Stagebridge Partnership Performance
Stories
- Nancy Pearlman, “Evil Deli” an excerpt from Yeshiva Girl
- Marcelina Delgadillo, “Rufus”
- Ann Riley, “The Painted Fan”
- Sally Holzman, “The Smile”
- Dana Chernack, “A Dog’s Life”
- Kirk Waller, “The True Legend of Stagger Lee Shelton”
Music
John Cowan: Old country blues and jug band music
About the Performers
Nancy Pearlman grew up in New York and then moved to a small Southern town in Northern Florida at age 14. Her life has taken many twists and turns from commercial fishing to glass artist and jeweler. She is a member of the Antic’witties improv troupe, but her most important role is Grandma to two smart, talented, funny, adorable (did I mention smart?) girls.
Marcelina Delgadillo focuses on stories of her life growing up and living in Oakland as well as traditional Latino tales that celebrate her Chicano Heritage. She has been a student at Stagebridge for 3 years, performing at Senior Centers and mentoring at Hesperian School in the San Lorenzo.
Ann Riley grew up telling stories… mostly to stay out of trouble. She now tells for the Asian Art Museum, Stagebridge, various schools, senior residents, and local swaps. She is on the board of SAC, the Storytelling Association of California.
Sally Holzman’s instruction for an exciting, imaginative, creative and friendly retirement is to become a storyteller. She has been practicing this principle for ten years and her life is imaginative, exciting, and oh so friendly.
For 25 years, Dana Chernack, pushed a lawnmower over the manicured hills and dales of Piedmont and Montclair. He then went to work in a warehouse where he fell on his head. This led to a personality change. He is now a writer/performer/desk clerk. He has a wide variety of material. Mr. Chernack is willing to perform for peanuts.
Kirk Waller is the Director of Storytelling Programs at Stagebridge Senior Theater Company. Kirk’s storytelling is a blend of musicality, movement and emotion. He is the winner of the National Storytelling Network’s 2010 Emerging Artist Grant and has appeared at storytelling festivals, schools, theaters and various venues in the land!
Waxwing John Cowan sings and plays the old country blues and jug band music in the styles in which they were first recorded, yet with his own deep feelings and expressiveness. He plays them on guitars as old as the recordings he has mined for his material. Delta and Piedmont blues may be familiar to a somewhat knowledgeable listener, but Waxwing John also plays the styles of Memphis, St. Louis, and even Indianapolis among others. His songs are mixed with stories about the early players and the development of the various styles, as well as about the guitars he plays, old ladder braced Stellas and metal bodied National resonators.