The Charlottetown Festival

The 2025 Charlottetown Festival at Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown continues with performances of Chase the Ace, The Creator’s Plan, Becoming Dolly, Tell Tale Harbour, and Million Dollar Quartet.

Written by Canadian playwright Mark Crawford, Chase the Ace is a solo comedy show featuring 17 colourful characters in a story of greed and small-town lottery fever. Directed by Charlottetown’s Charlotte Gowdy, the show follows a big-city radio personality forced to take a job managing a rural station after losing his position. During his first week, a global pandemic begins, and he finds himself chasing a story of municipal corruption. Chase the Ace opens July 30 and runs until August 9 at The Mack.

Based on the book written by Lennox Island’s Richard Pellissier-Lush, The Creator’s Plan explores his coming of age as a Mi’kmaq. Richard grew up looking different from other Indigenous children, but his mother continually reminded him that he was part of the Creator’s plan and empowered him to embrace his culture, no matter what he looked like. Performed by the Mi’kmaq Heritage Actors, this story of encouragement and identity is presented in an interactive show for all ages. The Creator’s Plan closes August 1 at The Mack.

Island performer Jessica Gallant returns with the heartfelt and high-energy cabaret show Becoming Dolly, playing at The Mack from August 13–30. Gallant takes audiences on a musical journey through the life of country music legend Dolly Parton, with toe-tapping renditions of iconic hits like “9 to 5,” “Coat of Many Colours,” “Jolene,” and more.

Alan Doyle stars in the homegrown show Tell Tale Harbour, playing at the Sobey Family Theatre until August 29. This original Canadian musical comedy is about a small Atlantic fishing harbour willing to do anything to save its community. When the opportunity arises to bring a state-of-the-art frozen french fry facility to town, there’s just one major obstacle: to secure the factory, the town must have a full-time resident doctor. Realizing this might be their last chance, the townspeople come together to charm an interim doctor into staying. Full of East Coast pride, the musical is co-written by Doyle—one of the nation’s most treasured songwriters.

The popular jukebox musical Million Dollar Quartet continues until August 30 at the Sobey Family Theatre. Set on December 4, 1956, this show recounts the extraordinary true story of the day Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins came together at Sun Records in Memphis. Their first and only time playing together became one of the greatest jam sessions in rock and roll history. The show brings that legendary night to life in a tale of broken promises, secrets, betrayal, and celebration. The score features iconic songs that defined an era, including “Blue Suede Shoes,” “I Walk the Line,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” and more.

For tickets, visit the Centre’s box office, confederationcentre.com/festival25, or call 1-800-565-0278.