Jessica Hentoff, Artistic Executive Director of Circus Harmony, stopped by to talk about the mission and works of the organization. ------

Circus Harmony is a non-profit social circus organization that uses circus arts to motivate social change. By inspiring individuals and connecting communities with our circus education and entertainment programs, we have a positive impact on the St. Louis area and beyond. ———

Our programs teach valuable life skills like perseverance, focus, and teamwork. Learning circus with others teaches trust, responsibility and cooperation. Perhaps the most important experience we give our participants is the opportunity to meet and interact with children from different socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds than their own. ———

We believe the path to peace is a path of cooperation and communication. Teaching children from different neighborhoods how to stand on each other’s shoulders may seem like a strange way to take this path. But it’s the technique we use! Circus Harmony promotes peace through pyramids, joy through juggling and harmony through handsprings. ———

About Jessica Hentoff: Jessica has been teaching and performing circus arts for over 40 years. Ms. Hentoff has been using circus arts to motivate social change since she founded the St. Louis Arches youth circus performance troupe in 1989. She created Circus Harmony in 2001 to expand youth circus opportunities for St. Louis youth. In 2009, Ms. Hentoff was named both St. Louis Arts Innovator of the Year and Outstanding Arts Educator of the Year. Ms. Hentoff is the only person to be a founding member of both the Big Apple Circus in NYC and Circus Flora in St. Louis. She serves as youth circus advisor to both the Circus Fans Association of America and the World Circus Federation. In 2014, she was honored to be the first person to receive the American Youth Circus Organization/American Circus Educators’ Excellence in Circus Education Award. Jessica is the artistic/executive director of Circus Harmony where she uses her remarkable vision and use of circus arts to build character and community and to help children “defy gravity, soar with confidence and leap over social barriers.”

Dawn Karlovsky, Founder and Director of Karlovsky and Company Dance and Yaseen Manuel and Marlin Zoutemn of New World Dance Theater speak with Nancy about their careers, as well as the collaborative dance presentation "Conversations" on March 24th and 25th of 2023.

Karlovsky & Company Dance was established as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization in 2012 by its Founder and Artistic Director, Dawn Karlovsky. Prior, the company operated as Dawn Karlovsky & Dancers from 2004-2012. Since the inception of the company, the work of Karlovsky & Company Dance has been commissioned internationally with tours to France and South Africa, and nationally presenting in New York City, Minneapolis and Duluth MN, Tulsa, and San Francisco-Bay Area. Karlovsky & Company Dance aspires to connect with audiences through the art of dance, and to provide an experience for the viewer that evokes personal reflection. ———

Through the company’s investigative choreographic approach, Karlovsky & Company Dance reaches diverse audiences with opportunities to witness and experience dance in a distinctive, thought-provoking manner. This process-oriented, somatically-motivated approach generates dances that are visceral, poignant, and expressively stimulating.
Karlovsky & Company Dance is committed to connecting with the community and offering educational outreach programs that helps to build more receptive and informed audiences. The works by Karlovsky & Company Dance bring depth and diversity to contemporary dance in St. Louis with an aim to make dance more accessible and to invigorate the artistic climate of our city. ———

The work of Karlovsky & Company Dance extends beyond the region with a long history of presenting site-specific community performances, concert work, and residencies nationwide and internationally. Karlovsky & Company Dance engages performing artists by promoting collaboration and facilitating employment opportunities for artists to cultivate and extend their own personal, artistic ambitions. ———

The company believes that the arts play an integral and vital role in our human existence and contributes to the cultivation of a healthy, evolving cultural future. Karlovsky & Company Dance is in residence at the Grandel Theatre in St. Louis, MO. ———

New World Dance Theatre is a Cape Town based contemporary dance company, with Celeste Botha and Marlin Zoutman at the helm of this exciting vibrant dance institution. Specializing in all facets of the entertainment and performing arts industry ------

The Rep is a live professional theatre company. Founded in 1966, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis is a fully professional theatrical operation belonging to the League of Resident Theatres, The League of St. Louis Theatres and is a constituent member of Theatre Communications Group, Inc., the national service organization for the not-for-profit professional theatre.-----

Danny Williams became The Rep’s Managing Director in January 2022.  An experienced arts administrator, Danny has expertise in nonprofit accounting, senior management, and organizational development.  Prior to joining The Rep, Danny worked at The Public Theater in New York, where he served in various roles since 2006. Most recently, as Senior Director, Finance and Administration, he managed the daily and strategic financial operations of the $50 million nonprofit organization, successfully launched an organization-wide intranet, partnered with the development team to achieve fundraising goals, and collaborated on long-term financial planning and analysis, including cash investment strategies, budget analysis, and project management.  Noteworthy and favorite productions include Broadway productions of Fun Home, Eclipsed, Hamilton, and Hair along with Off-Broadway productions of Here Lies Love, Into the Woods, Twelfth Night, As You Like It, White Noise, and Rock Bottom. ------

As a performer, Danny was featured in the 2002 Westport Country Playhouse pre-Broadway production of Our Town starring Academy Award winner, Paul Newman. He also performed extensively as an improvisor at various venues in New York. Williams directed several NY Fringe Festival productions including Gated and Yellow Brick Wall, both written by Marisa Marquez.  For several years, Danny has been affiliated with the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center in Big Sky, Montana, bringing world class theater to the Treasure State.  Danny produced productions of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale, directed by Laura Savia, the world premiere production of Levity by Stephanie DiMaggio, directed by Stella Powell-Jones, The Last Five Years directed by Jason McDowell-Green, and [title of show] directed by Danny Sharron. -----

Williams has held roles with Musical Theatre International and Manhattan Theatre Club and has served as an adjunct professor in the performing arts management master of fine arts program at Brooklyn College. He earned degrees in marketing and theater from Fairfield University and spent a semester abroad studying at Regents University in the United Kingdom.------

Grant Benoit, Director of Education for Craft Alliance, stopped by to talk about some exhibits and the institution. ------ 

Grant Benoit (American, 1990) is an interdisciplinary artist who observes notions of memory through printmaking, sculpture, and craft methods.  In his practice, Benoit combines traditional printmedia with installation and sculpture to reinterpret the mechanics of memory in more human ways through the lens of the domestic space. Through printing wallpaper, he works through ideas of domesticity, place, and memory through a print practice that speaks to printmaking's industrial beginnings. ------

He received his Master of Fine Arts in Printmaking from Southern Illinois University in 2015, and his Bachelor of Arts in Studio Arts from Spring Hill College in 2012.  Benoit exhibits nationally and internationally, most recently being selected to exhibit work at the Printmaking Center of New Jersey, DEMO Project in Springfield, IL,  Williamson Museum in Wirral, England, and Spring Hill College in Mobile, AL. Benoit was a 2016-17 Artist in Residence at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts and  the 2017-18 Community Artist at the Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts. He is a member of the 12 member collective, Good Children Gallery in the Bywater neighborhood of New Orleans. ------ 

Jessica Baran is a St. Louis, Missouri-based writer and curator interested in the interplay between art, place, and identity. She’s the author of three poetry collections, and her art reviews and essays appear regularly in publications such as Artforum and Art in America, among others. In 2021 she received an Arts Writers Grant for short-form criticism from the Andy Warhol Foundation to support critical writing about artists and exhibitions situated across the greater Midwestern region. In the summer of 2022, She conducted research on the People’s Art Center of St. Louis (1945-1965) with the support of a Divided City graduate research fellowship.------

Alongside her freelance writing, which has included an art column for the alt-newsweekly the Riverfront Times (2008-2012), she’s spent over a decade organizing exhibitions and programming at a range of independent and community-focused art spaces in St. Louis. From 2008-2011, she was the Assistant Director of White Flag Projects; from 2012-2016, she was the Director of fort gondo compound for the arts; and from 2017-2021, she was the Director of Curatorial and Program Development at Barrett Barrera Projects (2017-2021). She is also an educator who has instructed and advised graduate students in the MFA program at the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Art (2012-2017); taught writing courses in St. Louis University’s Prison Arts & Education program (2013-2017); and overseen numerous public workshops, discussions and literary events.------- 

Carol Crouppen Schuchard, is an artist currently based in St. Louis, Missouri, lived and worked as a studio artist in St Louis for twenty five years – exhibiting work in galleries and museums in the U.S. and abroad. Her degrees include the University of Missouri, Columbia, and post graduate studies at Fontbonne College and Washington University. ------

Under the name of Boo Cat Projects Carol and her artist husband Patrick Schuchard have restored, renovated and designed dozens of historic landmark buildings. The Schuchards’ activities as painters and image makers center on the making, realization and uncovering peculiar beauty in the made object or built place. ------

Bob Bennett, Artistic Director of Jazz St. Louis stopped by to talk with Nancy about the goings on at the institution. 

For over 25 years, Jazz St. Louis has been the foremost presenter of jazz in St. Louis and throughout the region. We are dedicated to preserving the legacy of this musical genre. Hundreds of local and nationally renowned musicians, such as Wynton Marsalis, Diana Krall, Harry Connick, Jr. and Al Jarreau have graced our stage. Our state-of-the-art Ferring Jazz Bistro has earned praise from artists and patrons alike as one of the best listening rooms in the country. Year after year, Jazz St. Louis strives to be the leader in showcasing unique and diverse jazz performers and preserves the shared cultural heritage embodied in jazz music through our educational programs. ------

Karen Lucas, Curator of the High Noon Series at the High Low which is the Kranzberg Arts Foundation's literary arts cafe. The events are held in the listening room at the High Low.

The Listening Room: A 150-person event space is dedicated to literary arts-focused content including poetry readings, storytelling, literary series, and book signings. Featuring state-of-the-art audio and visual equipment, a full-service bar, and a professional box office, the space is available for expanded gallery exhibitions, installations, traditional and chamber music, and special events.

Amy Shaw, President and CEO of Nine PBS, stopped by to speak to Nancy about her career and the happenings at the station. -----

After the sudden passing of Jack Galmiche on April 16 of 2019, Amy Shaw, Senior Vice President and Chief Content Officer, was named interim president and chief executive officer. ------ 

After a nation search for a new president and chief executive officer, Amy Shaw was chosen for the Job. ----- 

Subjects covered include how locally produced and national shows work on the station, the new revamp of Living St. Louis, and the change of branding to Nine PBS. ----- 

Mary Ann Srenco, a Trustee for the Kranzberg Arts Foundation stopped by to speak with Nancy about the Walls Off Washington project. ----- 

The Walls Off Washington features 20 thought-provoking murals by renowned local, national and international artists. The murals are painted on (and off) walls between Josephine Baker Boulevard and N. Leonard Ave. and behind KAF venues Sophie’s Artists Lounge and High Low. Walk-in hours for The Walls off Washington are 1pm to sunset, Wednesday through Saturday. ----- 

Colin Healy and Bradley Rohlf of Fly North Theatricals stopped by to talk about the company's works and programs.

Colin Healy is a dog-owner based in the city of St. Louis who is also a composer, music director, and the artistic director of Fly North Theatricals. Starting at age 15, as a touring singer/songwriter with South Florida-based rock band The Republik, Colin's work as a recording artist spans five full-length studio albums -- three as a performer (Last Chance Planet, 2006; The Unexpected Answer, 2010; We Are The Wild Things, 2012), and two as a producer (The Gringo: Original St. Louis Cast Album, 2017; Seeing Other People: A New Musical Concept, 2021). 2012's We Are The Wild Things, was recorded at Adam Schlesinger (Fountains Of Wayne, Crybaby: The Musical) and James Iha's (Smashing Pumpkins) legendary Stratosphere Studios in New York and was produced by Brian Viglione (Dresden Dolls). Healy's body of studio work has been recognized by Billboard, College Music Journal and has received radio play nationwide. His work as a composer includes 4 works of musical theatre: Forgottonia, The Gringo, Madam, and Big Machine and one cast album entitled Seeing Other People. Madam was nominated for five St. Louis Theatre Circle Awards in 2021 and The Gringo was one of the headlining acts at the 2018 St. Louis Fringe. It still holds the record for being the best selling show in festival history. Healy has also served as the Artist-In-Residence at both St. Louis University (2020-21) and the Center Of Creative Arts (2022). ------ 

Bradley Rohlf is a musician, writer, producer, and performer based in St. Louis. He was the drummer for local band Finlay Fields, and appears on their releases "What Songs Cannot Repay" (2010), and "From A to B" (2011). As a songwriter and recording artist, he has released two EPs under the moniker Another White Suburbanite, "AWS" (2011), and "Counter Culture" (2012). He began acting in plays and musicals across the metro region in 2013, and garnered a Best Performance Award nomination from Arts For Life for his portrayal of Mr. Bungee in "A New Brain" with Hawthorne Players in 2019. He has worked as a production manager for Fly North Theatricals since the staged reading of Colin Healy's musical "The Gringo" in January 2017. In addition, he has focused on supporting the development of new works by prioritizing attending readings and play festivals with feedback sessions for the writers, and has participated in and organized readings as well. He is a part of the production team for FNT's digital content on YouTube, and he is a co-host of the Grown-Up Theatre Kids podcast. He continues to write songs and is constructing an original book musical. ------ 

Anna Lum, Poet and Co-Founder of Herding Cats Collective, stopped by to talk with Nancy about her life, career and poetry. ------

Anna Lum has taught Tai Chi since 1973. She evolved from computer programming
to poetry/design. The Urge to Play God, published by MoonShadow Press led to
performing her poetry nationally and internationally. St. Louis’ first Poet Laureate Michael Castro’s anthology “Crossing the Divide” includes her poem “Sitting Down for Yourself”. Volunteering excessively on numerous arts boards she was named St. Louis Woman of Achievement in cultural awareness in 2002. -----

She is also a co-founder of the Herding Cats Collective. ------