COMMUNITY STAGE
July 23, 24, & 25 - highlighting Thunder Bay Artists
Superior Theatre Festival is proud to offer a program of local talent in the beautiful Spirit Garden. Our Community Stage Event is composed of music, dance, musical theatre and even a group sing-a-long with Danny Johnson and 21 Gun Fun. Tickets will be available to purchase online or at the venue.
Stay tuned for rained out performances to occur at a later date
Tickets:
$10
*Children 5 and under are FREE and there will be PWYC tickets for the first 20 people at the venue
RAINDATE: FUTURE TBD DATE
These acts were cancelled due to rain. We’d like to reschedule them to an indoor location in the Fall and at a time when we can properly promote them. As fellow artists we want to create the best conditions for a successful performance. Thanks for your patience, we’ll be in touch when we have more information to share.
Rodney Brown
Undercover
Danny Johnson & 21 Gun Fun with Sing-a-long
RAINDATE: Monday, July 25, 2022
4:30PM-10:00PM
Ian Gill
Sunday Wilde
Chaban Ukrainian Dance Group
Thunder Bay World Dance Collective
Drag Artists from Wiggins Productions
Fay Gleeson Dance Centre
International Dance Academy
World Cultural Dance
Jamie Smith
Danielle Pollari
Saturday July 23, 2022 Artists:
1-5pm
First Nation Drum and Dance Showcase
Kris Tonkens - Music
Morgan’s School of Highland Dance - Dance
Tiina Flank - Music
All the Daze - Musical Theatre
6-10pm
Drag hosts from Wiggins Productions (Mz. Molly Poppinz, Devin Divine, and Ivan Love)
Fay Gleeson Dance Centre - Dance
Danielle Pollari - Music
World Cultural Dance - Dance
International Dance Academy - Dance
Jamie Smith - Music
Sunday July 24, 2022 Artists:
1-6pm
Applauze Performance Academy - Musical Theatre
Dance Dynamics - Dance
Ryan McCulloch - Music
Mackinley Harding - Music
Orville Councillor - Music
Sunday Wilde - Music
TBay World Dance Collective - Flamenco Dance
Chaban Ukrainian Dance Group - Dance
7-10pm
Rodney Brown - Music
Undercover - Music
Danny Johnson and 21 Gun Fun - with sing-a-long - Music
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PERFORMERS SPOTLIGHT
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First Nation Drum and Dance Showcase
David Simard has been active in the First Nation music and art scene since the age of 12 with the mentoring and guidance of the late Dr. Richard Lyons and the Lyons Dance Group. Dr. Richard Lyons and the Thunder Bay Singers were largely responsible for the revival of First Nation culture and heritage in the northern Ontario region. He performed at various events with the Lyons Dance Group and began singing with the Thunder Bay Singers. It was through this mentorship and guidance that he found his own creative path and a new group the Thunder Mountain Singers.
Kris Tonkens
Kris Tonkens is driven by a passion for bringing people together and creating space for the community through both her music (they ran an open mic pre covid and continue to gather the musicians at their home weekly) and her work (their business, Loud Women Collective, is a bookstore/boutique pushing change with social justice issues and creating a space for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community). They recently performed in their first musical with All the Daze and loved working with the kids.
Morgan's School of Highland Dance
Thunder Bay’s first Highland Dance School, Morgan’s School of Highland Dancing, was founded by Wendy Morgan in 1979. Wendy (B.A.T.D. Member Highland & National) received her training in Winnipeg and Toronto through teacher Mary Pitcher. Wendy has retired from actively teaching but remains the administrator of Morgan’s School and the President of the Thunder Bay Highland Dance Association. Wendy has passed the torch to her daughter Heather Morgan (B.A.T.D. Member Highland & National) who teaches and oversees classes with dancers from age 2 to adult.
Tiina Flank
Soul vocals and warm guitar vibes, mixed with folk spirit, shape the sound of singer/songwriter Tiina Flank. A lyrical seamstress, she uses songwriting as a vehicle to drive complex thoughts and emotions into simple wisdom. Her performances weave from delicate and introspective to dynamic and playful. She is a lover of performance art, a mother of plants and an advocate for animal welfare, social equity and environmental conservation. Facebook: www.facebook.com/tiina.flank
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All The Daze
All the DAZE Productions reunites their actors to showcase a variety of songs from the musical "The Grunch"" (Beat By Beat Press.www.bbbpress.com), silly skits (www.dramanotebook.com) and interactive fun for an audience of all ages. After five years of producing musical theatre for youth by youth, we are excited to be back on stage together.
Wiggins Productions
We are excited to welcome to the Community Stage three drag artists from Wiggins Productions. Mz. Molly Poppinz is one of Thunder Bay's most prominent drag queens and has been performing all over town since 2016. She is known for being a generous hostess! A beloved fan favourite, Ivan Love has pulled more looks, performed at more shows and holds more titles & crowns than any other king (and most queens). King Devin Divine is a suave and vivacious performer sure to make his way into your heart!
Fay Gleeson Dance Centre
The Fay Gleeson Dance Centre has welcomed generations of dancers through their doors for more than six decades. Today, they keep tradition alive, while training a new generation of young, talented students in jazz, ballet, tap, hip hop, acro, lyrical and more. Truly a family affair, they also welcome adults of all ages to their fun fitness classes - ZUMBA, pilates, tap, TRX and more.
Danielle Pollari
This wild hearted singer-songwriter is captivating listeners and touching their hearts. Danielle Pollari, is using her music to be an empowering force in the world. She brings a unique, refreshing energy to the stage, with her fusion of alternative, R&B, and pop music. Danielle is excited to be performing new songs from her upcoming album debut. Instagram @daniellepollari Facebook @daniellepollariartist
World Cultural Dance
As a group who love sharing dance from all cultures around the world, World Cultural Dance has been performing in Thunder Bay for 10 years. They take great pride and joy in presenting cultural dance through performance as they learn and share dances from countries such as Egypt, India, Colombia, Spain and many more. They love being able to share their joy of cultural dance with the people of Thunder Bay and surrounding area through many different festivals and venues. “Staying true to our hearts we love to share with the community and promote culture and inclusivity”.
International Dance Academy
At International Dance Academy (IDA), we’ve been adhering to strong technical principles in dance for over 35 years! Strong technique enhances your child’s natural ability, highlights their strengths and deepens their artistic awareness. Strong technique promotes safe learning, and allows dancers to mature in grace, agility and athleticism. Strong technique makes dancing fun! At IDA, the instruction of proper technique allows us to make every child our first priority!
Jamie Smith
Jamie Smith has been playing in bands around Thunder Bay for decades. Mixing catchy melody with melancholic themes, his set spans originals and reimagined covers that will have you asking where you’ve heard that song before. Instagram: @unctuous_bloviator Twitter: @JamieSmith807
Applauze Productions
Applauze Productions is presenting two musicals this summer. We will be presenting Madagascar Jr. July 26 and 27 and Broadway in the Bay August 10 to 13 at Trinity Hall. Madagascar Jr. is a summer camp for ages 7 to 13 starting on July 11th for two weeks. Broadway in the Bay is a musical showcase celebrating movie soundtracks through the history of cinema to save a theatre from turning into a parking lot. There are 52 cast members ranging from ages 6 to 76.
Dance Dynamics
Dance Dynamics Studio has established a reputation for providing balanced educational programs, for children of all ages. Classes are taught by experienced staff who are well-rounded in their dance education and trained in working with and teaching children, ensuring your child a safe and fun experience, while fostering independence, peer interaction and creative physical movement.
Ryan McCulloch
Ryan McCulloch’s music is an original and fresh take on what it means to be a young person in the modern world, and especially in Thunder Bay. His music is a very large window into his soul and he thinks this will resonate with everyone who listens.
Mackinley Harding
Mackinley Harding has been performing most of her life. She has been dancing and singing since she was three, and when she turned 8 decided to do both at a more competitive level. Dancing all genres at Legacy Dance Company, and singing all genres for Applauze Productions & Alana Valente, Mackinley loves being on the stage. She is extremely excited for the opportunity to arrange her own personal set full of her favourites from Jazz, Country, Pop & Folk. She is also grateful to include her classmate from the St Patrick's Musical Theatre Program, Hailey Hull to perform a duet. She cannot wait to hit the stage for everyone on July 24th!!
Orville Councillor
Orville Councillor is from Naicatchewenin First Nation, Ont., Canada. Orville was first introduced to the music scene at the age of 5 singing lead for the choir. He was influenced by his family where he learned the guitar and was taught Ojibway songs, in which he has 5 recordings produced. Orville's past major performances includes MN. Festival of Fine Arts, National/Indian Education Conference, MN., MN governors convention, World Indigenous Higher Education Consortium, and Harmony of Nations. Orville also won or placed in several singing competitions. Orville has performed as a solo artist and in a full band with O.C. & The Wild Horses. Orville incorporates his style by mixing traditional music such as the flute & native singing resulting in creating a unique & pleasant sound. Orville also plays mainstream music as well using his original music that he wrote.
Sunday Wilde
Sunday Wilde is based out of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada and has been found singing everywhere from small logging towns at funeral parlours, and blues joints and all the way to large festivals, and bars in bustling metropolises. She is a powerful and intense vocalist, a rare voice that speaks from the primal soul. Sunday is a songwriter who explores the sub- jects of grief, addiction, love and the torment of social and family dysfunction. Her lyrics and delivery make it abundantly clear that she speaks from experience and authority.
Thunder Bay World Dance Collective
The Thunder Bay World Dance Collective will be presenting a showcase of flamenco dance–a beautiful and intricate dance form with roots in the southern region of Spain. By using percussive footwork, hand clapping and intricate hand, arm and body movements, a captivating story of emotions will be unfurled. Dancers will move through some of the many dance styles this art form offers such as a lively rumba to more passionate and soul-stirring numbers. All of these works have been choreographed by Angelica Scanurra of Ritmo Flamenco in Toronto.
Chaban Ukranian Dance Group
Chaban Ukrainian Dance Group promotes Ukrainian Culture through dance. Chaban is a not-for-profit volunteer-run group, with dancers from newborn to adulthood dancing! You need not be Ukrainian to dance with us. Today, we will present several dances with explanations about their uniqueness and the story each tells: dances from different regions, dances from seasonal influences, dances with symbolic relevance. The audience will have the opportunity to try out some of the dance routines too! You will all be dreaming about your own red boots after our performance!
Undercover
For over two decades, Thunder Bay's 'Undercover' has been entertaining crowds of hundreds to thousands of people. Their combined unique talents and true passion for music have allowed them to be one of the most versatile cover bands in the city and a mainstay on the local party and wedding circuit. The band’s enormous flexibility with musical styles ranging from today's hottest hits in pop and techno to classic rock, new rock, traditional Italian, Latino and dance band repertoire has made them a popular choice for any event and venue; whether it be weddings, cultural events, business and awards banquets or local nightclubs. With powerhouse vocals, energetic stage presence, one of the tightest rhythm sections in the business, and a repertoire extensive enough to suit any venue, 'Undercover' is guaranteed to get the party started — and keep it rockin’ all night long!
Rodney Brown
Wherever he goes, Rodney Brown displays what one Scottish listener called ‘The Gift’ the ability to transfix an audience with stories in song. He is a distinctive artist with a unique talent for bringing Canadian history, especially the stories of the north, to life. A son of Thunder Bay, Rodney has built a career singing roots, rock, reggae and kids songs exploring sounds and recording albums that reflect each phase. With a career spanning 50 years he has 11 albums with tours across Canada, Minnesota and the UK. Rodney has donned many musical personas but these days he writes mostly about his home on the North Shore of Lake Superior. His songs paint evocative pictures combined with excellent musicianship and the skills of a veteran performer Rodney has earned a dedicated and growing fan base.
Danny Johnson and 21 Gun Fun - with sing-a-long
Danny Johnson is a well-respected singer/songwriter who writes songs that are powerful, passionate and poetic. He has performed at many venues and festivals around the world and has opened for and toured with many acclaimed acts, including Bob Dylan, The Tragically Hip, Colin James, Michelle Wright, David Wilcox, Fred Eaglesmith, George Jones, Valdy and Johnny Cash. He was invited to perform for a special concert for the Six String Nation Guitar Tour (a guitar made from various Canadian historical items). He is presently working on an album with Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, one of the finest musicians in the world, who was awarded a Grammy for his album with Ry Cooder, A Meeting By The River. As a musician/musical director and multi-instrumentalist, he has performed with such artists as Bo Diddley, The Temptations, Bob Newhart, Paul Shaffer, Hal Linden, Red Skelton, Bob Hope, Tom “Bones” Malone, Tom Jackson, Jack de Keyzer, Detroit Women, Long John Baldry, Bobby Curtola, The Lamont Cranston Blues Band, Tony “Little Sun” Glover, Sherman Robertson, Studebaker John, and Paul James. Danny is no stranger to theatre audiences, having performed in over sixty productions across the country, including Million Dollar Quartet (Sam Phillips), Ring Of Fire (Johnny Cash), 2 Pianos 4 Hands, Buddy:The Buddy Holly Story (Norm Petty). He portrayed Hank Williams in Hank Williams:The Show He Never Gave to sold-out performances and standing ovations, and was thrilled to be the Musical Director for the world premiere of Tomson Highway's The (Post) Mistress and more recently, the Queen
show We Will Rock You and and shows for STF, Magnus Theatre and Applause Productions.
Danny has worked as producer for dozens of albums, including Into The Wonder, for The Gryphon Trio and TBSO, on the Analekta label, which was nominated for a Juno in 2019.
Rounding out the band are three of the finest musicians in our neck of the woods: Dan Zadkovich on guitars and vocals, Dave Isherwood on bass and vocals, and Chris Plater on drums.
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