Award Luncheon

During Award Luncheon you will have an opportunity to pay a tribute to our C&L Award recipient Mary C. Thornton, an incredible artist and inspiring leader. Below you can find some highlights of her long and fruitful life.

Mary C. Thornton

Mary C. Thornton is the original founder and creator of the Award–winning Visual Effects Department for Famous PEOPLE Players (FPP). It is because of Mary that Famous PEOPLE Players received rave reviews on Broadway and reached the dearest of all dreams: to become known as a Canadian Treasure.

Mary Thornton and one of her puppets.

As Head of Visual Art Effects, Mary is responsible for the design and creation of the brilliantly coloured props, costumes, life–size characters and unique settings that are magically brought to life by the Famous PEOPLE Players.

Mary has dedicated 33 years of her life to this internationally acclaimed company that works with people who have developmental challenges.

Mary was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in 1916 and had the good fortune to be educated in both Ontario and Italy. Her parents, natives of Ascoli Piceno, Italy, encouraged Mary's love of music and all of the arts.

Her early studies in San Augustino helped cultivate Mary's appreciation for fabric and its potential as a form of artwork. An apprenticeship in dressmaking, tailoring, crocheting and design led to a scholarship at the prestigious Ascoli Piceno Ceramics Factory, where she developed a keen ability to paint the beautiful handcrafted designs indigenous to the area.

Mary's background with fabrics led to a burgeoning retail career in Canada, where she met and married Stanley Thornton. Exploring the possibility of combining her interest in music and fabrics, Mary also served as Wardrobe Mistress to the Hamilton Opera Company.

An opportunity to perform in the chorus of a production provided by Mary with the chance to display her vocal prowess as well. At the age of 44, she was amazed to find herself with another previously undiscovered talent. Coached by Leonard Warren, Mary went to New York to study voice and returned to the Hamilton Opera Company to sing the role of Musetta in "La Boheme", as well as parts in "The Student Prince", "The Merry Widow", "Carmen" and "Madame Butterfly".

In 1965 she quit opera and dedicated her time to raising her teenage children. As a single mom, she nurtured two highly successful children despite all the odds.

However, it did not take long before Mary embarked on the idea of the Famous People Players club, a place where physically challenged people would challenge themselves to perform the impossible. Mary knows every one of them, they love her to bits, and she is mother to all.

Mary Thornton on the phone in her office.

At the young age of 92, Mary gets up at 5:30 a.m. every day. She exercises first, followed by breakfast. She starts work at The Famous People Players (FPP) at 7:30 a.m. and ends her day's work at about 10 p.m. each day.

Mary is presently nominated for the Order of Canada. On her 90th birthday, Mary received a special award from Pope Benedict XVI for her humanitarian contributions. Her additional accolades are:

  • The Fred Gardiner Award on behalf of Metropolitan Toronto in 1994.
  • She was presented with an autographed ceremonial kimono by prince Takamada of Japan for her performance at Kobe, Japan. To date, FPP tours Japan every year.
  • Her friend Liberace, took her and the Famous People Players to Las Vegas for his opening act, a partnership that lasted 12 years.
  • Paul Newman and his wife Joanne Woodward saw FPP performance in Broadway, New York. They have remained friends since and they donated for the present kitchen at the FPP.
  • Mary's friend Phil Collins donated for the theater and the sound system.
  • Clive Barnes in his New York Times theater critic revue wrote: "Best thing to see is Mary Thornton's Props."
  • Gordon Sinclair called FPP and Mary as "best find".
  • Radio City Musical — Re open R.C. "Sorcerer's apprentice".
  • Mary Tyler Moore asked Mary to create some of her new show characters.
  • Joe Clark calls Mary "Genius".

As a leader and humanitarian, Mary teaches through example. Mary says, "I think a lot of people underestimate their abilities. All they need is someone to take the time to show them how to do something and believe me, once they learn it, they will not forget it and cherish it more than any other person." Mary's philosophies are also the reason why Famous PEOPLE Players is world renowned for its work with people who are developmentally challenged.

Mary's latest prop creation, "Going Bananas", is now showing at the FPP.

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Competitions & Draws

Registration Draw 1
Connect with any Audience (4 Audio CD set) — What 7 World Champions Know…
and You Should Too!
Registration Draw 2
Speaking Secrets of the Champions (6 Audio CD Set — Jim Key, 2003; Mark Brown, 1995; Craig Valentine, 1999; Ed Tate, 2000; Darren LaCroix, 2001; David Brooks, 1990)

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