When Andrea Stewart of Cut Knife sent in her TeleMiracle audition tape in the fall of 2019, she didn’t know what to expect. As far as she knows, nobody had ever recited poetry on the Telemiracle stage before.
She was selected as one of the performers for TeleMiracle 44 in early March 2020, just before the pandemic, the last fully live TeleMiracle.
Knowing she was going to read her self-written poem, “The Saskatchewan Homesteader,” the producers had collected photographs from early homesteading days. The photos were shown on screen as she stood on the stage, reading her poem.
Thinking back, Stewart said, “It was fabulous. It just made it so much more interesting.”
Time went by and then the acapella singing group she is a part of, Battlefords Blend, auditioned and made the cut for last year’s TeleMiracle. The group made the collective decision to audition again for this year’s show and, especially with TeleMiracle being in Saskatoon this year, Stewart decided she would audition again as well, with another poem.
Both Battlefords Blend and Stewart were accepted for this year’s show, although their performances will be pre-recorded and not live.
Stewart said, “They are looking for unique acts and Battlefords Blend is an acapella group and, with spoken word, there hasn’t been any other spoken word, so they were quite pleased to have me back.”
Now Stewart is busy raising money, especially grateful Nutrien will be matching the dollars raised locally by SaskTalent artists up to a maximum of $100,000. “Your donation goes twice as far,” she said.
As part of her fundraising efforts, Stewart shared some of her shorter pieces at the seniors’ potluck supper in Cut Knife Jan. 15. The poetry she read included some humorous pieces as well as some thought-provoking ones such as “Equine Justice.”
Stewart said, “I believe in TeleMiracle, and all the money stays in Saskatchewan, which I like. It’s one of those things where I hope I never have to use it, but I’m so glad it’s there.”
Stewart said she has written poetry “on and off” throughout her life, starting with some writing in high school. She writes a lot of poems about homesteading, as well as about horses and “other bits and pieces.” Sometimes a special occasion or a story she hears will inspire her. She likes poems best “when they tell a story, especially if there’s some humour in it.”
Further TeleMiracle fundraising efforts on Stewart’s part include plans to attend another seniors’ supper in Cut Knife, approach individuals she knows who regularly contribute to the cause and going to Cut Knife Community School where she will sell Helping Hands. Feb. 10 will see her doing a poetry reading at the Neilburg seniors’ centre.
People can also donate online at .
Stewart hopes other poets will consider auditioning for TeleMiracle in the future. “Poetry should be heard, and there are a lot better poets and a lot better performers around than I am. It is an art form and people do enjoy it.”
For anyone considering the possibility and nervous about it, Stewart had nothing but praise for the organizers and others working behind the scenes at TeleMiracle. “Everyone was just fantastic. They were so helpful and kind – good people doing good work for a good cause.”
TeleMiracle 49 will be on CTV Saskatchewan, March 1 and 2, but the approximate times for Stewart’s poetry reading and for the Battlefords Blend performance are not yet determined.
