L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables Manuscript Added to Canada Memory of the World Register

L.M. Montgomery's handwritten manuscript for Anne of Green Gables was added to the Canada Memory of the World Register in honor of the 150th anniversary of the author's birth. The registry is administered by the Canadian Commission for UNESCO and spotlights the most significant pieces of Canada’s collective history and heritage.

The Canada Memory of the World Register describes the manuscript as follows:

The manuscript includes 475 pages on which the story is handwritten, and an additional 96 pages of L.M. Montgomery’s notes where she recorded additions and insertions to the text. These provide unique insights into the reflections and creative process of this influential voice in Canadian literature. Confederation Centre of the Arts, in partnership with the L.M. Montgomery Institute and the Robertson Library at the University of Prince Edward Island, launched a bilingual online exhibit in 2023 that allows readers around the world to access the fully digitized manuscript.

This special honor reflects L.M. Montgomery's contributions to Canadian culture.

Image Credit:
Scanned image of the first page of Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery from The Anne of Green Gables Manuscript website.

References:
Anne of Green Gables manuscript added to the Canada Memory of the World Register. Canadian Commission for UNESCO. Retrieved from: https://en.ccunesco.ca/about-ccunesco/press/2024/11/anne-of-green-gables-manuscript-memory-of-the-world.

McMackon, Cassidy. (November 29, 2024). 'Anne of Green Gables' recognized as heritage document in UN agency's registry. The Canadian Press. Retrieved from: https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/entertainment/anne-of-green-gables-recognized-as-heritage-document-in-un-agencys-registry/article_fd3d79d5-1667-5f6e-8fb1-66d8d649d12d.html.

Created November 29, 2024.
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Anne of Green Gables — The Musical Will No Longer Be Performed Annually in Charlottetown

On November 24, 2022, the Confederation Centre of the Arts announced in a press release that Anne of Green Gables — The Musical would no longer be staged annually in Charlottetown, but instead once every two years. The production will return to the stage in 2024 in commemoration of the 150th birthday of L.M. Montgomery.

The press release states, "Confederation Centre of the Arts is delighted to announce the extension and expansion to its agreement with the show’s rights holders. Starting in 2024, Anne of Green Gables–The Musical™ will be playing on the mainstage every two years (biennially) coinciding with the 150th birthday of Lucy Maud Montgomery. The production ran annually for over fifty years from 1965-2019 and was presented in 2022 after a brief hiatus due to COVID-related challenges."

The announcement was met with concern about how the decision may affect tourism on Prince Edward Island.

Image Credit:
Promotional photograph for Anne of Green Gables — The Musical from the Confederation Centre of the Arts website.

References:
Anne of Green Gables–The Musical™ to return to The Charlottetown Festival in 2024. (November 24, 2022). Confederation Centre of the Arts. Retrieved from: https://confederationcentre.com/anne-of-green-gables-the-musical-to-return-to-the-charlottetown-festival-in-2024/.

Austen, Ian. (December 3, 2022). After Half a Century, Prince Edward Island’s Musical Tradition Takes a Break. The New York Times. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/03/world/canada/prince-edward-island-musical.html.

P.E.I.'s long-running 'Anne of Green Gables — The Musical' no longer an annual event. (November 24, 2022). The Canadian Press. Retrieved from: https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/entertainment/p-e-i-s-long-running-anne-of-green-gables-the-musical-no-longer-an/article_fc3d2ee5-929c-5b2f-88fe-96129abda91f.html.


Created November 28, 2022. Last updated December 3, 2022.
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The Charlottetown Festival Returns in 2021 Without Anne of Green Gables — The Musical

When the Charlottetown Festival returns in 2021, it will not include its long-running mainstay Anne of Green Gables — The Musical. In 2020, the Festival was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ending the musical's world-record run of 55 consecutive years. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the Festival organizers decided that presenting a musical like Anne with a large cast and audience would not be possible in 2021. Due to safety protocols, the 1,100-seat Confederation Centre auditorium has a restricted seating capacity of 300. Performances will have staggered seating, mandatory masks, and social distancing procedures in place for the safety of the audience members.

Festival artistic director Adam Brazier stated, "The decision was made for us and we embrace it. We really feel like this is an opportunity for us to stretch our wings and to tell some other stories."

This year's Charlottetown Festival lineup includes three shorter, smaller-scale shows featuring stories from Atlantic Canada:

Between Breaths - a play inspired by the true story of a Newfoundland man who rescued more than 500 whales trapped in fishing nets.

Dear Rita - a musical honouring the life of the Maritime singer-songwriter Rita MacNeil.

Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story - the true story of two Romanian refugees who meet at Pier 21 in Halifax while waiting to enter Canada.

Image credit:
Photograph of Anne of Green Gables — The Musical from the 2017 Charlottetown Festival by Louise Vessey.

Reference:
Decision not to stage Anne at Charlottetown Festival 'was made for us': Reduced capacity due to COVID-19 among factors preventing perennial favourite from returning. (April 8, 2021). CBC News. Retrieved from: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-charlottetown-festival-2021-season-launch-1.5979351.

Created April 10, 2021.
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Pandemic Ends 55-Year Run of Anne of Green Gables — The Musical

The 2020 Charlottetown Festival has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ending the 55-year run of Anne of Green Gables — The Musical. The musical has been featured as part of the Charlottetown Festival at the Confederation Centre of the Arts in PEI every year since it premiered in 1965. Its long run was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's longest running annual musical theatre production.

The Confederation Centre of the Arts CEO Steve Bellamy explained the cancellation stating, "Unfortunately, with the necessary restrictions on large gatherings and the need for social distancing remaining in place for some time, our ability is limited, not only to host audiences, but to prepare with rehearsals and construction in the months ahead of our performances."


Image credit:
Photograph of Anne of Green Gables — The Musical from the 2017 Charlottetown Festival by Louise Vessey.

Reference:
Yarr, Kevin. (April 24, 2021). Charlottetown Festival cancelled for 2020: Record-breaking run of Anne musical ends. CBC News. Retrieved from: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-charlottetown-festival-cancelled-1.5543692.

Created April 28, 2020.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Anne of Green Gables: The Original Manuscript

Anne of Green Gables: The Original Manuscript by L.M. Montgomery and edited by Carolyn Strom Collins was released by Nimbus Publishing in July 2019. L.M. Montgomery wrote Anne of Green Gables by hand over the course of eight months. From her handwritten text, Montgomery then typed the novel out. She sent her typed copy to publishers, and held onto her handwritten manuscript for her entire life. The handwritten manuscript is currently housed in the archives at the Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown. Prince Edward Island.

Carolyn Strom Collins worked with the archivists at the Confederation Centre of the Arts to examine, photograph, and transcribe L.M. Montgomery's original 844-page text. Her book Anne of Green Gables: The Original Manuscript includes her full transcription of L.M. Montgomery's handwritten text along with Montgomery's edits and notes. The book provides insight into Montgomery's writing and creative process. As one example, L.M. Montgomery initially called Diana Barry by the name Laura, and then changed the character's name to Gertrude, before she decided to call her Diana.

In an interview with CBC News, Strom Collins talked about how special the experience was to spend time with Montgomery's text, saying, "It gives you a little chill in a way, a little thrill because you know that was her pride and joy. She touched those pages, she wrote with pen and ink, she dipped the pen in ink every few lines." Anne of Green Gables: The Original Manuscript includes a wonderful introduction by Carolyn Strom Collins that provides a wealth of information about the original manuscript, the first published edition of Anne of Green Gables, and the transcribed text. Carolyn Strom Collins also presents quotes from Montgomery's journals and letters about writing Anne and about her inspiration for the novel.


Here is the description of the book from Nimbus Publishing:

This fascinating book presents the original text of Montgomery’s most famous manuscript, including where the author scribbled notes, made additions and deletions, and other editorial details. L. M. Montgomery scholar Carolyn Strom Collins offers a rare look into Montgomery’s creative process, providing a never-before-published version of the worldwide phenomenon.

This book differs from previous versions of Anne in that it provides a transcription of the text and notes from Montgomery’s original manuscript, and shows how they were integrated to form the full novel. The culmination of years of research, Anne of Green Gables: the Original Manuscript is a necessary addition to any Montgomery lover’s collection. This volume features scans of the first page of each chapter from the original archived document (showing editorial notes in Montgomery’s handwriting) and an appendix of rare foreign-language covers.

Review

“"Here's one for devoted Anne fans and anyone curious about the creative process."
―Halifax Magazine

Image credit:
Book cover of Anne of Green Gables: The Original Manuscript.

Reference:
New book offers fans a look at handwritten manuscript of Anne of Green Gables. (2019, July 30). CBC News. Retrieved from: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-new-book-looks-at-original-manuscript-of-anne-green-gables-1.5230806

Purchase and read Anne of Green Gables: The Original Manuscript:


Created August 25, 2019. Last updated September 3, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Imagining Anne: L.M. Montgomery's Island Scrapbooks

Imagining Anne by Elizabeth Rollins Epperly presents L.M. Montgomery's Prince Edward Island scrapbooks, which she created from 1893 to 1910. Montgomery's scrapbooks present memories from a joyful time in her life during which she created Anne Shirley of Anne of Green Gables. The book presents full-page images from two scrapbooks owned by the Lucy Maud Montgomery Birthplace and maintained by the Confederation Centre of the Arts. Epperly provides explanatory notes throughout to provide insight into Montgomery's life and interpret her scrapbook presentations.

This book was first published in February 2008 as Imagining Anne: The Island Scrapbooks of L.M. Montgomery by Penguin Canada as part of the "100 Years of Anne" celebration.

In July 2019, a second edition of the book entitled Imagining Anne: L.M. Montgomery's Island Scrapbooks was released by Nimbus Publishing.

Here is the description of the book from Nimbus Publishing:

L. M. Montgomery’s beautiful Island scrapbooks, covering a period from 1893 to mid-1910, are finally back in print. Reflecting Montgomery’s youth and optimism, these full-colour pages are filled with meaningful insight into the life of a young writer’s inspiration during the period when she would create the beloved character of Anne Shirley, who would win the hearts of readers worldwide with the publication of Anne of Green Gables in 1908. With annotations and notes from Montgomery scholar Elizabeth Epperly, Imagining Anne allows fans a revealing look inside the mind of one of the most cherished writers of the twentieth century.

Image credit:
Book covers of Imagining Anne: L.M. Montgomery's Island Scrapbooks and Imagining Anne: The Island Scrapbooks of L.M. Montgomery.

Purchase and read Imagining Anne: L.M. Montgomery's Island Scrapbooks:


Created February 20, 2008. Last updated September 20, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Confederation Centre of the Arts

The Confederation Centre of the Arts is a cultural arts center located in downtown Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. Opened in 1964 by Queen Elizabeth II, the Centre boasts a performing arts theatre, a visual arts gallery, and an impressive array of exhibits and productions that highlight the rich tapestry of Canadian culture. Since 1965, it has been the proud host of the annual Charlottetown Festival, a summer tradition that has captivated audiences for decades. In addition, the Centre houses many of L.M. Montgomery's manuscripts in its archives, including her original handwritten manuscript of Anne of Green Gables.

The Confederation Centre of the Arts holds a unique place in history, earning the Guinness World Record for the longest-running annual musical theatre production with Anne of Green Gables — The Musical. This beloved adaptation of L.M. Montgomery's classic novel graced the stage every summer from 1965 until 2019, creating a legacy that has charmed generations. Though the musical paused during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, it triumphantly returned to the stage in 2022. Starting in 2024, the musical will be performed biennially, continuing to enchant audiences every two years.



I had the pleasure of seeing Anne of Green Gables — The Musical at the Confederation Centre of the Arts in 2006. As I wandered through the Centre's main hallway, I was intrigued by the displays dedicated to the long-running production. Among the highlights was a meticulously crafted miniature model of the musical's set, offering a glimpse into the magic that unfolds on stage.



One display featured costumed mannequins frozen in a moment from the musical.



Nearby, costume sketches provided insight into the design process, showcasing detailed drawings like the elegant dress created for Mrs. Sloane.



The display was adorned with posters from past productions, each a snapshot of the musical's enduring appeal.



There was an informative placard on the writers and musicians who brought Anne of Green Gables to life on stage, as well as a tribute to L.M. Montgomery herself.



Along with holding L.M. Montgomery's original handwritten manuscript of Anne of Green Gables, The Confederation Centre of the Arts houses another 14 of L.M. Montgomery's novel manuscripts in its archives.

Official Website:
Confederation Centre of the Arts

Location:
Confederation Centre of the Arts
145 Richmond St, Charlottetown, PE C1A 1J1, Canada.



Image credits:
Photographs by World of Anne Shirley.
Map copyright OpenStreetMap.

Reference:
Longest running annual musical theatre production. Guinness World Records. Retrieved from: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/114132-longest-running-annual-musical-theatre-production


Created July 17, 2007. Last updated September 3, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Emily (1999)

Emily (1999) is a musical by Richard Ouzounian and Marek Norman based on the Emily of New Moon trilogy (Emily of New Moon, Emily Climbs, and Emily’s Quest) by L.M. Montgomery. Richard Ouzounian, who is a theatre critic, writer, and director, wrote the book and lyrics. Marek Norman, who is a composer, actor, and producer, wrote the orchestral music.

Emily made its world premiere on June 19, 1999 at the Charlottetown Festival at the Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. The musical starred Tracy Michalidis as Emily Starr. The musical was successful and returned the following season in 2000. The script was published by McArthur and Company in 2000.

Emily is described in the published script as follows:
"EMILY is a new Canadian musical based on the famous trilogy by Lucy Maud Montgomery: EMILY OF NEW MOON, EMILY CLIMBS, and EMILY'S QUEST. The three books deal with the growth of a young woman on Prince Edward Island at the turn of the century, both as an individual and as a writer. Many commentators feel that Emily contains Montgomery's fantasy of the choices she wishes she had made in her life. EMILY was first presented at the Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown in June of 1999 and instantly became a smash hit, proving to be one of the most popular shows in the festival's thirty-five year history. It will be returning for the 2000 season, and a subsequent tour is in the works. Included here is an introduction by Richard Ouzounian, the entire play's script, and four original songs from the musical.”

The four songs included in the book are: “The Dream Begins,” “Disappointed House,” “There Will Be Another Rainbow,” and “This Island.”


Image Credit:
Front cover of the Emily script by Richard Ouzounian and Marek Norman featuring a photograph of Tracy Michalidis as Emily Starr from The Charlottetown Festival (1999). The photograph is by Barrett and MacKay. The script was published by McArthur and Company in 2000.

Created May 21, 2006. Last updated June 22, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Anne of Green Gables — The Musical (1965)

Anne of Green Gables — The Musical (1965) is based on the novel Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. Its music was composed by Norman Campbell, and the book is by Don Harron. The lyrics were written by Don Harron and Norman Campbell, with additional lyrics by Mavor Moore and Elaine Campbell. It was directed and choreographed by Alan Lund.

At the premiere in 1965, Anne Shirley was portrayed by Jamie Ray. Barbara Hamilton played Marilla Cuthbert, Peter Mews played Matthew Cuthbert, and Dean Regan played Gilbert Blythe. The stage musical was based on the 1956 Anne of Green Gables musical film that was produced for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and directed by Don Harron.

The musical is notably the longest running musical in Canadian history. After its premiere in 1965, the production ran every summer for more than 50 years at the Charlottetown Festival, which is hosted by the Confederation Centre of the Arts. Performances paused during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and the musical returned to the stage in 2022. According to the Confederation Centre of the Arts, "Starting in 2024, Anne of Green Gables–The Musical™ will be playing on the mainstage every two years (biennially) coinciding with the 150th birthday of Lucy Maud Montgomery."

I saw this musical in Charlottetown in 2006, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The script is available is available through Concord Theatricals.

A cast recording of the musical was released by The Charlottetown Festival and you can listen to it at Amazon Music. The album includes the following 19 songs:

1. Overture / Great Workers for the Cause / Where Is Matthew Going?

2. Gee I'm Glad I'm No-One Else but Me

3. We Clearly Requested a Boy

4. The Facts

5. Humble Pie

6. Apology

7. Back to School

8. Wond'rin'

9. Did You Hear?

10. Ice Cream

11. Summer

12. Kindred Spirits

13. Open the Window

14. I'll Show Him

15. General Store

16. If It Hadn't Been for Me

17. Anne of Green Gables

18. The Words

19. Wond'rin' (Reprise)

Purchase the Anne of Green Gables — The Musical cast recording:

Official Site:
Anne of Green Gables — The Musical at the Confederation Centre of the Arts

Image Credit:
Anne of Green Gables — The Musical promotional image by the Confederation Centre of the Arts.

Reference:
Confederation Centre of the Arts. Anne of Green Gables — The Musical™ to return to The Charlottetown Festival in 2024. Retrieved from: https://confederationcentre.com/anne-of-green-gables-the-musical-to-return-to-the-charlottetown-festival-in-2024/

Created August 15, 2002. Last updated July 9, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

The Blue Castle (1993)

The Blue Castle: A Musical Love Story (1993) is a musical by Hank Stinson adapted from the novel The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery. Stinson composed the musical and it featured additional music by Helen MacRae. The musical was created for The Castle Company, a Prince Edward Island-based musical theatre company. In 1992, the musical won the Theatre Prince Edward Island New Voices Playwrighting Contest.

Following workshops at the Muskoka Festival, the first community production of The Blue Castle took place in Prince Edward Island in 1993. There was a larger community production in 1994 at the Confederation Centre in Charlottetown. In 1995, the professional debut took place at the Oakville Summer Theatre in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.

The Blue Castle is a two-act musical. There are two versions of the script for either a small or a large cast. The musical length runs for 1 hour and 20 minutes for the small cast version and 1 hour and 30 minutes for the large cast version.

The musical is described as follows:
“Based on the L.M. Montgomery novel, The Blue Castle tells the story of spinster Valancy Stirling's escape from her stultifying home life, her quest for identity, and her awakening as a woman. She is a true hero; a glowing example of courage and determination in the face of the unknown; ‘It's only when you realize that no one else is going to take care of you that you begin to take care of yourself.’”


Image Credit:
Adapted screencaptures from The Castle Co. webpage (archived).

Reference:
The Castle Co. webpage (archived).

Created August 15, 2002. Last updated June 17, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com