Coffee chain brews up its showbiz debut

Tim Hortons musical inspired by 2010 snowstorm that saw dozens seek shelter in Sarnia outlet

- JOSHUA CHONG

The 2010 snowstorm produced whiteout conditions and saw more than 40 centimetres of snow near Sarnia, stranding hundreds of motorists and prompting a state of emergency.

Tim Hortons is stepping into show business. The coffee house and restaurant chain, known for its surprising marketing strategies and collaborations with high-profile celebrities, will present a new Canadian musical this spring, featuring a bevy of Canadian talent and Broadway stars.

“The Last Timbit,” which follows a group of strangers stranded in a Tim Hortons restaurant during a blizzard, will premiere at Toronto’s Elgin Theatre between June 26 and 30. The show is loosely inspired by the true story of a 2010 snowstorm during which about 80 people sought shelter at a Tim Hortons in Sarnia, Ont., for nearly 24 hours.

The musical comes on the heels of Tim Hortons’ 60th anniversary and as the company pushes to expand its offerings, recently announcing the introduction of flatbread pizzas to its lineup. The idea for the musical came from Gut, a marketing firm Tim Hortons enlisted to help promote its milestone anniversary.