2026 Fringey X-Tras
Sometimes, Fringe shows and Duality programming isn’t enough. Sometimes you just need something a little X-Tra.
Fringe Speaker’s Corner
When: August 11th – 15th from 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Where: Good Atlas
Address: 348 Fraser St, North Bay, ON
Cost: n/a
During Fringe week, artists, patrons, and passersby are invited to Good Atlas’s Corner of Speak to explore the provided prompts, or speak freely from their heart about matters of the heart, grocery lists, or whatever feels right to them in that corner, in that moment. Want to tell us about a show you just saw, or what you think about the art scene of North Bay? Well, this is the place to do it.
The Corner will be set up in Good Atlas’s mini gallery space. Instructions will be provided, but basically speakers will hit record on the camera when they want to start talking and then stop the camera when they are done. Speakers are not allowed to erase their footage, but they are able to leave a note to request that we not share the footage. The footage will be used to make a compilation video about Fringe, Art, Existing, and Observation.
What will you say?
Arts Information Session with Holly Cunningham
When: August 14th – 15th from 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Where: Northern Himalayan Cafe
Address: 113 Main St E, North Bay, ON
Cost: n/a
Join Holly Cunningham, Executive Director of Creative Industries, for an information session about the local arts scene, grants, funding opportunities, and other programs artists can access to support their practices.
About Holly Cunningham:
Holly is a local arts community organizer and musician who was formerly the Executive Director of the Near North Mobile Media Lab. She is a graduate of Sheridan College’s Media Arts program and holds a BA in Fine Arts from Nipissing University. Her professional work has focused on bridging gaps for artists in northern Ontario, specifically through her work on the Digital Creator North program, North Bay Film Festival and as a long time board member of Creative Industries. Other professional work includes the Independent Media Arts Alliance of Canada (IMAA), Cultural Industries Ontario North, Ice Follies Biennial and the Media Arts Network of Ontario. Holly is a former member of award winning ensemble Hidden Roots Collective and currently the drummer of local femme-fun punk band Peach Pact.
Musical Theatre workshop with Michelle Jackett
When: August 15th – 15th from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Where: Betty Speers Theatre
Address: 150 Main St E, North Bay, ON
Cost: $10
Michelle Jackett will take participants through an engaging and interactive workshop focusing on the “storytelling” that is the foundation of all good music theatre through selected choreography and song from the musical Cabaret. This workshop doesn’t require a background in dance or singing but is geared towards an actor’s approach to music theatre. It is also intended for participants that are 15 years old or older.
The workshop will include:
- A choreography session taught by Michelle (no dance experience required) that will focus on the delivery of choreography to enhance the storytelling of the musical piece.
- A song delivery session. Participants will be taught a solo song and coached as a group how to make emotional shifts and get to the heart of the story through delivery of the piece.
Participants will then have a chance to present the work to an audience of fellow festival members, public, friends and family for the last 15-minutes of the workshop.
About Michelle Jackett:
Michelle Jackett is an actor, choreographer and director based in North Bay. She is the current Artistic Director/ Program Coordinator for the Acting for Stage and Screen program at Canadore College. Michelle’s career in professional theatre and film has spanned over 30 years and has taken her across the globe and North America. Michelle has worked with the Ontario Arts Council as an artist in education, grant advisory member, and Northern Outreach Coordinator through Ontario Dances. Michelle has been a performer, director and jury member for the On the Edge Fringe Festival and is a staunch supporter for the mission of the festival. She is a proud alumni of the Music Theatre Performance Program at Sheridan College, and a passionate advocate for arts education and supporting the next generation of emerging artists.