This special bundle contains seven books that detail Canada’s long and storied history in the performing arts. We learn about Canada’s early Hollywood celebrity movie stars; Canadians’ vast contributions to successful international stage musicals; the story of The Grand, a famous theatre in London, Ontario; reminiscences from the early days of radio; the history of the renowned Stratford Festival; and a lavish history of the famous National Ballet of Canada. Canada’s performing artists blossomed in the twentieth century, and you can learn all about it here.

Includes

• Broadway North
• Let’s Go to The Grand!
• Once Upon a Time in Paradise
• Passion to Dance
• Sky Train
• Romancing the Bard
• Stardust and Shadows

James Neufeld has been going to the ballet for nearly fifty years and has written extensively about dance and the arts in Canada. Previously, he published Power to Rise and Lois Marshall. He recently retired from a thirty-eight year teaching career at Trent University and lives in Peterborough, Ontario.

James Neufeld's profile page

Charles Foster is the author of Stardust and Shadows, Once Upon a Time in Paradise, and Donald Brian: The King of Broadway. A former show business publicist in London, England, he represented Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Marilyn Monroe, and Errol Flynn, among others. Charles later worked in Hollywood as a television scriptwriter and then with the Canadian government as a writer, where he wrote speeches for three prime ministers. For the past nine years he has contributed a story from his life to each edition of the Seniors’ Advocate. He lives in Moncton, New Brunswick.

Charles Foster's profile page

Mel Atkey has been writing musicals ever since he was in high school in his native Vancouver. He was a finalist for the Musical of the Year competition in Aarhus, Denmark, and his work has been short-listed for the Vivian Ellis Prize, the Quest for New Musicals, the Ken Hill Prize and Musical Stairs. His first musical, Shikara, was produced on radio in Canada. A single was released by singer Janice Jaud of one of the songs, "Far Away," and received airplay across Canada and the United States.

His book When We Both Got to Heaven: James Atkey Among the Anishnabek at Colpoyís Bay tells the story of his ancestor James Atkey, who came to Georgian Bay from the Isle of Wight in 1854 as a teacher to the Ojibwa. It was published by Natural Heritage Books, Toronto, in October 2002. Broadway North: The Dream of a Canadian Musical Theatre will be published by Natural Heritage in October 2006.

Mel Atkey's profile page

Martin Hunter was born in Toronto. On his graduation from the University of Toronto he joined the Department of External Affairs, and later had a career in business before returning to his first love, the theatre. He served as artistic director of Hart House Theatre at U of T in the seventies. Active as a director and as a playwright, he has written for many magazines and produced a number of programs for CBC radio. His first book, Romancing the Bard, was published in 2001.

Martin Hunter's profile page

Sheila M.F. Johnston was raised in Stratford, Ontario. She earned a B.A. in English in 1980 from the University of Western Ontario, London. During a 20-year career in arts marketing, Sheila has worked at The Stratford Festival, The Globe Theatre (Regina, Saskatchewan), The Nuffield Theatre (Southampton, England), The Lighthouse Festival Theatre (Port Dover, Ontario), the Grand Theatre (London, Ontario) and the Gateway Theatre (Richmond, B.C.).Sheila is the author of Buckskin & Broadcloth: A Celebration of E. Pauline Johnson-Tekahionwake, 1861-1913 and Let's Go to The Grand!: 100 Years of Entertainment at London's Grand Theatre, both published by Natural Heritage. Both of Sheila's books celebrate the love she has for Canada's theatre history. She feels privileged to have been associated with Canadian theatre and Canadian theatre artists throughout her career in the arts.She lives in Richmond, B.C., with her husband, playwright/director/producer Simon Johnston.

Sheila M.F. Johnston's profile page

Ward McBurney has been broadcasting his stories on CBC Radio One's Fresh Air for over four years. He is a contributing editor at Write magazine, and has worked as a bookseller, managing editor, historical interpreter, and farm hand. Ward now freelances from his home in downtown Toronto. Sky Train is his first book.

Ward McBurney's profile page