LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER TWIN CITIES ALUMNI HOLIDAY SHOW 2018
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT -- GRATEFULLY -- TO ANN MARIE PHOTOGRAPHY
LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER TWIN CITIES
2018 ALUMNI HOLIDAY SHOW CAST
JENNIFER BALL TUFFORD
2013 CAST ALUMNI
Jennifer Ball Tufford is the proud mother of four grown children and one teenaged dog. Her days are spent being “mom” to several hundred kids as an elementary school secretary. She writes about life after divorce, single parenting and the glorious hilarity that is dating after 50. More than anything, she wishes her mom could see this show.
In 2013, Jenny read, “Broken Bowl” from the LTYM stage.
Watch Jenny here. >>
Prinna BoudReau
2014 Cast Alumni
Prinna Boudreau is a freelance technical writer, teacher, and storyteller. A native of Minnesota, she earned her MBA in English from Minnesota State University where she now teaches writing courses. After the loss of her 10-month-old daughter to SIDS, she began focusing on writing about motherhood, loss, and grief. She had the unique opportunity to tell her first story for “The Moth” in 2012 to an audience of over 1,000. She lives in Shakopee, Minnesota with her husband and three children. She blogs at Prinna Writes and is working on a memoir.
In 2014, Prinna read, “Day 292” from the LTYM stage. Watch Prinna here. >>
AVIVAH BROWN
2018 Cast Alumni
Avivah Brown was born in NY, raised in Atlanta and is now a self proclaimed Minnesotan. She is a public speaker, non-profit manager, singer, and a mom to many foster loves. Her career finds her spending days partnering local organizations with schools to provide meals to kids living in food insecurity. In addition, she is a local advocate for the needs within the foster care system, and is passionate about seeing kiddos in healthy homes. In her spare time she can be found drinking great coffee, trying a new dish and fully embracing each new day. You can find her adventures here: as1wefoster.com.
In 2018, Avivah read, “A Mother To Many” from the LTYM stage.
Danielle Daniel
2017 Cast Alumni
Danielle Daniel loves creating and performing. Her vivacious style fills the stage with a swirl of characters. She is an actress, creative writer, teaching artist and master storyteller. Her storytelling programs and tour shows have been presented in Europe and the United States. She has worked in many schools, colleges, and community organizations using the art of storytelling to entertain, educate, motivate and empower people of all ages. During her career, she has received a Jim Dusso Artist Award, Minnesota State Arts Board Fellowship, Many Voices from the Playwright Center, and a Jerome Fellowship. She is the author of a children’s book, “The Ghost of Old Man Willie,” two plays, Voodoo Child, Sugar and Spice a Black Woman’s Melody, and The Magic of Laughter. Danielle believes our stories are healing; we should treasure and collect them for our future generations. She received a B. A. Degree from the University of Minnesota, and completed the Kennedy Performance Arts Center “Artist as Educators Program” through Iowa University. Her workshops and artist residencies are designed to help students find and develop their own creative voice and style.
In 2017, Danielle read, “A Mother’s Love” from the LTYM stage.
Kate Gjerde
2016 Cast Alumni
Kate Gjerde, the author of the award-winning memoir, Given Away, was written under her pen name, Kate Anne Kang. When Kate is not writing she can be found on the pickleball courts; playing Chinese mahjong (for the last twenty years); or tending to her numerous and much beloved houseplants. By day she teaches English to language learners at both the high school and elementary level. She is blessed with two lovely twenty-something children. She lives in the Twin Cities with her husband, her best friend. Connect with Kate at: www.kimchivoodoo.com.
In 2016, Kate read, “You, Me, Same-Same” from the LTYM stage.
Watch Kate here. >>
Ann Hohenshell
2017 Cast Alumni
Ann Hohenshell is a mom, spouse, writer and avid reader. She and her husband are native Iowans and slowly coming to accept that their three children consider themselves Minnesotans. Ann likes to root for the underdog, drink coffee and collect family stories. She met some of her best friends in writing groups and writes about her life as a daughter, mom and outside observer.
In 2017, Ann read, “Rita” from the LTYM stage.
Leslie Lagerstrom
2014 Cast Alumni
Leslie Lagerstrom is the creator of the blog Transparenthood™, which chronicles her family’s experience raising a transgender child. Through her writing, she has built a national advocacy platform for transgender children and their families. Her essays have been featured in three anthologies, turned into a stage production that toured the United States, and can be found in The Huffington Post. Committed to spreading awareness, she is frequently invited to speak in front of audiences across the country, which include K-12 school communities, college students and university administrators, medical professionals, and employees of Fortune 500 companies as well as national associations representing lawyers, school psychologists, and social workers.
In 2014, Leslie read, “The Dance” from the LTYM stage.
Watch Leslie here. >>
Hawona Sullivan Janzen
2016 Cast Alumni &
2018 SHOW EMCEE
Hawona Sullivan Janzen is a Saint Paul based storyteller, poet, singer, and composer who believes that art is the only thing that can save us from ourselves.
She is the co-founder of the Witness Creative Writing Program at the University of Minnesota and has done commissioned work for a variety of organizations including the St. Paul River Stewards, Silverwood Park, and the Minnesota African American Museum. Her jazz opera, "Clean" debuted at the Soap Factory Gallery in 2016.
When she is not home with her family, she can be found performing around town with the Sonoglyph Music and Poetry Collective, creating shadow puppets at the Monkeybear Harmolodic Workshop, or working on a collaborative photo-poetry art installation project in the Rondo Neighborhood scheduled for debut in late summer of 2018.
In 2016, Hawona read, “Grandmother and Beebee” from the LTYM stage.
Watch Hawona here. >>
Andrea Mullenmeister
2016 Cast Alumni
Andrea Mullenmeister is a ceramic artist and a work-at-home mom. Her kindergartner, Jaxson, thinks she should make even more pottery so he can buy more Lego sets.
Jaxson was born prematurely at only twenty-three weeks gestation. Being such an early preemie, he has faced a number of obstacles including a three month NICU stay, ten surgeries, chronic health conditions, Autism, and ADHD. Andrea is passionate about advocating for her son and herself. Her essays about prematurity, parenting a child with extra needs, and grief have been published nationally.
You can find Andrea at An Early Start where she writes about her family’s story of love, hope, and survival.
In 2016, Andrea read, “Afraid Of Heights” from the LTYM stage.
Watch Andrea here. >>
LAURA TAPLE
2018 Cast Alumni
Laura Taple is a small business owner who traded in office life to manage the family business, Katzman Monument Co. She enjoys the challenge of running a business and combining her people skills with the surprisingly artistic side of designing memorials. Laura believes it’s a privilege to assist families in honoring their loved ones. When not wandering through cemeteries, she is most in her element when wearing red lipstick, meeting a friend for coffee, traveling, telling stories and developing meaningful connections. She lives in S. Minneapolis with her magical husband, spirited daughter (age 6) and curmudgeonly Shih Tzu, Barry.
In 2018, Laura read, “Down The Rabbit Hole” from the LTYM stage.
Sally Vardaman
2017 Cast Alumni
Sally Vardaman is an essayist who believes in the power of stories to make us think and connect with each other. Her current labor of love is a book of essays to her three teenagers, to be released in 2023. You can find her occasional musings and projects at sallyvardaman.com.
In 2017, Sally read, “The F Word” from the LTYM stage.
Tzitel Voss
2017 Cast Alumni
Tzitel Voss is a Speech Communications and Theater teacher and consultant with 20 years of experience in a broad range of fields. The greater part of her career has been spent within the field of education where she teaches communications classes and coaches nationally-ranked competitive speakers. Beyond the educational setting, Tzitel has worked with The Moth and Fringe Festival storytellers in preparation for the stage. She also has had the privilege to work with Public Defenders and Criminal Defense Lawyers on developing skills to share the stories of their clients in the courtroom. Tzitel has made a career out of listening to stories: stories of her students, stories of performers, stories of professionals. She is a teacher at heart and loves to help others find the courage to speak and make their “mess become their message”. Every once in awhile, she even has a story to share.
In 2017, Tzitel read, “Little Things” from the LTYM stage.
Kris Woll
2015 Cast Alumni
Kris Woll began her writing career at age seven as founder, editor, and writer of a family newspaper, The Woll Street Journal. In the years since, she has written essays and stories on food, home, and personal histories for a variety of publications. She leads occasional workshops on building a creative writing and journaling practice and was a Loft Literary Center Excellence in Teaching Fellowship award winner in 2019. Kris works in higher education and lives with her family in Minneapolis.
In 2015, Kris read, “A Little Cheer” from the LTYM stage.
Watch Kris here. >>
Laura ZimmermanN
2018 Cast Alumni
Laura Zimmermann is a writer, a reader, and a maker of cheesecakes. You might find her at a softball game, a jazz concert, or a nonprofit board meeting, but you'll never find her on a ladder or entering a triathlon. Her debut YA novel will be published by Dutton Books in 2020. She lives in Minneapolis with her three favorite people, who show up in her stories whether they like it or not.
In 2018, Laura read, “Reading Lessons” from the LTYM stage.
