January 2026
Jennifer Harding - Creating a Great Tribute Show
We enjoyed an engaging, educational, and entertaining conversation with Jennifer Harding, the opening guest of the 2026 Grove Guild season. Jennifer has had a full and illustrious career, and she shared how deeply influential her father has been in shaping her path. Having worked in the theatre industry himself, he exposed Jennifer to the world of live performance at a young age, allowing her to shadow his work and learn firsthand that it takes to succeed. Those early experiences helped shape her into the professional actor and singer she is today—both on and off the stage. She shared with a laugh that he still offers unsolicited feedback on her work.
Jennifer also spoke about how instrumental her early career on cruise ships was. During that time, she performed in and directed forty-five-minute tribute shows, gaining invaluable experience in pacing, audience engagement, and musical storytelling—skills that continue to inform her work today.
Throughout the conversation, Jennifer demonstrated what it takes to build and sustain a prolific career. She described her proactive “what if?” mindset—asking questions like, “What if we tried this? What if we explored that?”—as a driving force behind her creative process. Rather than waiting passively for opportunities, Jennifer jumps in, analyzes possibilities, and actively works to move projects forward. She offered a clear example: while many actors apply for roles and wait for callbacks, Jennifer takes initiative and creates momentum. It was evident that Jennifer Harding makes things happen.
We then turned to defining what a tribute show truly is. Jennifer emphasized that a tribute show is not an impersonation. Recreating an artist’s voice, look, and stage presence carries risks if not executed flawlessly, often leading to disappointment rather than delight. Jennifer expressed the need to educate audiences about what tribute shows should be so that theater patrons have an unforgettable theatrical experience. What resonated for many of our guild members was her emphasis that tribute shows are a tribute to the artist(s).
According to Jennifer, great tribute shows should make a big splash. They are meant to evoke memories, inspire movement, and create joy. As Artistic Director for the 70s Dance Party and Canadian Music Legends Volume Two tribute productions at The Grove Theatre this season, her goal is to create “the memories that music evokes”, and to honor what that music means to each individual audience member. Her approach includes unexpected surprises, high energy, and thoughtful pacing. Rather than presenting long, drawn-out songs, she favors a montage- style format—snippets of music woven together to create a fast-paced, celebratory experience that leaves a lasting impression.
Our discussion then focused on how a great tribute show is built from the ground up. In planning The Grove’s 70s Dance Party, Jennifer began by assembling a list of approximately 60 songs. She listened to each one, building playlists and categorizing songs by artist and genre. From there, she reviewed the performers selected at auditions, carefully considering voice type, acting ability, musical style, dance skills, and instrumental talent—essentially matchmaking performers to material. Jennifer then collaborates closely with the Music Director to mix, condense, and refine the music, finding rhythms and transitions that work best together. Once the musical framework is set, costume and set design follow. Rehearsals begin in June, and just two and a half weeks later, it’s showtime!
Jennifer highlighted the demanding reality for Grove performers. While performing one show, artists are often simultaneously rehearsing for the next. Many juggle three to four productions in a season, requiring flexibility, stamina, and the ability to quickly shift gears—an important consideration during the hiring process.
As always, the recurring theme of “it takes a village” came up. Jennifer likened producing a show to baking a cake —every ingredient matters. Importantly, the audience is part of that recipe - the baking powder. Audience energy feeds the performers, energizing the stage and shaping the performance in real time. Without that energy, the show simply doesn’t rise to its full potential.
We also touched briefly on theatre etiquette. Performers can see and hear the audience—especially during daylight performances and particularly those seated close to the stage. While enthusiasm is always welcome (and dancing in front of your seat - never in the aisles - is encouraged!), respect for the performers and the performance is essential, as negative energy can also be felt.
On a personal note, Jennifer shared her gratitude for being able to live and work in the Kawarthas. After years of traveling and working abroad earlier in her career, she doesn’t take this chapter for granted. True to her proactive nature, she balances family, career, and self-care with intention—prioritizing her two young children through notes, daily FaceTime calls while she’s away, and maintaining self-care routines that include early mornings, yoga, and Pilates.
A fun fact to close: while Jennifer’s professional roots are in musical theatre, her favorite music genre is Country Rock. Her debut album, Sunday School Teacher, released in 2018, reflects that influence with a country and blues-inspired sound.
We were also delighted to hear that The Grove Theatre is creating a buzz within the industry. Jennifer shared that fellow performers are asking about Fenelon Falls and The Grove, curious about our theatre and our community. It’s wonderful to know that word is spreading about our little town and its remarkable theatre community.
