James McGowan Brings New Life to the Stage
By Ayla Sully, FASS Student Ambassador
From September 23 to 26, New Life, a musical written by Carleton music professor James McGowan, will be performed at The Gladstone Theatre, produced by Lost Baggage Musical Theatre. The company was founded by two Carleton alumni Mathew Charlebois and Joy Mwandemange. Joy is also the artistic director of the show.
The production team also includes Carleton Music alumnus Zak Aubin, who created the original graphics, and Carleton University Production Services staff members John Rosefield and David Magladry, who are overseeing sound and lighting design.
Reflecting on the musical’s development, McGowan says: “It was a long time coming.”
Working in music composition, McGowan explains that he found himself naturally gravitating towards musical theatre as he engaged more and more with storytelling. After writing a rough draft of the musical, he spoke with Carleton’s Lyric Theatre Director and Performance Instructor, Susan Blyth-Schofield, who helped by staging the first of the play’s scenes four years ago. The ensemble then staged a second scene in 2025.
“I want this to be a good concert experience as well. The music is front and centre, and it is just as important as the drama. Together, they tell a story.”
Working with a 6-piece jazz-rock ensemble (five of whom have taught or teach at Carleton), McGowan argues that music is the nonlinguistic communication that works in the background to infuse the musical’s words with meaning. He explains: “When you text someone, until you put an emoji, they wouldn’t necessarily know how to interpret the words.” Using motifs, the music works as the emoji. These motifs are not something the audience would actively pick up on, McGowan points out. Rather, they are something that people intuitively feel and hear. For example, when the emotion of hope is brought on stage, the same musical sounds are amplified, helping the audience recognize or experience that emotion. In this way, music becomes a partner in the storytelling.
“Emotions are a way for people to connect with any topic. The whole point is to bring people together in a shared community of emotions and art.”
That emotional dimension is especially important given the story New Life sets out to tell.
Centred on a woman attempting to rebuild her life and family following the death of her abusive husband, the musical explores difficult subjects, including homophobia, transphobia and gender-based violence. Norah, a trans minister, was written for a former student who is a trans woman. McGowan developed the character after seeing the student repeatedly cast in masculine roles that did not reflect her identity. McGowan developed Norah in consultation with the former student, and he hopes the character will demonstrate how music, art and storytelling can engage meaningfully with LGBTQ+ experiences.
Despite its difficult subject matter, New Life is not solely an emotional drama. McGowan balances these complex topics with comedy, situating character development within the context of regular family squabbles. He explains: “When you do comedy alone, you feel good. When you cry, this triggers your empathy. Maybe you can feel a connection with the challenges of a character you see on stage, evoking a rich response. It makes you feel human and part of a community.”
“New Life is the main title and also the goal, for a rebirth process”
For McGowan, the title evokes the image of a phoenix rising from the ashes. To do this, however, each character must let something go, choosing what is right for them, while simultaneously working to build a family. The musical asks whether a family that was never strong to begin with can be rebuilt and sustained. “It can be done,” McGowan argues, “but it is not easy. It takes a lot of dedication, empathy and desire.”
Ultimately, McGowan hopes that each member of the audience, regardless of their background, can find something in the characters to which they can relate, taking a piece of this emotional journey beyond the theatre.
Carleton and uOttawa students can purchase discounted tickets to see New Life at The Gladstone Theatre by using the code “STUDENT15” at checkout.
James McGowan and Bailey Reid (Carleton’s Senior Advisor, Gender and Sexual Violence Prevention and Support) are also offering a free pre-performance discussion on care-centred storytelling and gender-based violence on Thursday, Sept. 24 from 6:30 to 7 p.m. at The Gladstone Theatre.