Hosted by the charismatic Matt Parkin, and judged by three beloved County figures, the TV show The Ultimate Count Kid will crown one person as “the most County, through and through.”
Producer Jennifer Sills says the musical, which features live original music and young people could take up to three months to cast and rehearse.
“Megan Hutton is no stranger to the local live performance and musical scene but this is her first time working with us,” Ms. Sills said “She was contracted to write The Ultimate County Kid and we think her creation is wonderful and provides a great opportunity for the up-and-coming Mummers in our ranks.”
“It really captures what we wanted to express about what the County, and the Mummers, mean to us.”
Jennifer Sills, Producer
“The Ultimate County Kid is a celebration of Prince Edward County’s past, present, and future
— a heartfelt reminder that people make the place,
and that belonging is created through care, contribution, and community.”
Longtime Mummer Pat Larkin directs. Auditions are next week at Mount Tabor.
The production, which opens in May, will feature seven contestants from across Prince Edward County, representing different towns, backgrounds, talents, and generations, competing in a series of themed rounds that test creativity, heritage, and knowledge of County-ese. Each contestant brings a unique vision of what the County is — and what it could become.
As the competition unfolds, humour and satire give way to deeper questions, the ones debated at the farm gate, the grocery store, and the coffee shop.
“Who gets to define belonging? Is being ‘County’ something you inherit, or something you choose?”
The elimination of one contestant, a recent transplant to the County, raises the emotional costs of gatekeeping identity, and sparks a turning point in the story. The contestants begin to question whether the focus on being “true County” might miss the true spirit of community.
By the final round, it is clear that lineage, popularity, and even talent alone are not enough. What truly matters is character: kindness, work ethic, respect for history, openness to change, and a willingness to build community together. The true County kid is not “more County” than the others — but represents values that allow the County to grow while staying rooted.
“The Ultimate County Kid is a celebration of our past, present, and future — a heartfelt reminder that people make the place, and that belonging is created through care, contribution, and community,” Ms. Sills adds.
The Mummers are holding auditions January 24 and 25. To register, email [email protected].
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