Thank you to everyone who participated in our 2018 Performer Showcase. What a success! Below is information from each of our wonderful presents. 

Adult Presenter Information

​Grounded Goodwife / Ehris Urban & Velya Jancz-Urban
203-942-0774 / groundedgoodwife@yahoo.com / groundedgoodwife.com
Grounded Goodwife offers unique workshops & presentations by an herbalist daughter/historian mother who believe healing comes from nature, history, and within. While natural remedies are extremely effective, there’s no reason to pay outrageous health food store prices for them! Ehris and Velya not only teach you how to make your own at a fraction of the price, but you’ll also learn the medicinal benefits of each ingredient. They offer a variety of hands-on holistic workshops, and present at libraries, historical societies, community centers, senior centers, universities, conferences, and women’s groups. Fee/Fee Range: $250+
 
The Elderly Brothers / Brian Gillie
203-415-6218 / bgillie48@yahoo.com / www.briangillie.com
Long-time popular solo artists, T-Bone Stankus (guitar) and Brian Gillie (keyboards) have teamed up as The Elderly Brothers, serving up mint-condition “oldies” rock ‘n’ roll, pushing the envelope of sweet surprise with pitch-perfect harmonies and soulful improvisations as fresh as the originals.  No sleepwalk down memory lane with these guys.  Their radiant renditions and audience interaction are unsurpassed.  Enjoy the solid groove and upbeat, ‘50s and ‘60s rock-hop repertoire that have made each of them such innovative and celebrated performers.  Fee/Fee Range:  $350.00
 
Wanderlust Promotions Ltd / Keely Baisden Knudsen / Hunter Charnow
802-448-2150 / hunter@wanderlustpromotions.com / www.Wanderlustpromotions.com
Introducing Keely Baisden Knudsen, one of the most endearing and loveable performers ever to grace the stage. Keely is renowned for her collection of wonderful characters, beautiful ballads, amusing comedy routines, and even a bit of audience participation.  She graduated first in her class with a BFA from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and received a Masters in Drama on full scholarship from The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Keely has performed internationally in plays, musicals, operas, dance companies, mime and puppet theater, and has choreographed and directed dozens of theatrical productions. Locally, she has been the Director of Education for the Elm Shakespeare Company and has taught at Yale University, Fairfield University, Hartt School of Drama, Southern Connecticut State University, and is an associate professor at Quinnipiac University. Fee/Fee Range: $200-$250 ($200 if booked during “Performance showcase” date (9-21-2018) otherwise $250).
 
Oliver Scholes with the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center / Contact Person: Aqua Drakes
adrakes@stowecenter.org / www.harrietbeecherstowecenter.org
This presentation introduces the Stowe Center's most popular outreach program, Her Words Changed the World. This is a dynamic program that explores the life and impact of anti-slavery novelist Harriet Beecher Stowe. Discover Stowe's life  -- her childhood, family, education, marriage and motherhood -- her inspiration to write Uncle Tom’s Cabin and the lasting impact of its message. Connect the past to the present and find out how you can create social change. Fee/Fee Range: $250-400
 
Music of Jim Moore
860-480-3664 / jmoore7461@gmail.com / Facebook: Classic Country Hits by Jim Moore
I perform Classic Country Music, all the greats! Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, ect. I always try to engage the audience in the show. I also perform pop hits from the 70s as a separate show and have the ability to DJ other genres...50s, 60s, etc.. Fee/ Range: $75.00 to $100.00 (hr performance).
 
Kandie Carle
860-873-9599 office; 860-922-8810 cell. / Kandie@KandieCarle.com / www.KandieCarle.com
Well known as the Victorian Lady, Kandie Carle has added Fashion in Fiction to her repertoire. Ms Carle dives into the Regency era (early 1800s) with élan, first discussing the general clothing, accessories, manners and etiquette of the time period, then shares the ways that Jane Austen used clothing and fashion to enhance character, delineate class, and move plot and story in her novels. Dressed in period correct garments herself, she also dresses two mannequins, as Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, characters from Pride and Prejudice, as they prepare for a ball. Along with excerpts from the novels, Ms. Carle shares highlights from Jane Austen’s private letters. Fee/Fee Range: $350-$550
 
Klassic Kreations Workshops / Kim Larkin
klassickreations.weebly.com / kimlarkin61@yahoo.com
Kim Larkin is the owner and chocolatier of a commercially licensed chocolate company located in Connecticut, Klassic Kreations Gourmet. These fun, educational workshops cover interesting topics such as new chocolate trends, instruction on pairing various wines with different types of fine chocolate, and more. Fee/Fee Range: $285 all inclusive
 
Francesco Barone
267-825-5012 / barone.guitar@gmail.com / http://www.francescobarone.com/
Award winning guitarist Francesco Barone has performed throughout the Northeast United States and in Italy as a soloist and chamber musician. He has presented at many guitar festivals and societies in New England.  Francesco was also featured at a La Bella Strings sponsored concert, was a prizewinner in the Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society Guitar Competition and has had performances broadcasted on NPR.  He received a MM from and is a current DMA candidate at The Hartt School where he studies under Professor Emeritus of Guitar Richard Provost. He holds a BM from Temple University. Fee/Fee Range: $200-500
 
Reader of Minds / Keith Zalinger
860-989-0973 / keith@readerofminds.com / www.readerofminds.com
My award-winning event-enhancing Mind-Reading shows which have entertained corporate and in-home party guests across the East Coast.  I also offer Tarot and Palm readings which have event attendees happily waiting in line to hear their future. I enhance events everywhere I go, but don't take my word for it - take a look at the opinions of paying clients on my testimonial page. Fee/Fee Range: $250 - $3,000 

Children/Teen Presenter Information

Bryson Lang
818-679-6303 / brysonlang@hotmail.com / www.brysonlang.com
I’ve been working professionally as a comedy-juggler for over 25 years. Through almost three decades of performing, my goal has been to combine my technical juggling skills, creative physical manipulation and original comedy into a unique, fun, and exciting show that fits your event, venue, audience and budget. My audiences will see a likable, energetic personality performing inventive and clever routines that mix comedy, audience participation, ball spinning, sombrero tossing, ball bouncing, well-crafted timing, huge spinning bouncing rings, and always a few surprises. Discover why I have “The Cure For the Common Show!” Fee/Fee Range: $425 per 45-50 minute show
 
Rona  Leventhal, Storyteller
413-586-0624 / rona@ronatales.com / www.ronatales.com
Rona Leventhal has been putting smiles on the faces of kids (and adults!) for 27 years!  She will takes you on a journey around the world and back with her back pocket full of multi-cultural stories! Rona is one person, but many voices. Through her, skies talk, turtles sing, and magic happens! She’ll have you dancing, swaying in your seats, making funny noises, singing, and laughing, as she shares stories from the silly to the serious, from the mysterious to the monstrous. So kick back and have a listen! Fee/Fee Range: $435 - $495 (block booking discounts available)
 
Matica Circus  / Heidi Kirchofer
maticaarts@gmail.com / www.maticaarts.com
Matica delights audiences of all ages with acts of daring and tremendous skill. Featuring juggling, hula hoop, a tall unicycle, Chinese yo-yo; lots of audience engagement and more! 40min of Joy. Great for festivals, fundraisers, libraries, and more. Fire performance, interactive circus station "Circus in a Suitcase," hula hoop and circus workshops also available. Fee/Fee Range: $150- $500
 
Harriet Beecher Stowe Center / Katie Burton, Ph.D. – Program Coordinator, School & Writing Programs
(860) 522-9258, ext. 308 / cburton@stowecenter.org / www.harrietbeecherstowecenter.org
 “Stowe Center Youth Programs encourage kids ages 5-17 to discover Harriet Beecher Stowe’s life and impact through interactive experiences, connecting history to their own lives and learning how they can make a difference in their community. Stowe is most famous for writing the bestselling anti-slavery novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852), a book that commanded public attention, created empathy for enslaved people, and contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War. Stowe is an example of how one person can make a difference, and Stowe Center programs seek to continue that legacy. Our Youth Programs encourage investigative and empathetic approaches to a variety of social issues, empowering kids to be thoughtful, compassionate, and civically engaged citizens. Visit the Stowe Center or let us bring programs to you! On-site programs include a tour of the Harriet Beecher Stowe House, a National Historic Landmark. Fee/Fee Range: $0-10/student (fees based on programs and participant school district)
 
Nancy Tucker
860-491-2067 / tucker1416@aol.com / www.nancytucker.info
This show is brightly woven with original songs and insights into the world of simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia, rhyme, rhythm,  spelling, and the delightful twists and turns of the English language. It is designed to strengthen skills in self expression and offer new ways to creatively use the spoken and written word. Laced throughout the show are opportunities for humor and participation, as Nancy captures the imagination and heart of each participant with gentle invitation and contagious lunacy. Fee/Fee Range:   $200 plus travel
 
Amazing Math Wizards / Monica Peterson
203-641-3152 / monicapeterson12345@gmail.com
Renowned harpist Wendy Kerner and professional educator and storyteller Monica Peterson take young students (pre-K to 3rd grade) on an exciting musical journey through Story Land where they explore numbers, counting, addition, multiplication, 2D and 3D shapes, and more. Students even get to try the harp. Using puppets, props, and lots of audience participation, the program teaches life skills such as cooperative problem solving, learning from mistakes, and experimentation. "The Amazing Math Wizards show was a real treat for our students. The students were engaged and captivated throughout the whole show and they loved the characters!” Marley Parker Drama/Literacy Specialist Rotella Magnet School, Waterbury, CT. Fee/Fee Range: $400 
 
David Lawrence
David@davidfunn.com / www.educationalmagic.com
David Lawrence's young adult show is a variation of his adult Mind Reading and Magic show, including some very mind blowing routines, geared towards subjects that appeal to that age range. It is very interactive and includes mind reading and a demonstration of hypnosis. If a library books both the teen show and his age 3-10 library program, or more than one show in your system, he usually gives a discount for both shows. David also offers magic workshops for teens where they learn some magic tricks that they can do for their friends. Fee/Fee Range: $350- $700
 
Animal Embassy / Chris Evers / Director & Founder, Jennifer Balbes
203-655-5404 / info@animalembassy.com / www.animalembassy.com
Join Animal Embassy and meet incredible live, exotic Animal Ambassadors from the rainforests of South America to the plains of Africa! Dedicated to exotic animal rescue/adoption and environmental education, Animal Embassy’s mission is to foster an individual’s appreciation and respect for the natural world through hands-on, educational and entertaining live animal experiences.  Professional educators help library patrons of all ages connect with nature. Fee/Fee Range: $325 (plus travel fee based upon location).