Andrea Menard: Metis Artist An Old Soul

Andrea Menard is a Metis actor and singer from Saskatoon. She is well known in the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities as a powerful singer, a gifted storyteller, and a tremendously talented and flexible actor. Whether it be the professional theatre community, the music industry, or the film and television industry, Andrea Menard’s talent and music appeals to a wide audience.

She has written and starred in her first play, The Velvet Devil, (music co-written by Robert Walsh) which premiered at Regina’s Globe Theatre in its 2000/2001 season. The play generated much excitement and inspired the following events: a production at the National Arts Center, a CD of the music, a live broadcast of the play on CBC National Radio, and a film version with Westwind Pictures in 2004 (Designer Guys).

Andrea Menard’s powerful voice is lyrical, raw, and reminiscent of the jazz and blues singers of the 1940’s. Her presence on stage sets an audience at ease whether she is telling a story, making them laugh or making them cry.

Ms. Menard is truly a gifted performer who has the ability to cross culture and language by speaking from her heart.

Ms. Menard landed one of the leading roles in the hit new television series, Moccasin Flats, and has been featured in such films as John Ketcham’s I Accuse, Anne Wheeler’s Betrayed, and Tri-Mark Pictures’ Skipped Parts. Because of her growing reputation as a celebrity, many television programs such as APTN’s Buffalo Tracks, APTN and SCN’s Seventh Generation, CBC’s Canada Now, CTV’s Indigenous Circle, Shaw Cable’s Project Discovery, APTN and SCN’s Metcom and Canadian Learning Channel’s Careers TV, have featured Andrea as a celebrity profile or positive role model.

She was nominated for the Best Lead Female at the Saskatchewan Motion Picture Awards for her work in the short film, Harold & Katja and was invited to be a special guest on CBC’s Dead Dog CafĂ© Comedy Hour for two of their seasonal specials. Recently, Andrea was privileged to be part of the talented cast of performers at the 10th Anniversary National Aboriginal Achievement Awards in Ottawa and has been invited back next year.

Her reputation as a solid, acappella performer has earned her many invitations it perform at prestigious government events. During his recent visit, Andrea was asked to perform a one-woman show for His Royal Highness, The Earl of Wessex, at Regina’s Globe Theater. She was also invited to perform for His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, at the Saskatchewan Premiere’s Community Luncheon in Sasktoon in 2001.

She performed at the signing of The Metis Act in Regina, was invited to sing for the Senate during Ottawa’s Aboriginal Awareness Week, and performed for Sheila Copps at the Gathering of Aboriginal Artistic Expression. Ms. Menard just received the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal by the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan for her outstanding performance in the arts.

Recent events had Andrea featured in the Government of Saskatchewan’s “Only in Saskatchewan” campaign as well as the Saskatchewan Tourism initiative that reached a wide-spread readership in neighboring state and provincial newspapers, where she was acknowledged nation-wide for creating a high profile and flourishing career in the arts.

Andrea Menard is well respected in the professional theatre community. Her credible work in new plays makes her the top actress sought by Saskatchewan playwrights and theatres. Some of the premiere theatre productions in which she has been involved include: Mansel Robinson’s playStreet Wheat, Floyd Favel Starr’s Governor or the Dew, Greg Daniels’ playFour Horses, Joe Welsh’s play Scared Places, Henry Woolf’s Bim & Bub, and a collaborative work called The Batoche Musical, held during Back to Batoche Days.

She also appeared in Prairie Theatre’s Exchange’s Premiere Production of Joni-Mitchell: River, and the classic play by Tomson Highway The Rez Sisters.

Recently, Andrea appeared in Persephone Theatre’s prduction of Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth and starred in Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company’s production of Wawatay.

She is currently performing in her own hit show, The Velvet Devil, at the Saskatchewan Native Theatre.