American Concrete Institute (ACI) – University of Toronto Chapter
Engineering Drama Society
Our group aims to bring engineers to the forefront of theatre and provide opportunities to succeed in this creative space. We strive to achieve these objectives by producing musicals, plays, and other productions and committing to creating mentorship opportunities throughout our entire production structure.
Key Accomplishments for 2025-2026
Spring Awakening was EDS's inaugural production — the very first show in the society's history. The five-performance run involved 72 students and reached 1,435 audience members across U of T and the broader public. The production won Best Lighting at the 2026 Dougies, a remarkable accolade for a first-ever show and proof that a student-run musical theatre society could deliver work at a competitive technical standard from day one.
Mean Girls was EDS's second full-scale musical of its debut season — an ambitious undertaking few new student groups attempt in a single year. 90 students staged 4 performances, all of which sold out, drawing 1,636 audience members. Reaching sold-out houses within months of founding demonstrated genuine community demand for engineering-led musical theatre at U of T and established EDS as a fixture in the UofT arts scene.
CPSIF Funding Impact
CPSIF funding was foundational to launching EDS in 2025-26. As a brand-new student group with no carryforward, no track record, and no donor base, the $5,400 allocation gave us the financial runway to take on Hart House Theatre rights, lighting, and production costs for Spring Awakening, our very first show. That initial investment directly enabled the ticket revenue and momentum that carried us into Mean Girls, our sold-out second production. CPSIF didn't just fund a show; it made the founding of engineering musical theatre at U of T possible.
EDS’ first production, Spring Awakening, performed at Hart House Theatre. Photographer: Samit Chenchu
Photo of the Spring Awakening team including cast, band, crew, and creative. Photographer: Albert Huang
Photo of the Mean Girls team, including cast, band, crew, and creative. Photographer: Kevin Yue
EDS’ second production, Mean Girls, performed at Hart House Theatre. Photographer: Albert Huang
Spring Awakening cast viewing photos on media day. Student photographer in photo: Vedant Gupta. Photographer: Victoria Zhou
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