A new Canadian musical celebrating the cult snack Hawkins Cheezies opens in Canmore on June 25, 2026, bringing a seven-week run of original theatre to the Carter-Ryan Theatre in the heart of the bustling mountain town. The Cheezie Musical: The Unofficial Underdog Story Of The Snack That United A Nation, created and directed by Bridget Ryan with musical direction by Morgan McKee, runs through August 16 and promises a playful tribute to innovation, determination, and a salty orange treat that holds a special place in the Canadian pantry.
The production is described by its creators at Carter-Ryan Productions as “our loving unofficial love letter to this country, to innovation and determination, and to that guiltily-delicious salty snack.” The musical draws on the real origin story of Hawkins Cheezies, invented after WWII by James Marker of Dayton, Ohio, and W.T. Hawkins. Production moved to Tweed, Ontario in 1949, and then to a Belleville factory in 1956 after a fire, where the snack has been made ever since and distributed only within Canada.
The show runs Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m., with weekend matinees at 3 p.m. in the intimate 51-seat theatre at 705 8 St. The venue, which also houses the Carter-Ryan Gallery showcasing Indigenous artist Jason Carter’s work, has become a fixture for live theatre in the Bow Valley. Carter, a member of the Little Red River Cree Nation who co-owns the gallery with Ryan, handles set design for the production.
Ryan, the artistic and creative director, says this is part of the company’s most ambitious season yet, with eight new shows planned for 2026 including three new musicals. That follows a 2024 season that drew thousands to nine productions. The summer run aligns with peak tourism season in Canmore and Kananaskis, where visitor spending hit roughly $1 billion in 2025, and officials see cultural events as key to keeping visitors in town longer.
Tickets are available through Eventbrite. More event details can be found on Explore Canmore.
