Annie Chapman Brewer is a hornist, instructor, and entrepreneur based in mid-Michigan. She owns and operates a home studio where she teaches private lessons on horn, brass, ukulele, and music theory, while also holding culinary classes and operating a side photography business. Before she moved back to Michigan from Iowa, she was a guest clinician for the horn studios at University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and University of Northern Iowa, sharing her knowledge on natural and modern horn performance practices. She also performed throughout the eastern region of Iowa through the Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra, Dubuque Symphony Orchestra, Waterloo-Cedar Fall Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestra Iowa. Currently she performs in mid-Michigan orchestras, churches, and chamber ensembles, including the Marquette Symphony Orchestra in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. She holds a Master of Music degree from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where she studied with Rick Seraphinoff, and received her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Central Michigan University under the tutelage of Dr. Bruce Bonnell. In her free time, you can find Annie adventuring on new trails with her husband Rick, and enjoying a cup of Oolong tea.

Gusty girls, wise women, tricksters and string come to life as Barbara Schutzgruber weaves folktales and string stories, sings medieval ballads and shares the history and legends of Michigan.

Founded in 1987 by actor/director/writer/teacher Geoff Safron, Brainstormers! is a company of professional actor-educators, technicians and media artists. Our specialty is combining learning and laughter in equal measure, empowering young people to express their creativity both on the page and on the stage. Our core product is a series of high-energy Creative Writing shows, harnessing the fun and excitement of Improv Comedy to change kids' attitudes about writing.

With theatre and a child's imagination, Acting Up Theatre Company believes that anything is truly possible. Since 1997, Acting Up has been introducing young audiences to theatre in fun, educational ways. Acting Up offers residencies, workshops and original plays for schools, libraries and organizations.

Cirque Amongus offers hands-on programs designed to build self-esteem, develop motor skills, and promote teamwork.

Led by our project managers who are professional entertainers and skilled instructors, teachers and volunteers introduce students to the fundamentals of circus arts - juggling, movement and balancing - in a safe, fun-filled, and educational environment. Teachers and volunteers have an unforgettable experience as they are transformed into circus arts instructors, choreographers, stage hands, wardrobe chiefs & make-up artists.

FYT’s InterACT outreach program provides engaging hands-on activities for students in kindergarten through 12th grade and their teachers. By working with an experienced theatre educator from FYT’s resident company, students experience how theatre can be used as a dynamic tool to improve comprehension and retention while increasing self-expression, self-discipline and self-worth. Whether it’s finding ways to deepen students’ understanding of curriculum, increasing collaboration and cooperation, developing cognitive, social, emotional and physical abilities or simply going “behind the scenes” of a working theatre, InterACT has a program suited to all needs.

Various outreach programs from classroom to school presentations and workshops. Please contact us for more specific information.

Storyteller

Our live touring puppet shows provide amazing children's entertainment the whole family will love! Great for library programs, school assemblies, fairs, festivals, zoos, theaters, day care centers, birthday parties and corporate events!

JET currently has three shows which tour to schools in Genesee, Ingham, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties.These three plays deal with bullying awareness and prevention at age appropriate levels.Each play is ½ hour long and easily sets up in a gym or multi purpose room if an auditorium with a stage is not available.The plays are followed by a brief talk back with the actors and students which is designed to get students to begin thinking and talking about what they have just seen.

Travel around the world and home again with stories from around the globe.

Karen Czarnik is a storyteller, singer, songwriter and musician. She combines stories and music to teach, engage, encourage and tickle the funny bone. Linking her musical and theatrical work with the tradition of storytelling, her performances inspire audiences of all ages. Czarnik incorporates physical animation and whimsical characters into her stories and songs to create an enlivening experience. Accompanying herself on the autoharp, she offers an interactive experience for audiences with her unique collection of traditional and original works.

Keir is a spoken word poet who performs his encouraging, positive and inspirational works with music. He is also a spoken word poetry workshop facilitator. In his sessions, Keir covers a variety of poetry genres and provides instruction on how to perform them.

A wide variety of workshops using poetry, puppetry, music, and movement in an education setting.

Linda Boston knows that when she sings from the soul, a story is told. She can interactively wind the tale of the Underground Railroad around school age children and have adults reflecting on their deepest thoughts while singing them to their knees the next.

Storyteller Lois Sprengnether Keel’s lively style enriches her large repertoire of international folklore, historical reenactment and Michigan tales in stories from around the world and back in time. Keel, who performs as Lois, matches programs to audiences’ age and interests. Her entertaining, educational programs are often participatory and may include music, sign language or puppets.

In her wide range of Michigan programs, Lois reenacts such historic figures as a woman who grew up on an Underground Railroad Station and aided Civil War home front efforts or another serving in World War I. She also conducts storytelling workshops for all levels.

Magical Rain Theaterworks creates theatre experiences exploring story, myth, movement, wisdom of the heart and body, and the creativity of diverse peoples and cultures. Performances, workshops, and residencies for K-12, college, and adult audiences are available. Repertoire includes Palabras Luminosas (Latino luminous language, laughter, and lore), Mythic Blacklight Student Productions, Anima (team building workshops), Latinas in Myth and Legend, El Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead Presentations), and more. Programs explore Latino culture and heritage, inspire creative minds, and foster emotional and social intelligence. Our goal: Collaborative, creative work, joy, mutual respect, and competence.

Mary J. Grant received a standing ovation when doing a story before a large audience at Cobo Hall in Detroit, Michigan in 2007. Her second performance had a line outside before the storytelling started. Eight years of performing has been one of the most interesting and exciting part of her life. Participating in Storytelling Workshop in Flint Michigan at the Michigan Storytelling Festival and traveling to Atlanta, Georgia, Baltimore, Maryland and Chicago, Illinois for the National Black Storytelling Festivals gave her a raised level of understand what storytelling was all about. These Storytelling Festivals offered her a chance to observe experienced tellers, storytelling workshops and opportunities to develop the craft of storytelling.

Mary Grant is a retired educator, storyteller and children’s book author. Mary has published her stories, My Daddy Taught Me To Read and Floyd B’s Ponds In the fall of 2016 her latest book children’s book, Sunday’s Shadows, will be published. Her stories are largely inspired by her life experiences. She especially enjoys her living history reenactment of Sojourner Truth, which is a historical figure who lived in Battle Creek, Michigan.  She has been a workshop presenter for parents, teachers, children and varies professional workers.  While engaging her listeners by involving them in the story with songs, chants and participation activities they gain a valuable knowledge of the life of a true hero.

She has written an essay on “How and Why I Tell Stories” in the National Association of Black Storytellers Newsletter. On February 11, 18, 25, and March 4, 2015 she participated in a four part Professional Development Webinar on Storytelling in the Oral Tradition. In the fall of 2016 her latest book children’s book, Sunday’s Shadows, will be published.

As The Past In Person, Michael Deren presents historical, musical, educational and participatory programs as one of seven characters from the 19th or 20th century. An accomplished musician, songwriter and storyteller, Deren includes the audience as full participants in every presentation. Audience members develop their own character and engage in singing, dancing and activities to portray the situation. Join Michael Deren for a journey into the past through the music, songs, and words of the people whose labor built America.

This lively troupe dispels the myth of the Boring Bard with wit and skill as they fool the "world's greatest Shakespeare scholar" into fooling around with some of Shakespeare's greatest characters. A narrator and ensemble cast educate about the bard and perform excerpts of: Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo and Juliet and The Taming of the Shrew.