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Shania Twain Centre
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AlanB
Joined: 18 May 2005
Posts: 1522
Location: USA, NY, Queens
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 Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2005 4:30 pm Post subject: |
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The group photo, sans me and a few others who were taking pictures before the real photographer took the official photo.
You did what to Shania’s bus? Actually it’s a device used for planting trees.
Richard models Shania’s hat from I Ain’t No Quitter.
Fans enjoying the Cedar Meadows Wildlife tour.
Michael feeds an elk.
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Alan
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Bob A
Joined: 25 Jun 2005
Posts: 2057
Location: Michigan
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| Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2005 5:06 pm Post subject: |
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| AlanB wrote: |
Terry and the current musical director of the Deerhurst show talk about Shania's days at Deerhurst. The musical director used to play guitar in the show back when Shania performed.
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That was the main stage in the main showroom where the Top 40's revue show has been performed in the Deerhurst Lodge, for quite a long time.
There were other small stages in the Cyprus Lounge, Green Room and possibly the Four Winds, on which Shania performed also. But those weren't shows, just musical gigs for dancing mostly.
Finally, there was the huge stage that rolled out over the swimming pool, up in the new Pavillion that was built when Eilleen and her (former) beau John Kim Bell helped persuade Kotowski, the new corporate manager to build in about 1989/90. However, for multiple interesting reasons, that Broadyway type show folded after only 5-6 months. And the cast and crew moved back to the smaller, long time show facilities in the Lodge.
Teri Dyni or Rory Golden told us some of the performers on that new stage fell into the pool occasionally. So they had to remove it when they converted the same area into conference facilities and dining areas.
Teri is the media relations coordinator. He's a highly skilled communicator. But Glenn Bladon and Laura Kennedy are some of the real holders of substantive info and history about Deerhurst and the show.
I talked with Teri and Laura several times a few months before our visit. I talked with Glenn Bladon and John Nobil during our visit.
Glenn is the musical director and show cast team leader. Both of these guys were there when Eilleen worked there.
Glenn did remember helping Eilleen make a demo tape. But that was not unusual. He's been doing the same thing for various of the cast members during almost all the years he's worked there.
The cast almost always includes some powerhouse talent. Eilleen was not overall, more talented than some of the other talent. She was among the best but many were similar. Some of them didn't have the same drive, determination or confidence to pursue higher success. And some of them didn't have the same connections.
I had to agree with the powerhouse talent. Several of the performers I saw last year with Tom definitely fit that description. In fact one was a TV star.
So I asked Glenn how he managed to get them all to keep coming back year after year, since the Deerhurst budget for the show was limited.
He said:
A) Look outside. The lakes and scenery and fresh air in Muskoka are some of the most beautiful, refreshing and relaxing space to live and vacation.
B) The performers, including Shania get to perform live in front of an audience and develop their skills 6 or 7 nights a week. Big city shows don't offer that. They tend to be more studio work, or technically buffered/produced.
C) Shows in the big cities and else where might last several months. Then the cast has to go out and find a new job. That usually involves auditioning with hundreds or thousands of other performers for the same job. There are many more people in the music and performing arts than there are jobs. At Deerhurst, the show runs about 10 months of each year, so it's a steady job.
On another question, I asked Glenn whether it was part of their plan to achieve what I noticed last year. All the performers take turns supporting each other, and each one in turn, gets a chance to be the lead in one or two numbers and showcase their talent. So it's a cooperative style of organization, instead of competitive, where individuals try to get ahead at the expense of the others. He said they very much do plan it that way now. They don't even have an emcee like they used to in the past.
There were quite a few other questions I asked of Glenn, mostly after he was finished with his official brief presentation and somewhat more detailed Q & A on stage. I also talked separately, earlier with John Nobile. I got some very candid and interesting answers from the two of them, tho all were appropriate and non controversial.
The reasons the lavish Broadway show in the new Pavillion failed, were very interesting.
But there's just too much to mention here, all at one time.
I should add one note before I close, however. John Nobile is the technical director. Basically, he's an engineering whiz, who sets up and runs the lights and sound etc before and during the shows. He's definitely not a media relations type. He doesn't give interviews. Like me, he works a lifetime to get things right. And he doesn't want to let some reporter, in haste to meet a deadline, do their usual misquotes, incomplete descriptions, or out of context opinion. (Those are my pet peeves, not his, but I sense in him, a similar preference to avoid the six second sound byte.)
There was a Toronto Star reporter that talked to our goup a bit and then quizzed Glenn from a special perch, then was planning to come back and see the show that night. We did see his report a day or two later, in the papers. And it's been picked up on these mb's. REporter didn't do too bad. He got most of it right. But there was not much depth or analysis, in my opinion. HIs questions to Glenn, weren't that substantive or knowledgeable. He was a nice guy, but also just a reporter on a beat, trying tp appeal to a mass market with a limited attention span.
My impression of Glenn and John, was that they are not accustomed to doing media relations or fielding questions from Shania fans. That's understandable. They're performers, not media types. I personally think we got far more candid and insightful answers from them, than we would normally get from media types.
I think the leadership at Deerhurst may have sprung this chore onto them with only very short notice. Glenn and John handled themselves quite well, even tho perhaps a bit uncomfortable at times.
In some contrast with the above, Rory Golden, Deerhurst's executive chef seems to be well praciced in public presentation and description of his work and activities. He does teach both on site and at educational institutions. And has a wide reputation as one of the most successful practitioners of cuisine. The food prepared and served by his group was some of the best I've ever seen, including the colors, arrangements, taste, presentation, the whole deal. No wonder Deerhurst's website brags a bit about him. With my humble background and life style, it's almost off my radar screen to think eating would hold much more importance than just a maintenance function. Boy was I wrong. Eating can be a great pleasure, when such skill goes into the service.
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Tower
Joined: 09 Jun 2005
Posts: 4978
Location: Liverpool and Malta for now
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| Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2005 11:07 pm Post subject: |
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OK Folks, skipped the Karioki to post these pictures. Text soon!
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Tower
Joined: 09 Jun 2005
Posts: 4978
Location: Liverpool and Malta for now
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| Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2005 11:12 pm Post subject: |
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OK just want to get these ones from this morning out on the Net as I was on the Gold Mine Tour again this year.
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_________________
Kind Regards,
Tom |
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Tower
Joined: 09 Jun 2005
Posts: 4978
Location: Liverpool and Malta for now
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| Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2005 11:14 pm Post subject: |
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Yesterday during the Downtown Walkabout we visited the Timmins Daily Press.
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| It is a tough job being a Shania Fan Convention member!!! |
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| But as you can see they came to visit us in the STC! |
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Tom |
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cbspock
Joined: 04 Jun 2005
Posts: 2065
Location: Live Oak TX
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AlanB
Joined: 18 May 2005
Posts: 1522
Location: USA, NY, Queens
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| Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2005 5:50 am Post subject: |
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JD, Randall, and Tracy test the stage, just to make sure that it was put together properly. 
Tracy instructs Randall on how to run and dance around the UP! stage.
Arriving at Shania's High School for a tour and part 1 of the Trivia contest.
Ren, did you loose the Trivia questions again? 
Our first round of contestants.
The second round.
The third group.
The fourth group.
The fifth and final group.
Ren displays the first of many signs that represent a new catagory in this year's trivia contest, what song do those initials represent?
As noted earlier by Bob, Allison was asked to name three of Shania's band members. Despite Randall sitting right in front of her, next to JD, Allison proceeded to name JD but not Randall. So Randall ran UP! onstage and dragged Allison off to the corner.
Randall is just returning to his seat, while poor Allison hides her head in embarassment. 
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Alan
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Tower
Joined: 09 Jun 2005
Posts: 4978
Location: Liverpool and Malta for now
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| Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2005 5:55 am Post subject: |
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More inside the Hollinger Gold Mine.... Bit of a Challenge taking pictures underground!!!
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Tom |
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AlanB
Joined: 18 May 2005
Posts: 1522
Location: USA, NY, Queens
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| Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2005 6:16 am Post subject: |
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The real guests of honor arrive at the Mac in style, in the STC / Timmins Gold Mine Tour van.
Even though she wasn't with us, we celebrated Shania's birthday without her.
Tracy announces that since JD and Randall worked with Shania for all those years, that they should have the first and biggest pieces of cake, so Randall takes his piece.
Barry H and his wife make the first cut.
Frank Roch prepares for flying gingerale bottles.
Frank, with JD's and Randall's help, presents a thank you from all of the Fancon 3 attendees. It's a picture of Tracy with Shania from last November's Dedication, signed by all of those who attended Fancon 3.
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Alan
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shadowita
Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 1200
Location: Italy, Ferrara
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| Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2005 6:30 am Post subject: |
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Thanks Alan and the others for the awesome pics!
Ah! The next year I will be on them too!
The birthday cake was an awesome idea!
But maybe Shania would be appreciating more that on it was written
'Happy 3 10 th Birthday...' (its the first number after 3 9 )
I know, girls and age... (I have a lot of request to hide the year of birth from girls making the Cards!)
Are you thinking to send a piece of it to Shania too?!?
Maybe with the signs of all the conveneers on it?!?
Thanks again!
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STC ID Cards here! Updated 02 September 2010!
Last edited by shadowita on Sat Aug 20, 2005 6:33 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Tower
Joined: 09 Jun 2005
Posts: 4978
Location: Liverpool and Malta for now
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| Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2005 6:32 am Post subject: |
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Some nice pictures of Randal Waller, Shania's Guitar and Vocals Band member mixing with us Fans...
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_________________
Kind Regards,
Tom |
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Tower
Joined: 09 Jun 2005
Posts: 4978
Location: Liverpool and Malta for now
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shadowita
Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 1200
Location: Italy, Ferrara
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| Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2005 6:35 am Post subject: |
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| shadowita wrote: | Thanks Alan and the others for the awesome pics!
Ah! The next year I will be on them too!
The birthday cake was an awesome idea!
But maybe Shania would be appreciating more that on it was written
'Happy 3 10 th Birthday...' (its the first number after 3 9 )
I know, girls and age... (I have a lot of request to hide the year of birth from girls making the Cards!)
Are you thinking to send a piece of it to Shania too?!?
Maybe with the signs of all the conveneers on it?!?
Thanks again!
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Thanks to you Tom too of course!
_________________
STC ID Cards here! Updated 02 September 2010!
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shadowita
Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 1200
Location: Italy, Ferrara
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| Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2005 6:40 am Post subject: |
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Hey!
But there is no rest for conveneers & STC Staff ?!?
I have realized that is 05.30am there!!!
So many people is up yet?!?
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Tower
Joined: 09 Jun 2005
Posts: 4978
Location: Liverpool and Malta for now
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| Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2005 6:42 am Post subject: |
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Are you having fun yet? Trivia victims on stage at Shania's old School the Timmins High and Vocational.....
Did I tell you I got THREE whole points this year and tied for the finals with Richard!!!!
He 'buzzed in' before me to go through to the final later that night. Laugh a second stuff, especially when the 'Band' shouted out on one Triva Question about a Shania Song.... "What album was that" !!! I don't know they go off tour for a year or so and forget EVERYTHING
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| Timmins4ever (Chris) was a former pupil at THVS and ended up as our tour guide for the visit. He still has fond memories of his time at "Shania's" School |
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| This is the larger of the Maths and exam rooms. This year it was the only class room we could almost fit in as we have grown in numbers just a little bit! |
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_________________
Kind Regards,
Tom
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