Magnus Theatre is about to raise the curtain on a season that stretches from quirky comedies to world premieres and even a classic rock opera. For Artistic Director Thom Currie, it’s more than a lineup of plays – it’s a season-long conversation about truth, perspective, and how stories shape the way we see the world.
“As a regional theatre, a major part of our mission is to appeal to as many people as possible, and Thunder Bay has very wide-ranging tastes,” Thom explains. “That’s why our tagline has been ‘different every time.’ I really started to gravitate toward stories that explored truth and untruth. All of this seasons’ plays take a look – sometimes comedic, sometimes thrilling, sometimes uplifting – at how we hear and interpret what we see and hear. What and where is the truth?”
That question sets the tone from the very first production. Opening September 25, Bigfoot! by Ephraim Ellis is a fast-paced Canadian comedy about three oddballs holed up in a remote ranger station on a sasquatch hunt. “It’s funny, romantic, and quick-witted, but it also takes a deep dive into podcast culture and responsible journalism,” says Thom. “Do we shape the story to fit a narrative, or do we report exactly what we see? It’s very much a story for 2025.”
From the forests of British Columbia, the spotlight shifts to Magnus’ brand-new Studio Theatre with Chase the Ace by Mark Crawford. “I’ve loved Mark’s work since we did Bed and Breakfast in 2018,” Thom says. “He wrote Chase the Ace and performed it himself throughout the pandemic. It’s a high-energy, one-man tour de force that felt like the perfect way to open the new space.”
The season then takes a festive turn with Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some) – a cheeky mash-up of holiday tales and traditions. “We started doing Christmas shows by accident, but during the pandemic, patrons told us how much Magnus’ holiday play meant to their family celebrations,” says Thom. “This piece asks the question that weighs on me every December: what do you do when audiences are sick of endless productions of A Christmas Carol?”
In February, Magnus premieres a brand-new work by celebrated Indigenous playwright Drew Hayden Taylor. On Thin Ice is a mystery-thriller unlike anything he’s written before. “Drew is a great humourist, but this is a complete departure for him,” Thom says. “Magnus has produced many of his works over the years, and I’m thrilled he trusted us to launch this in Thunder Bay.”
Then comes one of the biggest rock musicals of all time: Jesus Christ Superstar. For Thom, staging it is a dream that has been decades in the making. “I’ve wanted to do this show since high school. It’s political, it’s about backroom deals and public perception of celebrity – all highly relevant today. And it’s also a banger,” he says with a grin. Directed by Canadian powerhouse Julie Tomaino with musical direction by Thunder Bay’s own Danny Johnson, Thom promises, “You may have seen it before, but you ain’t seen nothing yet. If you enjoyed Magnus’ productions of We Will Rock You and The Rocky Horror Show, you’ll be blown away by Jesus Christ Superstar.”
Finally, the season closes in the Studio Theatre with Harold Pinter’s No Man’s Land. “I wanted something that would feel intimate, like eavesdropping on a conversation across the room,” Thom explains. “Pinter is one of the great writers of the 20th century, and this play offers an allegory for our own uncertain times.” It’s also a chance for Thom to pay tribute to a tradition that shaped him: “I have a deep affection for the world theatre of the mid to late 20th century, from Tennessee Williams to Neil Simon to Harold Pinter to David Mamet.”
Behind every choice is a balancing act. “I work hard to put together a varied playbill – comedy, musical, drama, new and established work,” Thom says. “Thunder Bay audiences are discerning. They love new plays, but they also want to see familiar works done in new ways. The hardest part is always letting go of a play that doesn’t fit.”
That commitment to variety extends beyond the stage itself. With the addition of the Studio Theatre, audiences now have multiple spaces to choose from. “I don’t want people to think of the Studio as lesser than the Mainstage,” Thom says. “I want them to think of it as choice. Imagine seeing different shows in different spaces, then meeting up in the lounge afterwards to compare experiences. That’s where theatre becomes a true community hub.”
And community is at the heart of it all. “Magnus is at a point of rebirth, entering a new phase of development and renewed growth. My mission has always been to connect Magnus to the greater community, here and beyond. If we can bring joy, I’m happy.”
As for what will surprise audiences this season? “I always hope that everything is a surprise,” Thom says. But he does have a few gateway picks for newer theatregoers: Bigfoot!, Every Christmas Story Ever Told, and Jesus Christ Superstar.
Looking ahead, Thom sees a bright future for theatre in Thunder Bay. “More diversity and collaboration. The community theatre scene in this town is amazing, we are seeing artists move between the groups, cross-pollinating the creativity, heightening the quality of the productions. The educational theatre scene is equally awe-inspiring: the high schools are doing fantastic stuff, challenging themselves and their audiences, pushing the envelope and raising the bar for the students. The after-school and extracurricular theatre programs are also bustling, creating a generation of arts-smart citizens, from the little kids to the young adults. This makes for a healthier community and a kinder society. The future of theatre in Thunder Bay is bright.”
Magnus Theatre 2025–26 Season
- Bigfoot! – Sept. 25–Oct. 11, 2025
- Chase the Ace – Oct. 30–Nov. 15, 2025
- Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some) – Dec. 4–20, 2025
- On Thin Ice (World Premiere) – Feb. 12–28, 2026
- Jesus Christ Superstar – Mar. 26–Apr. 18, 2026
- No Man’s Land – May 7–23, 2026
Magnus Theatre’s new season is more than a lineup of plays — it’s an invitation. Live theatre only comes alive when the seats are filled, when laughter ripples through the room, when silence falls at a moment of truth. As community members, we have a part to play too: to show up, to share the experience, and to keep Thunder Bay’s stories thriving. Because that’s what live theatre is all about — being there when the curtain rises.
