November 24, 2020

Livestreamed Performance

Stories

  • Kevin RolstonTo the Fist
  • Jane GireWhat day is it again?  Marriage in the Time of Covid
  • Bennet CaffeeMy First Official Manic Episode


About the Performers

Kevin Rolston is the writer/performer of Deal with the Dragon, which enjoyed a world premiere production at ACT’s Costume Shop. The play was named by KQED Arts as one of six “brilliant and startling theater performances” of 2016 and won the 2018 Theater Bay Area Award for Outstanding Solo Show. 

Jane Gire is originally from Michigan where she studied theater at the University of Michigan, moved to Chicago to “make it big” in comedy where she was side-tracked by her involvement in Greenpeace and falling in love, and ended up in San Francisco in the early 90’s.  She has recently come back to performance and has been seen in Monday Night Marsh, Tell it on Tuesday, Solo Sundays, and the Monkey House. She is working hard on learning more about solo performance and enjoys her opportunities to share her points of view on life with live audiences. 

Bennet Caffee began sharing his misadventures with bipolar mood disorder by taking solo performance classes at the Marsh. After years performing short pieces, he eventually developed enough material for My First Miracle, a full length show which he has been performing at Fringe Festivals. Additionally he has performed as part of You Don’t Know Me, a group show dedicated to reducing the stigma of mental illness. 



October 27, 2020

Stagebridge Partnership Performance

Livestreamed Performance

Headshots of tonight's performers: Lois Kincy, Rose Owens, Sally Holzmann, Claire Isaacs Wahrhaftig

Stories

  • Lois Kincy, Signifying Monkey and Mr. Lion
  • Rose Owens, My Father Goes a-Courting
  • Sally Holzman, Hair Princess
  • Claire Isaacs Wahrhaftig, I Love you, San Francisco!


About the Performers

Lois Kincy has been a clown and is now a writer and teller. A wellness facilitator to a wellness circle of kinship caregivers called I Take Care of Me Too, she has focused on the importance of keeping a life for ourselves as we care for others. As a graduate of the Stagebrige’s EPIC program, she has come to know that any story is a personal story when you find yourself in it.

Rose Owens is a storyteller, writer, artist, mother to seven children, and grandmother to twenty-five grandchildren. She tells family stories, original stories, and her own adaptations of folk and fairy tales, has published the Maryalise Trilogy (three middle grade fantasy novels) and has a master’s degree in Special Education.

Sally Holzman has had many titles in her lifetime—daughter, wife, teacher, mother, storyteller. Tonight you will hear of others, from the world of make believe to today’s reality.

Claire Isaacs Wahrhaftig, after retiring from a career in arts administration, started studying storytelling at Stagebridge. Just when she thinks she is out of stories, one pops up in her subconscious and it is a thrill to share.

September 29, 2020

Livestreamed Performance

Stories

  • Diane Barnes, An excerpt titled Motherland 
  • Roz Leiser, A Cry from the Past to the Future
  • Jeff Raz, Westboro Baptist Church (excerpt from “The Snow Clown” chapter 29)


About the Performers

Diane Barnes is a Meisner trained actor, solo performer, writer and physician. Her award winning first solo show, My Stroke of Luck, a spellbinding and funny look at love, family, the brain, and overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds, opened at The Marsh, and has toured internationally, in theaters, universities, hospitals, medical conferences and stroke centers. Diane is a graduate of ACT Summer Training Congress, Stanford University and Yale Medical School.

Roz Leiser is trying her best to survive, maintain a modicum of optimism and embrace the beautiful along with the terrible. She grew up in NY with parents who were refugees from the Holocaust. In San Francisco, during the last 40 years, she has worked as a nurse, a grief counselor, a staff member of the Elisabeth Kubler-Ross Center and has led workshops on Moving Through Loss & Transition. She has used writing to help her cope for most of her life and has been published on occasion.

Jeff Raz has starred in many plays and circuses, from Corteo with Cirque du Soleil to Comedy of Errors on Broadway. He is a graduate of Dell’Arte International, a playwright, and director of dozens of circus, dance, puppet and theater productions. Jeff has been a proud Advisory Committee Member to Tell It On Tuesday for many years and has performed a number of pieces on the TIOT stage. His first book, The Secret Life of Clowns, was launched nationally at the Smithsonian, followed by The Snow Clown—and now his third, Love Death Circus

August 25, 2020

Photo collage of Charlie Varon, Myra Levy, Candace Johnson, Lavonne Taft

Stories

  • Myra Levy & Charlie Varon, What, Me Phonebank?!
  • Candace Johnson, VOX in a BOX
  • Lavonne Taft, Who is Right, Who is Left?

About the Performers

Myra Levy & Charlie Varon have been collaborating on work, life and offspring since 1979. Charlie is best known to Marsh audiences for his solo shows Rush Limbaugh in Night School and Rabbi Sam, and for directing Dan Hoyle’s many hit shows. Myra is an introvert, activist, artist and nonprofit finance professional.

Candace Y. Johnson, soprano, has been praised by Opera News for her vocal clarity, dramatic presence, and expressive interpretation. She has concertized widely, including guest appearances at Carnegie Hall and The Manhattan Center. On the music faculty at UC Berkeley, Johnson teaches voice classes and specializes in the research and performance of classical works by African-American composers.

LaVonne Taft is a native Californian having grown up in the San Fernando Valley in Southern California. Upon retiring as an Audiologist for Kaiser Permanente, she turned to storytelling with pure joy! She has since shared her stories of growing up and living in the San Fernando Valley with “rite of passage” stories, legacies of the past for present and future generations.Lewis Santer is a luthier and plays in a number of Traditional Irish Music bands. Caroline Testard is a European emigrant with a love for modern and traditional songwriting.

June 30, 2020

15th Anniversary Show — Livestreamed Performance

Collage of performers: Fred Johnson, Ginger Parnes, Wayne Harris

Stories

  • Fred Johnson, Success in Minor
  • Ginger Parnes, Just on Time for my Life
  • Wayne Harris, Ronald Ruffin

About the Performers

Fred Johnson is a jazz musician and a formally incarcerated person. Sentenced to prison at age 18, a turning point for Fred was joining the San Quentin Stage Band, where he had the opportunity to play with a diverse ensemble and share the stage with legends such as Ella Fitzgerald, Sheila E, and Vic Damone. When Fred was paroled in 1995 he became involved with Harm Reduction Coalition, a national organization that promotes the health and dignity of individuals and communities impacted by drug use. Eventually, he became their director of policy, in which role he traveled the world—including testifying before the US Congress twice—to advocate for needle exchanges and HIV awareness. Since retiring, he has focused on his music, as well as acting in the two-person play Solitary Man based on letters from solitary confinement.

Ginger Parnes was three years old when her two older brothers sent her on stage at a Saturday matinee talent show at the Tower Theater in Miami. A bicycle was the prize. She sang a song…and won! Unlike many people, Ginger WOULD rather speak in public than die. So, she was thrilled when her name was drawn several times at The Moth! Better yet, this return to Tell It On Tuesday for the Fifteenth Anniversary is exciting. And, aren’t we all grateful for The Marsh and Zoom keeping us connected!

Wayne Harris is an award-winning solo performer, writer, educator, curriculum innovator and musician. Harris has written and starred in five full-length solo plays, including Train Stories, The May Day Parade, and Tyrone “Shortleg” Johnson and Some White Boys, for which he received the 2012 “Best of Fringe” award at the SF Fringe Festival. He is head of the Marsh Youth Theater Program, and has worked with the Marsh since 1996, where he was first exposed to storytelling through theater. He is also committed to music education, directing and designing performances for schools and pageantry groups. Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Harris’ work has often centered on his childhood.

May 26, 2020

Livestreamed Performance

Stories

  • Kirk WallerI Know Moonrise
  • Steve BuddWhat They Said About Sex
  • Pamela Ann Keane, High and Low

Collage of performers: Kirk Waller, Steve Budd, Pamela Ann Keane

About the Performers

Kirk Waller has been telling stories since he was in the 4th grade and hasn’t stopped since. Some true, some… maybe not so much. Kirk has told locally, nationally, internationally, and now… virtually!

Pamela Ann Keane was born in Hollywood, served 4 1/2 years in prison, and is currently working with Marin Shakespeare Company Returned Citizens Theatre and Improv Troupe.

Steve Budd is an actor, writer, storyteller, comedian, and solo performer. His solo show, What They Said About Love, won best of the SF Fringe, had an extended run at The Marsh in 2018, and was one of that year’s Theatre Bay Area Top 5 Solo Productions. Steve has performed with the San Francisco Playhouse, Custom Made, Central Works, New Conservatory, Impact Theatre, and Marin Shakespeare Company, among others.

April 28, 2020

Livestreamed Performance

Stories

  • Al Sasser, “Suitable Placement”
  • Bennet Caffee, “Elevator Pitch”
  • Eleanor Clement Glass, “Wiley and the Hairy Man”
  • Malcolm Grissom, “Before it all went to Sh#*”!

Collage of Al Sasser, Bennet Caffee, Eleanor Clement Glass, Malcom Grissom

About the Performers

Al Sasser was born in South-Central L.A. He is writing his first book, Suitable Placement, and plans to start a t-shirt business to employ formerly incarcerated people. He is currently a student at San Francisco State with a major in psychology and a minor in criminal justice.

Bennet Caffee has performed My First Miracle, his one hour show about his experiences with Bipolar Mood Disorder at the San Francisco and the Nugget Fringe Festivals. He has been performing “Elevator Pitch” as part of You Don’t Know Me, a group show about mental health issues with the purpose of ending the stigma of mental illness.

Eleanor Clement Glass retired five years ago and took performing arts classes at Stagebridge, where she fell in love with Storytelling. Now she is a Volunteer Storyteller at the Asian Arts Museum and she tells folktales from around the world to classes in Oakland Public Schools and at assisted living facilities in the East Bay.

Malcolm Grissom’s passion is to help others, whether it’s helping people with unemployment insurance, coaching on different aspects of their career goals, or entertaining audiences with his own personal storytelling. He has been a touring solo performer for the past six years and has won awards in The Atlanta and Maui Fringe Festivals.

March 31, 2020

Performance Cancelled

Music

Jeff Gutman (Guitar and Vocals): Acoustic Rock, songs filled with memorable stories and melodies.

Stories

  • Steve BuddWhat They Said About Sex
  • Paul SussmanListen Up, Jimmy Carter!                                                                 
  • Clara KamundeThe Prince and the Pee
  • David NihillDocumented

About the Performers

Jeff Gutman has been releasing albums and performing shows in the Bay Area since the late 90s. His most recent album, Arrive, was released in 2017. He has a new double album entitled The Two Houses that will be released early next year, dealing with the loss of his mother. (www.jeffgutman.com)

Dave Nihill, originally from Dublin, Ireland, is an NPR featured storyteller, bestselling author, winner of San Francisco International Comedy Competition, runner up in the Moth’s largest US Grandslam storytelling competition and the first ever Irish comedian to have a special on Dry Bar Comedy. His work has been featured in Inc, The Huffington Post, Forbes, The Irish Times, TED, The Irish Independent, Today FM, and on TV3.

Steve Budd is an actor, writer, storyteller, standup comic, and solo performer. His solo show, What They Said About Love, was Best of the San Francisco Fringe 2016 and a TBA Top 5 Solo Production of 2018. He has performed at The Marsh, Tell it on Tuesday, and Solo Sundays. He’s also acted with the San Francisco Playhouse, Custom Made, the New Conservatory, Impact, Central Works, and Marin Shakespeare

Paul Sussman has written and performed a series of solo pieces through the eyes of road-ragers, insects, Anabaptists, cannibals, and others who persist in the search for meaning amidst the puzzling evidence. He developed his approach to melodrama and farce through years of work in financial management with Bay Area nonprofit organizations.  In recognition of the 2019 premiere of his first full-length show, The Wrong Kind of Pessimism, he now refers to himself in the third person.

Clara Kamunde tells the occasional story here and there. Clara highly recommends putting her next project,  School Girls; or, the African Mean Girls Play, at Berkeley Rep on your calendar. Only thing is though—you mostly likely won’t see her, because she’s understudying. Still, it’s a riot!

February 25, 2020

Music

 Kate Brubeck (vocals), and Geoff Van Linden (guitar)

Stories

  • Brittany A. Kamerschen, Poolside, Skid Row
  • Claire CastellI Heard the Shots & Pachuco Cross
  • Barbara BradyCode Gray in the Self-check Lane
  • L. Abdul-KenyattaBack In the Day
  • Melinda Ginne, Ph.D.The Gentle Fate of a Wretched Mother

About the Performers

Kate Brubeck, no relation to Dave, is an editor, coach, and writing consultant with a stealth singing practice, with a range including classical music, traditional Irish music, show tunes, jazz standards, folk, Americana, country, and the odd original. 

Geoff Van Lienden has been playing the guitar professionally since the 60’s. More recently he has been playing jazz as well as celtic/fusion music with Colm O’Riain. He has studied with teachers as diverse as rock guitarist Joe Satriani and jazz guitarist Brian Pardoe. 

Brittany A. Kamerschen is creative writer known for her poetry and prose within live performance. She has B.A. degree in Creative Writing from S.F.S.U. She has performed in Bay Area musical theater. She is currently in the process of publishing her first book. 

Claire Castell found Stagebridge storytelling classes in 2017, just after retiring, and has since performed her stories around the Bay Area. She likes to tell personal true stories, but she did a deep dive into the diaspora of Loup Garou tales from Acadia area of Canada to Louisiana, and collected 19 folktales of the monster.

Barbara Brady performs as a singer a cappella jazz with The Merlot Notes, a 10-woman ensemble based in Silicon Valley. She spent many years as a professional cathedral chorister and soloist in Cincinnati, OH, where she also produced and performed cabaret and performance art, drawing on an even earlier obsession with modern dance.

L. Abdul-Kenyatta is a bona-fide Renaissance man. He is a regular contributor to the NPR show Snap Judgment, and he is currently working on his one-person show (Everything I ever needed to know I learned) Back in the Day.  On February 13th he will appear at Stage Werx Theater in the show Big Shot Storyteller.

Melinda Ginne, Ph.D grew up in the San Fernando Valley, where her family migrated after several decades in Boyle Heights, the Jewish-Latino ghetto of East Los Angeles. Taco stands were kosher and the shul was across the street from the Catholic church. Her family celebrated religious holidays as Jews, but personal holidays such as birthdays, weddings, and funerals all had a Latin flavor.  

January 28, 2020

Collage: Andrew Potter, Tell It On Tuesday logo, Janet Thornberg
Collage: Jane Gire, Bill Zarchy, Tracy Vernon

Music

Andrew Potter: Finger-style guitar on 6 and 12 string guitars, playing an
eclectic mix of old jazz tunes, instrumentals, originals and covers

Stories

  • Janet Thornburg, Self Improvement Junkie
  • Jane GireBless me Doctor for I have sinned
  • Bill ZarchyShanghai Lunch
  • Tracy Vernon, We’re Going to Marine World?!?

About the Performers

Andrew Potter began his performing career as a music director for children’s theatre. He morphed his career into an award winning, internationally acclaimed juggling act who got their start as buskers in San Francisco in the 1980’s. He has since retired from juggling, and settled into all things musical, as it is his first love, and is much more sustainable.

Janet Thornburg has written and performed seven solo shows. Her fiction has been widely published in literary journals, and Rhubarb Pie, a collection of her short stories, was published in 2005.

Jane Gire, originally from Michigan, studied theater at the U of M, moved to Chicago to “make it big” in comedy—where she was side-tracked by her involvement in Greenpeace and falling in love—and ended up in San Francisco in the early 90’s. She has recently come back to performance after a (I know this is really cliche) a trip to the Black Rock Desert to Burning Man, where she re-committed herself to some promises she made to herself. 

Bill Zarchy worked all over the globe during his 40 years as a cinematographer, as captured in his memoir, Showdown at Shinagawa: Tales of Filming from Bombay to Brazil. Now he writes novels, shoots photos, and tells stories. He is a graduate of the EPIC Storytelling Program at Stagebridge in Oakland. 

Tracy Vernon is an award winning public school teacher in the East Bay. She enjoys sharing her stories from the classroom and beyond, including how her childhood experiences influence and guide her as a teacher.