque, Linda Sorgini and Émily Bégin

Produced by Théâtre du Rideau Vert and Just for Laughs

Théâtre du Rideau Vert, Montreal and a grand tour of Quebec

2008

Noémia

Book and music by Karl Hugo and lyrics by Pier Davi

Directed by Karl Hugo

Starring: Caroline Riverin, Stéphanie Bédard, René Lajoie, Daniel Do, Christian Belleau and Jean-François Guay.

Produced by Musivarts and the Verdun’s Economic Forum

Jean Grimaldi Hall, Montreal

Noémia is a musical that tells the unusual story of a brilliant and ambitious scientist trapped in a love triangle and desperately searching for her ill sister. For his first “true” musical, Karl Hugo wrote the book and composed the music. He asked his friend, lyricist Pier Davi, to join him for this emotional adventure. Almost three thousand people were deeply touched by this deluxe workshop production. A musical is a timeless work that is constantly reinventing itself. Stay tuned for the next version of Noémia coming soon to a theater near you.

2007

Nine

Nine-Neuf Montage LR

Music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and bokk by Arthur Kopit

Arrangements and live virtual orchestra by Karl Hugo

Directed by Denise Filiatrault

Starring: Serge Postigo, Catherine Sénart, Marie-Denise Pelletier, Patsy Galand et Émily Bégin

Produced by Théâtre du Rideau Vert and Just for Laughs

Théâtre du Rideau Vert, Montreal and a grand tour of Quebec

With their talent and ingenuity, Karl Hugo, Pierre Benoît, Marc Bonneau and Jean-François Ouellet ended up surprising Maury Yeston, who thought he needed to put together a full orchestra. The creator of Neuf encouraged Karl Hugo to produce his own musical, which at that time existed only on paper. Noémia was presented to the public the following year…

2006 - 2008

My Fair Lady

Book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe

Accompaniment tracks by Karl Hugo and Pierre Benoît

Directed by Denise Filiatrault

Starring: Catherine Sénart, Benoît Gouin, Joël Legendre and Émily Bégin

Produced by Théâtre du Rideau Vert

Théâtre du Rideau Vert, Montreal and a grand tour of Quebec

2004

The Vagina Monologues

Monologues

Play by Eve Ensler

Original music by Karl Hugo

Directed by Denise Filiatrault

Rôles principaux : Louise Marleau, Sandra Dumaresq, Nicole Leblanc and Geneviève Rioux

Produced by Just for Laughs

Théâtre St-Denis 2, Montreal

2003

Mom’s The World

Play by de Linda A. Carson, Jill Daum, Allison Kelly, Robin Nichol, Barbara Pollard et Deborah Williams

Original music by Karl Hugo

Directed by Denise Filiatrault

Rôles principaux : Sophie Faucher, Caroline Dardenne and Valérie Blais

Produced by Just for Laughs

Théâtre St-Denis 2, Montreal

2001

Black Comedy

Play by Peter Shaffer

Original music by Karl Hugo

Directed by Denise Filiatrault

Starring: Serge Postigo, Pierette Robitaille and Isabelle Blais

Produced by Just for Laughs

Théâtre du Nouveau Monde (TNM), Montreal

2000

La Cage aux Folles

Music and lyrics by Jerry Herman Book and book by Harvey Fierstein

Arrangements, orchestrations, additional music and musical direction by Karl Hugo

Directed by Denis Bouchard

Produced by Sandler-Poulin Productions

Starring: Rémy Girard, Normand Chouinard and Luc Guérin

Théâtre St-Denis, Montreal

In this quasi-burlesque musical, Karl Hugo found himself conducting a madcap array of excitable folles… The flamboyant arrangements, orchestrations and additional music kept Karl Hugo on his toes.

1996 - 1997

Nunsense III

KH Nonnes 3 Crp2

Musical by Dan Goggin

Arrangements and musical direction by Karl Hugo

Directed by François Racine

Starring: Michèle Deslauriers, Sylvie Boucher, Michelle Labonté and Marc Poulin

Produced by Productions Marc Poulin

Théâtre des Érables, St-Eustache (1996) and

Théâtre de la Chèvrerie, Saint-Fortunat (1997)

Karl Hugo got together with his friend Marc Poulin for another comical adventure: this time, country style.

1995

L’Écu du Roi Artus

Musical theatre by Marc Boucher

Original music and musical direction by Karl Hugo

Directed by François Racine

Starring: Marc Poulin, Pierre Poulin, Normand Carrière, Dominique Blier and Sonia Laplante

Produced by Productions Marc Poulin

Théâtre des Érables, St-Eustache

This satirical comedy on the tribulations of King Arthur provided an opportunity for Karl Hugo to compose grandiose songs with a mediaeval feel and, of course, a touch of humour…

1990 - 1992

Le Noël de l’Ange Boufarou

Pastorale des santons de Provence d’Yvan Audouard

Adaptation by Jacques Dubuc

Original music and musical direction by Karl Hugo

Directed by Yorich Arneault (1990), Denis Larue (1991) and Marie-Danielle Boucher (1992)

Starring: Yorich Arneault, Karl Hugo, Bénédicte Décary, Marie-Danielle Boucher and Michel Lapointe

Produced by Groupe Foi et Culture de Montréal

Immaculée-Conception Church, Montreal (1990-1991) and

Gesù amphitheater, Montreal (1992)

Abbot Jacques Dubuc introduced Karl Hugo to the magical santons (Christmas figurines) of Provence. In addition to entrusting him with the composition for this musical play, the former professional dancer turned priest offered him his first professional acting experience. Karl Hugo played the angel Boufarou, who narrates and sings the story of the Nativity.

1990 - 1991

Al Malja

Play by Naji Mouawad

Original music by Karl Hugo

Directed by Naji Mouawad and Wajdi Mouawad

Starring: Wajdi Mouawad, Naji Mouawad and François Papineau

As an author, composer and performer, Karl Hugo was invited by the Mouawad brothers to musically illustrate the depth of the confrontation between Muslims and Catholics in a Lebanon at war. This would be Hugo’s first soundtrack, produced with the help of his friend Luc St-Pierre.

1985

Bach & Handel

Musical theatre by Karl Hugo

Additional music by Karl Hugo

Directed by Sylvette Montal

Starring: Wajdi Mouawad, Vincent Ranallo and Stéphane Goupil

Claude Champagne Hall, Montreal

This is Karl Hugo’s first dramatic creation. Set in the early 18th century, this musical play oscillates between fiction and historical reality. The tax collector La Pouplinière and Princesse de Conti hold a literary salon at which they receive a number of guests who knew Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel. These include Friedemann Bach, the son of Johann Sebastian; Johann Mattheson, a close friend of Handel; and the notorious Rousseau, Voltaire and Rameau. The celebrated conductor Alexander Brott joined the project along with many actors, musicians, dancers, choristers and designers to put on a colourful show.