Kara Shaw headlines Shining Stars

FERGUS – Grinder Productions, in association with Creative Connector and Réseau SPARC Network, is presenting Shining Stars, a free concert featuring artists from the deaf and disability community.

The concert takes place on Nov. 15 at 2pm at the Fergus Grand Theatre thanks to Creative Connector. 

In 2024 the organization launched a program called The Access Playbook, a deaf and disability-led learning program for arts presenters and organizations. 

Grinder Productions’ creative and executive director Eric Goudie was a participant in the pilot cohort of the Playbook, helping to test out and refine the program’s delivery. 

As a result of that participation he was given the opportunity to program this event.

“One of the first things I learned in the Access Playbook project was that deaf and disabled are not derogatory terms,” says Goudie.

“They are words that have been reclaimed by the deaf and disability community, and are more appropriate than terms like differently-abled.”

The show’s headliner is local favourite Kara Shaw, a blind pianist, composer, music director and radio host, who has been performing on the Fergus Grand Theatre’s stage since childhood.

Joining her at the piano will be Ashley Stewart and Amber Roberts, both of whom have found ways to play the music that they love despite numerous challenges. 

Poet Laura Orser and actress Nicole Anna-Lynne Smith round out the line up.

Admission is free but donations to the Centre Wellington Food Bank are graciously accepted.

Grinder Productions would like to thank Creative Connector for making this concert a reality as well as Réseau SPARC Network, who played a pivotal supporting role.