Coyote Tales Virtual Storytelling – “Out of the Blue”
FRIDAY, MARCH 26TH, 2021
Coyote Tales and storytellers from our community and across the nation are joining forces tonight to bring you a remarkable evening of storytelling. Someday soon we will be able to gather safely together but until then, we will entertain you online with ten “OUT OF THE BLUE” tales. Listen to these stories of unexpected happenings, unforeseen possibility or the thunderbolts that often appear without warning in clear blue skies. The teller of the evening’s favorite story will win ULTIMATE bragging rights – so please remember to vote for your favorite story after the show.
INTRO – VICTORIA TOPHAM
We are pleased to present 10 storytellers to you this evening – you can watch the entire show at once just like attending a live event, run time is about 30 minutes. Or watch a few stories and come back another time to view the rest. Just remember, you need to vote by March 30th at “11:59” pm.
SUE GORDHAMMER – “DROPPING INTO EGYPT 3”
Sue lives in Ivins where she loves to hike with Joe and their two dogs Olina and Sarge. You can also find her mountain biking the trails around Kayenta and the surrounding area. Sue has lived in Utah for the last 15 years. She loves the geographic diversity of our state – mountains, slot canyons, red rock, and hoodoos – how lucky are we?!
MATT MCNALLY – “MEETING MISS SAIGON”
Matt McNally is a mountain-west silverback gorilla with an appetite for positivity. He has spent his entire life roaming through the moving waters and temperate forests of the western United States. His incredibly intelligent and beautiful wife Helen is an educator, and his two amazing children are active and loving. Matt truly believes that storytelling is one of the most important (though underappreciated) artistic forms of modern humanity. Matt feels that the best stories are told with at least 1 of 3 accompaniments…hot campfires, cold beverages, or home-cooked meals.
DAN EASTMAN – “WHAT OTHER CAR”
Dan is half of the music and storytelling duo, Harvest Home. He is also co-chair of the Olympus (Salt Lake Valley) Chapter of the Utah Storytelling Guild. Ever since his high school Rock ‘n Roll days, he has shared music and stories in a variety of venues. Learn more about Dan and his music and storytelling here https://www.harvesthomemusic.com/
JENI BONALDO– “RUN AWAY”
Jeni Bonaldo lives in Connecticut with her family. She is a mother, teacher, writer, and storyteller. She is currently working on her first novel and hopes to finish it before books go extinct. You can read more of Jeni’s work @ mommyhood.life/author/jenibonaldo/
MELVA GIFFORD– “SWIMMING LESSON”
Melva has performed stories at events that include: Thanksgiving Point, Pioneer Days, Ellis Island (Orem event), Community fairs, Provo Park, Orem’s Library’s Liars Competition, Horror competition, City Fairs, Springville Art Museum, family reunions, family parties, and WUS storytelling festival. She is also an author. Her most recent publication is in Cricket Magazine in January 2021.
MARTY JEMISON – “VOICE IN MY HEAD”
Marty Jemison is a native of the Rocky Mountains and one of the principals of Jemison Cycling Tours. Marty discovered his passion for cycling and refined his extraordinary skills in and around Europe. Having ridden professionally in European peloton for seven years, Marty is one of 29 American to have completed the world’s greatest race, the Tour de France – twice in fact, in 1997 and in 1998. Marty won the 1999 the US Pro Championships, earning him the coveted Stars ‘n Stripes national champion’s jersey. He has also competed in mountain biking at the highest level including the Professional Mountain Bike championships and has won several notable events. Marty spends his time living 6 months in Europe and 6 months in the USA each year. As a professional racer, Marty raced over 900 events from 1990-2001. Since 2003 Marty has created and led over 180 vacation cycling trips throughout Europe for his clients at Jemison Cycling Tours jemisoncycling.com.
KATHY SMITH – “A CHANGE OF PLANS”
Kathy Smith ia southern Utah resindent and an avid storyteller. This is her first appearance on our virtual stage.
JUAN ALDAPE – “HALLUCINATING MONEY”
Juan Manuel Aldape Muñoz is a Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Performing and Media Arts at Cornell University. He’s the former managing director of San Francisco’s Festival of Latin American Contemporary Choreographers. He produces and choreographs performances across the United States and internationally. His artistic and scholarly work is that intersection of contemporary performance and social justice. He holds a Ph.D. in performance studies from UC Berkeley.
SHEREE GIESENHAGEN – “A MOTHER IN THREE DAYS”
Sheree Giesenhagen is a native of Nebraska and a champion pickle ball player. She recently competed in and crushed the competition in the Women’s 3.5 League at Little Valley. She is a loving wife and mother and recently welcomed Axel, her first grandson to the family.
TERRY MARTEN – “SERENDIPITY ON HIGHWAY 91”
An architect by education and a developer by nature, Terry Marten is the diving force behind the community of southern Utah’s Kayenta. Early on Terry saw a value in producing unique homes with plenty of breathing room to enjoy the soaring red cliffs and sage-colored open range. Terry is a visionary, an environmentalist and his concern for the community he lives in is unmatched.
SARA NASH FROM IVINS CITY PARKS AND RECREATION
Return to live events in Ivins City Park!!
CLOSING – DOUG CAPUTO
Douglas Caputo is a real estate broker/agent who loves introducing people to the wonders of Southern Utah. Doug also is a community activist and active in the arts.
Thank you so much for listening this evening.
It is our belief that through the sharing of stories, our differences matter less and our individuality is celebrated more. Through these events we hope not only to entertain but to foster deeper empathy, understanding, connection and involvement in our community. Coyote Tales is your stage – we could not do this without you.
Everyone has a story – Victoria
COYOTE TALES EVENTS ARE SUPPORTED BY UTAH HUMANITIES, PETITE FEAST, DESERT DWELLER AND ZION BREWERY STATION II AND GENEROUS LOCAL STORY LOVERS.
Special thanks to Ned Cordery, Gosland Studio and Alan Holben Photography
