Published/Commissioned Writing
(see also 1st person performances)

Interactive SPAM puppet show script for SPAM Festival
Austin MN June 2005

Puppets and Live Characters
seasonal scripts for Incarnation Lutheran Church (3000 members) 2003-2005

School Residency Programs based on TIES model for Stepping Stone Theater
2004-2005 school year

Oliver K Woodman Puppet show for Read Across America Day
Mill City Museum – Feb 2005

In The Eye of the Beholder: A Look at the Fur Trade Through the Eyes
of Those Who Lived It
Formal interactive script about the stereotypes of the fur trade – North West Company Fur Post - Pine City, MN - Minnesota Historical Society – fall 2002

What Have You Got For Me: A Hands-On Look At Fur Post Trading
A family oriented interactive script using audience members about trading at a fur post -
North West Company Fur Post - Pine City, MN - Minnesota Historical Society – Fall 2002

The Story of the Seasons: An Out of Context Interpretive Program
An interactive interpretive program designed for use by staff for visitors who are unable to see the actual historic fur post – “Here’s the fur trade in 30 minutes or less” - North West Company Fur Post - Pine City, MN - Minnesota Historical Society – Fall 2002

Author Birthdays – Children’s Literature Network
www.childrensliteraturenetwork.org – ongoing brief bios of children’s authors

Writing From Where You Are: Everyday Stories of Everyday Things
Cygnet Magazine, Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators – Jan/Feb 2002

Follow the Star – Dale Warland Singers Home for the Holidays Concert
A young child and her older mentor look at the stars and contemplate their greater meaning – Dec 2001

Mighty Mississippi Passport Program
Star Tribune, Wilderness Inquiry, National Parks Service (Newspaper in Education Supplement) – used by 4-8th grade teachers and students. Through a series of 10 adventures based on river history and facts, Freddie the Flathead Catfish and his friends share information about pollution in the river and groundwater – April 2001

True Confessions of an Urban Gardener –
MN Horticultural Society: Northern Gardener Magazine
A beginning gardener shares her stories and insights – April 2001

The Currie Connection – EPOCH Productions
Edward Currie and his sister, Constance, were both directors of Minnesota Settlement Houses. Every Sunday they would gather over tea to discuss their lives. Join them in the heat of WWII to discuss how the settlement movement affect lives (in cooperation with Neighborhood House, St. Paul and Pillsbury House, Minneapolis) – 2000

Variations on a Theme: The Song of Hiawatha
Developed for the Minnesota Historical Society’s Minnesota Territory Exhibit – script finalist – this piece couples Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s performance of “The Song of Hiawatha” with actual historic events involving Native Americans and early Minnesota settlers – 1999

Susan B Anthony – EPOCH Productions
It is the eve after Susan B. Anthony casts her first protest vote and she struggles with her next course of action. Developed to give audiences the opportunity to challenge history through personal interaction with historical figures – the final outcome is determined by the audience – 1999

What We Did Last Summer: Some Silly Sisters’ Summer Stories – Oh You Girls!
Improvised stories created as part of the MELSA summer library program – 1998

1st person performances and a sample of literary and imagined characters

Mrs. Hannah Mary Stevens and Mr. Gertz - Tenant Farmers
(Early 1900’s) – through the eyes of the tenant farmers that lived across the road, stories of Charles Lindbergh and his family are shared with family audiences – Charles Lindbergh Historic Site, Little Falls, MN – Summer 2002

Beatrix Potter
(1866-1943) – author and illustrator of the Peter Rabbit Books (she self published The Tale of Peter Rabbit in 1901 before Frederick Warne and Co picked up the contract) – also a scientist, conservationist, sheep farmer and land owner – developed for the Minnesota Children’s Museum with the support of members of the Beatrix Potter Society (Great Britain)

Margaret Mee
(1909-1988) – botanical artist and Amazonian Explorer, conservationist – made her last trip into the Amazon to paint at 79 years old – discovered some plants known now only by her work – published her diaries and paintings – developed for the Bell Museum of Natural History (University of Minnesota) and performed at the Field Museum in Chicago – support provided by the Royal Botanical Gardens (Kew, London) and Mee’s family.

Maud Hart Lovelace
(1892-1980) – author of 6 historical novels and the Betsy-Tacy series based on her own life growing up in Mankato, MN at the turn of the century – developed for the Minnesota Historical Society with support from the Maud Hart Lovelace and Betsy-Tacy Societies

Rachel Steele Johnson
(1877) – the wife of one of the first University of Minnesota professors, sister of Franklin Steele (early MN founder) and sister-in-law to Henry Hastings Sibley (1st MN governor) – developed by EPOCH Productions for the Bell Museum of Natural History (University of Minnesota) – 150th anniversary celebration – interactive CD-Rom and Performance

Shoe-la
Red yarn hair with a big shoe on her head, Shoe-la uses shoes and shoe stories from around the world – Minnesota Children’s Museum, schools

Wordy Gerty
Part clown, part Seuss character – yellow haried, polka dot dressed rhyming fun – loves to twirl and tell stories – Minnesota Children’s Museum, schools, public events

Ms. Frizzle
(the Magic Schoolbus) – wacky and wise schoolteacher who takes her class of magical and educational adventures to unusual places – performed for the Minnesota Children’s Museum, TARGET (nationally), community events

Stepping Stone Theater
Worked with children K-6 to create their own scripts and stories
www.steppingstonetheatre.org

Children’s Literature Network – book sales, conference volunteer, member, contributing author - website, board of directors
www.childrensliteraturenetwork.org

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators – member
www.scbwi.org

Youth Performance Company - former board of directors
www.youthperformanceco.com

Director of Elementary Music – Incarnation Lutheran Church, Shoreview MN

Writer’s Union – volunteer mentor in Minneapolis Schools – writing classes – grades 7-8

Young Authors Conferences - presenter and key note speaker throughout Minnesota – grades 4-8

Artist in Residency Programs - K-12

Writing Workshops – variety of themes - schools and community education programs – grades 4-8

Storyteller – Red Balloon Bookshop - monthly – 0-7 years old and families www.redballbookshop.com

The Silly Sisters – empowering, expanding and enlivening children’s creativity through interactive storytelling, classes and puppet shows
www.thesillysisters.com