SWAN Day Dayton: FREE Event Saturday March 31st at 3 pm at the Dayton Metro Library

On March 31^st at 3:00 pm, artists and community members will gather at the Auditorium in the Dayton Metro Library Main Branch at 215 E. Third St. to celebrate female artists in Dayton’s first SWAN  (Support Women Artists Now) Day. This showcase of local talent is free and includes short films, poetry, plays, readings from novels, visual artists and more. Featured artists include author Nicole Amsler,  memoirist Sara Berelsman, cancer survivor and author Tami Boehmer, 10-year-old children’s book writer Kristina Cardoza, filmmaker Coco Gagnet, novelist Mary Curran Hackett, actor/director Andy Falter, Kilbourne Middle School Drama Department, playwright Stacey Lane, the League of Women Voters, erotic poetess Kristie LeVangie, sketch comedy filmmaker Alex Mangen, painter Dawn McCoy, water media artist Trish McKinney, documentarian Maggie Price, painter Heather Lea Reid, poet Joy Schwab, Sundance award-winning filmmaker Nichol Simmons, Thomas Worthington High School Drama Club, filmmaker Tessa Trozzolillo, stop-animation filmmaker Djuna Wahlrab, and Zoot Theatre Company featuring Cassidy C. Short, Greta Wolking, Chris Hammond, and Michael Bonilla. 

ARTISTS BIOS

Nicole Amsler (Baggage Claim)

Nicole writes about Midwestern Dysfunction. A National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) participant, she has completed five novels, as well as many short stories. She has won the DDN Short Story contest, the WOW-Women on Writing contest and several others. During the day, she is a copywriter and owner of Keylocke Services. By night, she's revising a novel about a widow caught in an affair with a small town pastor, titled Dismantling Spider Webs. www.nicoleamsler.com

  

Tatum Beck (Gossip Squirrels) 

Tatum is an eighth grader at Kilbourne Middle School.  She is an accomplished pianist and vocalist.  In 2007, Tatum won her age group in “Voice of the City.”  Her notable stage roles include Willy Wonka in “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” and Jodi Sius in “54 People ‘LIKE’ This – A One-Act Odyssey.”  She has also participated in “The Odyssey,” “Snow White,” “The Music Man,” “Seussical – The Musical,” “Cinderella” and “Mary Poppins".  Tatum has attended multiple summer drama camps over the last decade. 

Sarah Bellish (Pulse)

Sarah is a ninth grader at Thomas Worthington High School.  She has been acting for six years, and has been in many school productions. Along with acting she also enjoys singing, playing guitar, cheerleading, and sewing.  Sarah was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy when she was eighteen months old, although she never lets this stop her from reaching her dreams. Sarah has performed and sang at many venues including Nashville TN, where she recorded her first single "Let Me Go Back".  She would like to thank her Director Andy Falter, writer Stacey Lane, and her Mother for making her performance possible.

Sara Berelsman (The Last Rock Bottom)

Sara is a small-town mother of two young daughters and wife of a firefighter.  She currently writes for the newspaper in her town and is working on a memoir about alcoholism.  She has an MA in Literature from Eastern Michigan University.

Patricia Berg (Sweet Sorrow)

Ohio-based jazz vocalist Patricia Berg has spent more than a decade performing in some of Dayton's most popular upscale restaurants and jazz venues. Her CD "Sweet Sorrow" was described by jazz writer Duante Beddingfield in the Dayton City Paper as "a warm, mellow, deeply intimate collection of reflective tunes, with almost an aching softness...like being wrapped in a cashmere blanket on a cool summer evening." It is available on www.cdbaby.com, iTunes, and  Amazon. Her next upcoming performance will be on May 12, from 7-9pm, at the Cedarville Opera House, Cedarville, OH.

Tami Boehmer (From Incurable to Incredible: Cancer Survivors Who Beat the Odds)

Tami was named one of the Top 10 Most Influential Breast Cancer Bloggers on Twitter by Cision Navigator, a site dedicated to providing public relations, communications, and marketing resources. From Incurable to Incredible was named the winner of the Health-Medical category of the 2011 Readers Favorite Awards and award-winning finalist in the “Health: Cancer” category of the 2011 International Book Awards. Tami lives with her husband Mike, daughter Chrissy and furry feline AJ in Cincinnati. www.miraclesurvivors.com

Michael Bonilla (Lucy Dreaming)

Michael was born in Detroit. He has worked in various Detroit and Dayton area commercial advertising art studios. Michael is an award winning advertising illustrator and fine artist. After 40 years, his work continues to be added to private and corporate art collections nationally and internationally. Michael also teaches painting and drawing at the School of Advertising Art, recognized as a leading, designer friendly college in the country by Graphic Design USA magazine. 

Kristina Cardoza (Pinky Bunny’s First Day of Kindergarten)

Kristina is a 10-year-old children’s book author. She is in the 5^th grade but taking all her courses in middle school. In addition to being an author, she’s a junior Girl Scout, a soccer player, a brown belt in mixed martial arts, and a book reviewer. Kristina began reading when she was 18 months old and she wrote her first story at the age of five – it’s called Pinky Bunny’s First Day of Kindergarten! Kristina's books can be purchased through her Facebook Page at a discounted price (autographs included). Books can also be purchased at Amazon Author House, Barnes and Noble, Books-a-Million, Powell's Books, and other bookstores.www.KristinaCardoza.com 

Daniel Cermak  (Stalemate)

Daniel  is sixteen years old and currently is a junior at Thomas Worthington High School. He has participated in theatre for five years, and has enjoyed every minute of it. He has acted in seven shows including middle school and high school shows. Daniel is also an active member of the Thomas Worthington marching band, indoor drumline and tennis team.

Dara Cosby (Co-Producer)

Dara is a graduate of Wright State University’s Motion Picture program.  She has written reviews for film and television. Some recent work has been as a casting assistant on the feature film, True Nature. Dara has also obtained a master’s degree in Community Counseling from University of Dayton, in hopes to use film and media to help others.

Tristan Cupp (Lucy Dreaming)

Tristan's artistic talent includes painting, sculpting, puppet and mask construction, and building scenery. He currently works as master carpenter for the Human Race Theatre Company. He has designed and built sets and created masks and puppets for Dreamkeeper Theatre Company, First Frontier, Inc., Town Hall Theatre, Rhythm N Shoes, the Human Race, Sinclair Community College, and the Theatre Guild. He is proud to be a founding member of the Zoot Theatre Company. Tristan is a DayTony award recipient.

  

Mary Curran Hackett (Proof of Heaven)

Mary is an adjunct English professor at the University of Cincinnati, as well as a freelance writer and full-time book editor. She grew up in Danbury, Connecticut and now lives in Cincinnati with her husband, Greg, and two children, Brigid and Colm .www.mchackett.com 

Jocelyn Decker (Gossip Squirrels) 

Jocelyn is an eighth grader at Kilbourne Middle School.  She assisted in writing “54 People ‘LIKE’ This,” and has performed in “Tales from Arabian Nights,” “Imperfect Proposal,” and “The Odyssey.”  She was recently seen in Broadway2LA’s S 2012 Spring Showcase.  Jocelyn started The Power of the Pen Team at KMS and received the Patriot’s Pen Award for writing skills.  She is currently writing her first novel.

Sophie Decker (Gossip Squirrels, Stalemate)

Sophie is a sixth grader at Colonial Hills Elementary School and is an all-around awesome addition to this group of old Middle School age performers.  She will soon be a part of her school’s sixth grade production at the end of the school year.

Jacob DeRodes (Gossip Squirrels) 

Jacob DeRodes, (EARL), is an eighth grader at Kilbourne Middle School.  He was introduced to the world of Technical Theatre last year during a production of Stacey Lane’s “Non-Stop Aesop.”  He followed that experience, joining the casts of “The Odyssey” and “54 People ‘LIKE’ This,” where he also served as Student Director.

Nicole DiPasquale (Gossip Squirrels) 

Nicole is an eighth grader at Kilbourne Middle School.   She has been in Stacey Lane’s “Non-Stop Aesop,” “The Odyssey,” “54 People ‘LIKE’ This,” and “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.”  Nicole participated in the 2011 Broadway2LA’s Cold Reading Class.  She is first chair as a flutist in the school band and is a member of the lacrosse team.

Andy Falter (Pulse, Gossip Squirrels, Stalemate)

Andy is a longtime actor and director based in Columbus, Ohio.  He has been seen on stages and screens throughout the United States, including features on The Today Show, Fox, and PBS. He can be seen multiple on TV commercials for SafeAuto, Mindleaders and the U.S. Coast Guard. Andy is Senior Acting Coach and Camp Director at Broadway2LA Acting Studio.  This year marks his twelfth year teaching theatre in Worthington City Schools.  Andy is excited to feature current and alumni members from Kilbourne Middle School and Broadway2LA in Dayton's celebration of SWAN.

Coco Gagnet (Cover Girl)


Coco is a sophomore at Stivers School for the Arts. She excels in visuals arts and is part of the Stivers film & video department. Her work in film and photography have received recognition and various awards including a national scholastics award for photography.

Chris Hammond (Lucy Dreaming)

Chris is honored to be a part of SWAN Day and would like to thank Stacey Lane for including her in this project.  Chris is celebrating her 33rd Season as a Performer/Muse for The Arts.  She is an Actress, Singer, Director, Designer, Mask Artist and Teacher.  Chris has been a part of The Zoot Theatre Company since 2008, as an Artist, Instructor and Development Associate.  Chris is currently seeking her ASL Certification at Sinclair to become an Interpreter.  Chris will also be in their upcoming production of "The Laramie Project".  Chris would like to thank her family for all of their love and support.  Love and Light.

Adi Kinzer (Gossip Squirrels) 

Adi is a eighth grader at Kilbourne Middle School.  She has been involved in theatre for only two years, including roles in Stacey Lane’s “Non-Stop Aesop,” “The Odyssey” and “54 People ‘LIKE’ This,” which she also helped write.  She has also participated in Broadway2LA Acting Studio’s 2011 Improv Camp and Cold Reading Class.  For six years, she has participated in Taekwondo receiving second degree black belt.

Annie Knotts (Gossip Squirrels)

Annie is a eighth grader at Kilbourne Middle School.  Annie performed in Stacey Lane’s “Non-Stop Aesop,” “The Odyssey,” “54 People ‘LIKE’ This,” and “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.”  She recently performed in Broadway2LA Acting Studio’s Spring Showcase and attended their 2011 Improv Summer Camp.  She plays the flute, piano, sings and loves puppies.

Kristina Kopf (Soothing Nature Day Spa)

Kristina is an animal lover from Columbus, Ohio who is always open to a new beauty regimen. Kristina can be seen on the occasional Tuesday performing on the Funny Bone Comedy Club stage in Columbus, Ohio as part of the club’s Improv Wars, and also loves performing in scripted works, both dramatic and comedic, for stage and screen.

Stacey Lane (Producer, Playwright)   

Stacey’s scripts have been seen at over two hundred fifty theatres from coast to coast in the U.S., as well as in Canada, England, and Australia and are published with Playscripts, Inc., Smith and Kraus, Manhattan Theatre Source, San Luis Obispo Little Theatre, Freshwater, and Scene4 Magazine.  She is the recipient of the Montgomery County Arts & Cultural District’s Literary Artist Fellowship and the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation Residency Grant. www.StaceyLaneInk.com

League of Women Voters

The League of Women Voters of the Greater Dayton Area opened its doors shortly after the 19^thwww.lwvdayton.org amendment was signed in 1920, making ours one of the first Leagues in the nation. Our founders believed the League was never to become a woman’s organization or a club, but an organization of women responsible for educating the community on important issues. That belief remains the same, to provide voter education, protection and advocacy for every citizen.

Kristie LeVangie (Shades of K)

Kristie is the creative mind behind www.Libidacoria.com, She's a poetess, writer, podcast and talk show host, voiceover narrator, plus-size pinup model and performer.  Starting in March, you can hear her podcast on Playboy Radio's MoFo Podcast Show.

Alex Mangen (Co-Producer, Soothing Nature Day Spa)

Since earning a Motion Picture Productions degree from Wright State, Alex has worked on several feature films, music videos, television, and commercials.  He has written and directed sketches for LeftofCenterComedy.com whose sketches have been licensed by MTV, CW, and played at numerous film festivals.   He was awarded a grant from Culture Works for the Arts.  Alex is currently a Director of Film Studies at Stivers and is in pre-production for his next sketch comedy show.  

Dawn McCoy (Paintings)

Dawn loves dinosaurs, sharks, vampires and other aggressive carnivores like herself. She is an avid gamer, toy collector, and comic book reader. While she has experimented with many media and formats, she usually prefers to use ink on velum. Dawn lives in Dayton and has degrees in fine arts and sociology from Sinclair Community College.

Trish McKinney (Water media art)

An internationally and nationally recognized artist, Trish, has always put color first.  Sensual shapes, emotional color, and the relationships of the human spirit, are what intrigues this artist. She has received awards from the National Watercolor Society, the International Society of Experimental Artists, the Western Ohio Watercolor Society, and many others. Her published books include Paintings & Process and Defining The Art Of Trish McKinney and the children’s books Do Trees Nap? (author and illustrator) and Benny The Baffled Behemoth (illustrator). www.trishmckinney.com

Maggie Price (A Pretty Piece of Flesh) 

Maggie was born and raised in Centerville, Ohio. She is currently a junior in the Wright State University Motion Pictures program, majoring in production. After graduation she plans to pursue a career in screenwriting.  

Heather Lea Reid (Paintings)

Heather graduated with her BFA from Wright State University in 2004.  She exhibits often in the Dayton area.  She also participates in organizing art and craft exhibitions and events.  This includes being the lead organizer for The Sideshow Two and the art director for two Ladyfest Dayton events.  Heather also does custom portraits and is a mother to a one year old girl. www.facebook.com/artworkbyheatherleareid

Joy Schwab (Pearl and other Poems)

Joy is a feminist, poet and activist who believes poems are words spoken from one's heart to touch another and share an experience, insight or vision.  She has a Masters in English from Wright State University and work as a Librarian at the Dayton Metro Library where she offers a monthly poets program. Her poems have been published in Ohio Poetry Days 2011 and elsewhere, and she’s happy to read her poems to anyone who'll listen.

Alyssa Senek (Gossip Squirrels)

Alyssa is an eighth grader at Kilbourne Middle School.  Alyssa’s stage roles include parts in Stacey Lane’s “Non-Stop Aesop,” “The Odyssey” and “54 People ‘LIKE’ This.”  She attended Broadway2LA Acting Studio’s 2011 Improv Summer Camp and is a member of the KMS Show Choir.

Cassidy C. Short (Lucy Dreaming)

Cassidy has never neglected her creative personality. Her skills include designing/sewing her own clothing, dancing, writing and painting. Acting is her passion, and pursuing a career in it was a natural choice. She worked closely with George Clooney on his recent film, The Ides of March. Her experience with the big screen was "a fantastic adventure", she says. Cassidy lives in Englewood, Ohio and hopes to move to California soon. She is proud to be a part of SWAN this year, and gives thanks to all who attend!

Nichol Simmons (Sunday Spin)

Nichol earned her degree in Motion Picture Production from Wright State. Her thesis film, Dry Mount, is a Sundance award winner. Feature films include Fathers and Sons, Lost in Yonkers, and John Sayles’s City of Hope.  Nichol worked as a joke writer for Politically Incorrect. As Director of National Workshops at the American Film Institute, she ran the Directing Workshop for Women and oversaw production on over 200 short films.  Nichol also created Film Camp for Girls. http://sundayspin.com

Tessa Trozzolillo (Free as the Wind)

Tessa is currently a visual arts senior at Stivers School for the Arts.  She’s been taking film for three years, but has been in visual arts for six.  Next year, Tessa plans to attend NYU's Tisch School of the Arts where she will mayor in film and television production.  She hopes to one day pursue a career as a cinematographer, and writer/director.

Djuna Wahlrab (Falling Up)

Djuna, a filmmaker originally from Dayton, Ohio, works in New York City in post production. She began to focus on animation while teaching film at Stivers School for the Arts. Starting with flip books and eventually playing with visual effects and motion graphics , she  developed this into a career in New York. Working mostly in advertising, she became acquainted with Charged Studios who offered to produce her first short film, Falling Up. http://fallingupmovie.com/

Meghan Weinle (Gossip Squirrels)

Meghan is a seventh grader at Kilbourne Middle School.   She has played Helen of Troy  in “The Odyssey” and Annie in “Annie.”  Other plays she participated include “Rumplestiltskin” and “54 People ‘LIKE’ This.”  She is assisting with the sixth grade production at her old elementary school.  Meghan plays the flute and enjoys singing.

Greta Wolking (Lucy Dreaming)

Greta is thrilled to be in this production! Having performed with several other area theatres, she is excited to make her debut with the Zoot Theatre Company. She is currently in two other shows, Bye Bye Birdie and Legally Blonde. Her hobbies include reading, unicycling, bellydancing, and editing videos. She hopes to continue doing theatre and also pursue more film work.  Enjoy the show!

Zoot Theatre Company (Lucy Dreaming)

Zoot aims to stimulate the creative spirit through the collaboration of all forms of artistic expression including professional acting, masks, and puppetry by bringing theatrical arts to a variety of peoples and regional venues. Zoot is a Resident Company for the Victoria Theatre Association and enjoys partnerships with Muse Machine, Town Hall Theatre, CityFolk, Central State University, the University of Dayton, Playhouse South, and a number of local high schools.  www.zoottheatrecompany.org

FINALISTS

Our selection committee was overwhelmed with the talent of Ohio's women. One afternoon of SWAN Day just isn't enough to showcase this much creativity. We wish to give special recognition to our finalists.

Leslie Gilliat                Dancing By Myself

Sandra J. Kachurek     The Mermaid

Marianne Kesler          the say something series

Katalina Remusat        Illegal Alien