Andrea Menard,

special guest at the Stegner House Dinner March 19th, 2011

 

Andrea Menard
Magnetic, Eclectic, Passionate
-Biography -
Andrea Menard, an acclaimed singer, actor and writer is becoming an ever- more eclectic creative force.
She is a fun-loving firecracker of a personality, but Andrea Menard also has her feet planted firmly on Mother Earth. Something is happening to Menard's outlook – something she describes as an awakening, a deepening awareness of a global consciousness. That doesn't change Menard's fiery, sometimes irreverent self-expression. She is simply exploring new directions, in exciting, passionate new ways.
From her new collection of jazz songs, soon to be orchestrated and recorded, to a screenplay taking up much of her time, Menard's voice is tuning in to the universal soul – a serious concept; but every soul also wants to laugh and sing…just like Menard.

 

MUSIC

The creative spark inside Andrea Menard has caught fire on her third album, a multi-genre original work that celebrates the glittering winter, and the desire to go deep within. "I called this album Sparkle, because that is my prayer for the winters ahead — to allow the spark within us to burst into flames and ignite a grand illumination all across the globe," says Menard. Sparkle is a holiday release, but the roots and jazz songs, written with long-time collaborator and producer Robert Walsh, cover a wide spectrum. Humour and poignancy always walk hand in hand in Menard's work. Menard wrote and starred in a television holiday special, called Sparkle: An Evening with Andrea Menard, that will be broadcast on APTN in the 2010 holiday season.
The talented songstress' first two award-winning albums, Simple Steps (2005) and The Velvet Devil (2002), both feature original songs, written by Menard and Robert Walsh, long time collaborators. Simple Steps, produced by Walsh, is "a little bit country, and a whole lot of folk". It won a number of awards for its outstanding performance and production. Menard's debut CD, The Velvet Devil is the music of her hit one-woman jazz musical play that swept up awards all across the country.
Both CDs have received much acclaim and interest across the country and internationally. Original music from The Velvet Devil was featured on the television series Queer as Folk as well as the soundtrack CD for Season IV. As a standout vocalist, Andrea is also featured on numerous compilation CD's including: Real Divas, a national compilation CD featuring Canada's finest female jazz artists.

 

FILM, TELEVISION & STAGE

The award-winning film adaptation of her one-woman musical stage play The Velvet Devil, which Menard has performed all over Canada, debuted nationally on CBC's television series Opening Night. The adapted film script, written by Menard and director, Larry Bauman, with music written by Menard and Robert Walsh, swept 13 awards at the 2008 Showcase Awards, including Best Lead Female, Best Original Score, Best Original Script, and Best Dramatic Feature. Andrea's performance in the made-for-television movie received rave reviews and garnered a Gemini nomination for Best Performance by an Actress (2006). The Velvet Devil was produced by Executive Producer, Michael Snook of WestWind Pictures (Little Mosque on the Prairie).
Andrea starred in the dramatic series, Rabbit Fall (Angel Entertainment), which is a supernatural crime drama filmed on location in Saskatchewan. Andrea played the new constable sent to the eerie town of Rabbit Fall, where she combat criminals as well as supernatural forces. Menard, who performed all her own stunts, won Best Female Lead at the 2009 SMPIA Awards for her role and was nominated for a 2009 Gemini Award for Best Actress in a Dramatic Role. Menard also starred in three seasons of the dramatic series, Moccasin Flats (Showcase & APTN). She was also nominated for a Gemini award in 2006 for her performance as Amanda Strongeagle, a groundbreaking role featuring one of the first lead lesbian characters on a Canadian television series. She also played a recurring role in Verite Films (Corner Gas) renegadepress.com (Global). Andrea recently performed in Germany at the Indianer-Inuit Film Festival, where they screened the film version of The Velvet Devil, and her first video, Evergreen. The video also screened at the ImagineNATIVE Film Festival, the Reel World Film Festival and was nominated for "Best Music Video" at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards. (link Evergreen to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cObU4i5Dls)

 

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES

Andrea Menard dazzles audiences on screen and stage –alone, on a bare stage, singing a cappella, or accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra. Andrea's reputation as a powerhouse performer has earned her many invitations to perform for royalty, prime ministers, premiers, senators, ambassadors, and governor generals.
In celebration of Saskatchewan's Centennial, Andrea joined an acclaimed cast (including Joni Mitchell, Buffy Saint Marie, Leslie Nielson, Colin James) in the Lieutenant-Governor's Celebration of the Arts, performing for Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip. Andrea performed with a grand combination of both the Saskatoon and Regina Symphony orchestras for her original jazz song, Sunny Makes Me Sunny. She has also given command performances for His Royal Highness, The Earl of Wessex, at Regina's Globe Theatre and His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, at the Saskatchewan Premier's Community Luncheon. Andrea toured Saskatchewan with a fundraising concert tour for the Food Banks with country music star Brad Johner, and toured the country with Tom Jackson on the Huron Carole. She was part of an all-star cast on the George Canyon Christmas Special, which aired on CBC in December 2007, and recently sang with the Canadian Tenors on CBC's Holiday Festival on Ice, which featured skating performances by several Olympic and World Champion figure skaters. Also, Andrea was asked to perform in the Saskatchewan Pavilion and the Athletes' Village in Whistler during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. And for the second time, Menard co-hosted the 2010, 17th Annual National Aboriginal Achievement Awards.
For more information, visit Andrea's website:
http://www.andreamenard.com

http://www.myspace.com/andreamenard
For interviews, contact:
Office Management:
Dawn Gamble
menard.bookings@sasktel.net

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