When you’re in the thick of developing a new Canadian stage musical, like I am alongside my composer and co-creator Zenon Epp, the storytelling rarely stays neatly contained on the page. I mean, sometimes it’s not even on the literal page anymore after continual rounds of edits and scene rewrites.
Musicals are big, bold, memorable…The script (i.e. “book,” as I have come to learn theatre folks call it—never stop learning!) spills over into the music, the visual aesthetics that we hope will land onstage once we finally get to full-on production, and the list goes on. With my background as a food writer and cookbook author, the musical naturally has moments that land in a kitchen and behind the bar.
Write what you know, right? Right!
As Christmas, Arizona The Musical continues to evolve, I’ve found plenty of excitement in building out the finer details of its universe. World-building isn't just about setting a scene; it's about what the room smells like, what's playing on the jukebox, what’s hung on the walls, and—crucial to any local watering hole—what people are drinking.
That brings us to The Plain Jane Gold.
In the universe of the show, there’s a very special dive bar that serves as a hub for several characters while journeying to and from Arizona. You know the kind of quirky bar I’m talking about: that worn-in, neon-lit sanctuary where secrets are swapped, bad decisions are occasionally made, legends are told, and the regulars always have "their" drink.
The Plain Jane Gold cocktail isn't necessarily fancy, but it is named after the bar’s owner, Plain Jane. There's a lot of fun lore around her that I can't delve into right now, but during a late-night writing session, as we were fleshing out the energy of this space and the characters who frequent it, I felt steadfast in my thinking that the bar needed a cool signature cocktail: a drink that feels grounded and approachable on the surface, but carries a subtle, clever twist once you take a sip.
Thus, the Plain Jane Gold was born. It’s a cocktail that mirrors the spirit of the show itself—familiar and comforting at first glance, but packed with enough complexity and brightness to surprise you.
With our upcoming teaser concept concert, Christmas, Arizona The Musical: Live Soundtrack (Vol. 1) at the Broadway Theatre in Saskatoon on September 16, it felt like the perfect time to pull back the curtain and share a physical piece of the show's world. (And naturally, this drink will be served at the theatre bar pre-show and during intermission!)
Hosted by the iconic drag queen Jaidynn Diore Fierce, the night is going to be a celebration of Canadian music with performances by acts such as Shantaia, Antonio Larosa, Jade Turner, Mariya Stokes and Alex Hughes, filled with storytelling and community.
Consider this recipe your official pre-show preview. Mix one up at home, take a sip, close your eyes, and step into one small part of the Christmas, Arizona world that Zenon and I have conjured up!
How to make The Plain Jane Gold
Ingredients
1 oz Tequila (Blanco or Reposado)
1 oz Canadian whisky
0.25 oz Yellow Chartreuse
0.75 oz Chili Honey simple syrup (recipe below)
0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
0.5 oz fresh lime juice
1 pinch salt
Tajín and 1 dried chili, for garnish
Instructions
Combine the tequila, Canadian whisky, Yellow Chartreuse, chili honey simple syrup, fresh lemon juice, fresh lime juice, and a pinch of salt in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
Shake hard until well-chilled.
Fine strain into a Tajín-rimmed, ice-filled rocks or Collins glass.
Garnish with a dried chili.
Chili Honey Simple Syrup
Ingredients
1 cup honey
1/2 cup water
2 tsp ground turmeric
3 whole dried chiles de árbol (lightly crushed) or 1 tbsp red chili flakes
Instructions
Combine the honey, water, turmeric, and chiles in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until the honey dissolves and the spices infuse.
Remove from heat, let cool completely, and strain out the chiles before bottling. Will keep in fridge for up to 1 week.
Christmas, Arizona The Musical: Live Soundtrack (Vol. 1) Event Details
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Venue: The Broadway Theatre, 715 Broadway Avenue, Saskatoon, SK
Hosted by Jaidynn Diore Fierce of RuPaul's Drag Race and featuring performances by ZENON, Shantaia, Antonio Larosa, Jade Turner, Alex Hughes, Mariya Stokes, Tea Fannie, Clay Bolen and Eden Taylor.
Tickets range from $38 (general seating) to $179 (VIP Prime + Founders' Circle support tier) and can purchased online at broadwaytheatre.ca or box office direct.
