OSAC is pleased to announce these artists will be touring Saskatchewan schools in 2026-2027!
FALL 2026
Axis Theatre: Where Have All the Buffalo Gone? (BC), Grades 4-12
Axis Theatre Company exists to create physical theatre for the young and young-at-heart - exploring aspects of clown, commedia dell'arte, music, movement, and puppetry to produce original plays. In the age of “looking down” at electronics, Axis Theatre draws young eyes up to engage them in interactive experiences that educate, inspire, and transform.Telling stories in unique ways, Axis Theatre is guided by these words: inventive, youthful, kinetic, multicultural, smart, and engaging. Axis Theatre’s rich 49-year history has inspired 60+ new creations. Our productions tour all over BC across Canada, into the United States and sometimes, overseas. We have been recognized with many Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards and as Touring Company of the Year by the BC Touring Council. WEBSITE
A Métis love-story that transcends time to safeguard history
Where Have All The Buffalo Gone? is a love story through the ages. Two star people and a Buffalo, fall to earth and continue to reconnect throughout history. Our play covers seven different periods of Métis history. We bear witness to the emergence of the Métis nations across the plains, the robust colonization that arises from the fur trade, the disappearance of the buffalo and the political uprising of the Métis Association of Alberta. The story begins during creation amongst the stars and ends in the present day.
Where Have All The Buffalo Gone? specifically shares scenarios from the Callihoo family’s stories, incorporating fiddle music, jigging and a life-like buffalo puppet. Inspired by historical events of the Métis people of Canada, this original play for young audiences explores the loves, the losses and the fight of Treaty 6’s Métis people – and their love and kinship to the buffalo. Languages: English, Michif, some French
Testimonials:
- “My class absolutely loved the show - the story, acting, puppet, lighting and set have all been talked about in our debriefs! They enjoyed all of the magic you created. Thank you as well for the Q&A at the end. Very enriching for our young audience.” Norma Rose Point Elementary
- “Axis Theatre’s Where Have All the Buffalo Gone? proved to be a thrilling and engaging production. As a music/theatre performer myself, I admire the effort put forth by all three actors. Their dynamics together were lovely to watch. Not only was it the first time I had watched a performance with only three actors, but I also learned a lot about Métis culture, arts, and history. The story is told so audiences can hold onto the rich knowledge. Where Have All the Buffalo Gone? is an intricately thought-out play with charm and knowledge, and I hope it can reach a bigger, broader audience.,” KItsilano Secondary (Grade11)
- “Our students LOVED the performance last week!” Norma Rose Point Elementary
- “I think the stage lighting was cool because you could tell what time of day it was, and the music described how the actors felt. And overall, the play was really interesting and cool, and you all did a really great job! Grade 4 student, Norma Rose Point Elementary
The FloWarrior: Daniel Tamagi (AB) – K-12 audiences
Daniel Tamagi, The FloWarrior is a world-renowned award-winning instructor, multidisciplinary performance artist, and motivational speaker. With a Master’s degree in Medical Physics, and over a decade as a professional performance artist, he possesses a powerful blend of academic and artistic backgrounds which he draws upon to connect with, inspire, and empower audiences of all ages. Using his spectacular performance skills and shared love of popular culture (star wars, anime, videogames etc.); he has a unique ability to captivate young audiences’ attention, gain their respect, and impact them with his story. He has pioneered his own unique brand of 'martial artistry' through years of training and dedication to his craft, by combining his passions for dance, martial arts and music, while exploring his cultural heritage as a Japanese Canadian. Having experienced firsthand the power that art has to transform lives for the better, he is on a mission to share the gift of inspiration with the next generation and empower them to find their own unique Path of Purpose in an ever-changing modern world. WEBSITE
How to Unlock Your Superpowers
This show has reached over 11,000 students and is designed to inspire and empower students to discover/develop their unique gifts.
Main themes: Skill development, intuition, creativity, growth mindset
Key Points:
- Teaches students that they all have unique gifts, or “superpowers,” that are waiting to be discovered
- Facilitates a deeper connection to their intuition and inspiration, helping them uncover their individual strengths
- Shares a transformative “secret recipe” for nurturing and developing these extraordinary gifts
Key show elements:
Captivating Performances: A diverse range of thrilling performances captures students' attention and respect, ensuring they remain engaged throughout the show. Meaningful Connections: Each performance is linked to important lessons on creativity, skill development, critical thinking, and more, reinforcing the educational impact. Cultural Relevance: Elements of popular culture and cultural identity that resonate with students—such as lightsabers, martial arts, and anime/cosplay—enhance both the enjoyment and effectiveness of the lessons. Interactive Participation: Audience involvement, including both students and teachers, boosts interactivity and fosters a deeper connection to the material.
SPRING 2027
Amanda Panda: Shine Your Light! (AB), K-12 audiences
Entertainer, author, and entrepreneur, Amanda Panda, will leave you smiling with her bright colours and exceptional talent. Larger than life and a natural kid magnet, this multi-talented artist has been sharing her journey and skills using a growth mindset approach for over a decade. Amanda's the author of a children's book that inspires following your dreams and has shared her circus story across Canada both in person and virtually. Her business, Hula Hoop Circus, is where education meets entertainment by providing circus performances and workshops to encourage discovery learning and self-confidence. Nominated as Canada’s Top Hula Hooper and Most Influential Canadian Flow Artist in the 2019 CanSpin Awards, Amanda inspires people of all ages to work hard, play hard, and dream big!
Success begins with believing you can! Amanda Panda gets students excited about trying new things, embracing who they are, and shining their unique light in the world. A solo performance to inspire passion, play and perseverance while showcasing a variety of creative athletic feats involving hula hoops, juggling, spinning plates and humor. Amanda playfully engages students and staff with her skills to demonstrate the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone, embracing your mistakes, and that practice makes progress. During the show Amanda shares how using a growth mindset helped her succeed in her big dream of becoming a professional hula hooper. She also talks about the process and obstacles she overcame while publishing her book. Elementary schools will receive a signed copy plus a coordinating activity book.
Amanda is also available to perform an assembly show then do a full day of 30-45 minute Hula Hoop Workshops. Promote health and active living through a fun and unique physical activity. Give students the opportunity to try something new and improve their physical literacy in an engaging one-day workshop. Hula Hoop Workshops can have up to 60 students per session. Amanda provides 40 hula hoops and school hoops can be used for numbers over that. WEBSITE
Sultans of String – Fiddlefire! (ON) – Chris McKhool (fiddle) and Kevin Laliberté (guitar) K-12 audiences
3x JUNO nominees and SiriusXM winners Sultans of String create “Energetic and exciting music from a band with talent to burn!” (Maverick Magazine UK). Thrilling their audiences with their BILLBOARD-charting, genre-hopping passport of Celtic reels, flamenco, Django-jazz, Arabic, and Cuban rhythms, Sultans of String celebrate musical fusion and human creativity with warmth and virtuosity. Fiery violin dances with rumba-flamenco guitar, laying down unstoppable grooves. Acoustic strings meet with electronic wizardry to create layers and depth of sound, while world rhythms excite audiences to their feet with the irresistible need to dance.
“Canada is a real meeting place of musical influences from around the world”, says Chris. “Music has the ability to bring people and cultures together in a way that emulates what we love to see in the world. It creates a collaboration that breaks down the barriers that divide us, helps us to see our common humanity and provides a model for peace.”
Chris McKhool is a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal recipient for creating community through music. He has a Lebanese father and an Egyptian-born mother who happened to play piano, teach classical theory, and feed her young son as much Middle Eastern cuisine as she did music lessons. From there, the powerful violinist developed a taste for multi-genre string sounds and found a like-minded crew of all-world enthusiasts. When McKhool first heard founding guitarist Kevin’s rumba rhythm, their musical synergy created Sultans of String’s signature sound – the intimate and playful relationship between violin and guitar.
Kevin Laliberté has toured the world with guitarist and recording artist Jesse Cook. Highlights of his five-year tenure with Jesse include an appearance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, backing up Charlotte Church. Kevin has released five solo albums of his unique brand of original instrumental music, blending the sounds of flamenco, bossa-nova, pop and jazz with the romance of the Spanish guitar. His music has been used in film and TV. In addition to his role as co-founder and co-composer of Sultans of String, Kevin has also been the long-time guitarist and songwriting collaborator with Latin vocalist and recording artist Amanda Martinez, touring Canada, the USA, Mexico, and appearing at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. WEBSITE
Green Thumb Theatre: Caged (BC) Grades 8-12
How can you navigate a relationship when you don’t even know what a healthy one looks like? Can a friendship survive the tension between love and control? After a summer apart, two teenage friends reunite in their secret park spot, where their friendship and shared memories have always been a safe refuge. But everything shifts when Ronnie brings along her new boyfriend, Trev, a charming yet increasingly controlling presence. Trev’s influence quickly begins to seep into every corner of Ronnie’s life, from her dance practice to her relationship with Jas. Subtle red flags start to emerge. Ronnie is torn between the demands of her new relationship and her deep connection to her friend.
Award-winning playwright Rachel Aberle has written some of Green Thumb’s most popular shows, including Still•Falling and The Code—both powerful, sold-out hits that struck a chord with teen audiences across the country. WEBSITE
Themes:
Abuse prevention, controlling behaviour, navigating friendships, and first romantic relationships.
Curriculum Connections:
Communication, Personal Awareness and Responsibility, Social Awareness and Responsibility, Critical Thinking and Reflective Thinking.
Illustrations and images by Grae Saslisbury