NEWS RELEASE
MAGNUS THEATRE
*****************
THUNDER BAY – While the global health crisis has forced a challenging waiting path for professional arts organizations across the country, it has also presented Magnus Theatre with a unique opportunity to take some time to explore the company’s roots.
Looking Back at Magnus is a new video series that aims to remember and celebrate the people who have been significant in the history of the company. Artistic Director Thom Currie hosts a video chat with guests who were there in the early days, from the grassroots beginning in the city’s east end to the ground-breaking move to Waverley Park.
“We’ve wanted to take this project on for some time, to create a tribute to the great theatre artists who came before us at Magnus,” said Artistic Director Thom Currie “The history of this theatre is a vital part of the history of Thunder Bay, and we’re very excited to be documenting these stories from the people who were here in the early days of Magnus and to share something tangible that we can take into the future.”
Originally called Theatre Northwest, Magnus Theatre started out as an artist’s vision for a new theatre company in Northwestern Ontario. Nearly half a century later, Magnus Theatre stands in the region as a cornerstone arts organization, delighting audiences in Thunder Bay with professional live performances and nurturing creativity in youth through its vast array of Theatre in Education programming.
Series guests share stories and anecdotes dating back to the company’s founding in 1971, including when the Thunder Bay Police sent the vice squad to vet a performance of Equus in 1978 to ensure the nudity in the play didn’t offend public decency.
“And he made them pay to watch,” said Rosalie Woloski of the late Tibor Feheregyhazi, who was Magnus Theatre’s Artistic Director from 1978 to 1982.
Episodes of the Looking Back at Magnus series will be released weekly on Magnus Theatre’s social media and web channels, starting Aug. 21.
Release Schedule
Aug. 21 - Looking Back at Magnus: Tibor Feheregyhazi
Thom chats with Rosalie Woloski, the partner of the late Tibor Feheregyhazi, Magnus Theatre’s second Artistic Director and a true theatre legend.
Aug. 28 – Looking Back at Magnus: Brian Richmond
Thom chats with Brian Richmond, Magnus Artistic Director from 1982 to 1987, who succeeded in creating a national profile for the theatre.
Sept. 4 – Looking Back at Magnus: Rebecca Lancaster
Thom chats with Rebecca Lancaster, daughter of Magnus Theatre founder Burton Lancaster.
Continuing into the fall, Looking Back at Magnus will feature discussions with former Magnus Theatre Artistic Directors Mario Crudo and Michael McLaughlin, as well as insights from Thunder Bay artists Lila Cano and Jo-Ann Waytowich about their own experiences onstage at Northwestern Ontario’s only professional theatre.
