DEEP WATER: WORKSHOP & STORYTELLING SHOWCASE
Agenda
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM | Workshop
Whether you are a master storyteller or a novice speaker, this workshop will add new luster to your storytelling skills; offer new insights into the innerworkings and shaping of stories; and wholly refresh your creativity in a warm and inviting community atmosphere.
2:30 PM – 3:15 PM | Lunch & Networking
Enjoy lunch on us! We promise to have delicious food and great company. This is the chance to mix, mingle, and share stories with fellow creatives. (Pre-registration required. Deadline 3/20/25. Space limited.)
3:30 PM – 5:00 PM | Storytelling Showcase
It's time to immerse yourself in the worlds unfurled by our renowned and featured storytellers. It's a veritable feast for the story lover's soul!
Meet the Facilitators
Gigi McGraw
Nancy Wexler Taylor
Gigi McGraw
Gigi McGraw is a performance artist, cultural preservationist, and public presenter with a master’s degree in theater from Villanova University. A resident of
Philadelphia, she is develops projects that combine performance with sociology. Ms. McGraw uses creative artforms— writing, drama, visual art, dance, and photography— to address u
Gigi McGraw is a performance artist, cultural preservationist, and public presenter with a master’s degree in theater from Villanova University. A resident of
Philadelphia, she is develops projects that combine performance with sociology. Ms. McGraw uses creative artforms— writing, drama, visual art, dance, and photography— to address universal themes with a specific focus on communities of color.
Barb Sherf
Nancy Wexler Taylor
Gigi McGraw
Barbara Sherf wears many hats—Storyteller, Writer, Speech Coach, Publicist, Marketer, Free Hugger, and more. An old school storyteller and personal historian, she helps others craft their messages and shares. This veteran Toastmaster of 25 years and award-winning print and broadcast journalist also conducts Public Speaking Boot Camps and facilitates one-on-one speech coaching.
Nancy Wexler Taylor
Nancy Wexler Taylor
Nancy Wexler Taylor
Nancy Wexler Taylor is a native of Philadelphia and currently resides in Doylestown, PA. Winning Best in Show in The Philadelphia Moth Nov.’19 and at First Person Arts in June 2023. She thanks her family and friends for the true stories she shares with strangers.
DEEP WATER: A STORYTELLING Concert
Meet Our Featured Storytellers
Denise McCormack
Michele Belluomini
Michele Belluomini
Denise McCormack is a dynamic storyteller and president of the Patchwork Storytelling Guild. Her extensive involvement in cultural, educational, and artistic initiatives
fuels her passion to extol the transformative power of stories. In fact, she believes that there is a story for every time and purpose under heaven, each carrying the pot
Denise McCormack is a dynamic storyteller and president of the Patchwork Storytelling Guild. Her extensive involvement in cultural, educational, and artistic initiatives
fuels her passion to extol the transformative power of stories. In fact, she believes that there is a story for every time and purpose under heaven, each carrying the potential to inspire, educate, and unite.
In Denise's world of storytelling, great people, great messages, and great stories converge to ignite the imagination and evoke emotion and action. www.denisemccormack.live
Michele Belluomini
Michele Belluomini
Michele Belluomini
Michele is a long-time storyteller. She often tells stories shared with her by various Native American tellers, as well as stories from around the world. She is a member of Patchwork Storytelling Guild and the National Storytelling Network. She is Adjunct Faculty at Community College of Philadelphia & she often does special presentations at the Penn Museum.
Tiffani Dean
Michele Belluomini
Tiffani Dean
Tiffani Dean is a griot from Philadelphia who is equally adept at telling stories through visual art, written works, and performance art. Her work has been featured all over the US—both live and in print. Tiffany is the CEO of La Diva Dolls, LLC and the COO of The Collective Mic, LLC .
Gigi McGraw
Michele Belluomini
Tiffani Dean
Gigi McGraw is a performance artist, cultural preservationist, and public presenter with a master’s degree in theater from Villanova University. She currently resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she is developing several projects that combine performance with sociology. Ms. McGraw uses creative artforms such as writing, drama, vis
Gigi McGraw is a performance artist, cultural preservationist, and public presenter with a master’s degree in theater from Villanova University. She currently resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she is developing several projects that combine performance with sociology. Ms. McGraw uses creative artforms such as writing, drama, visual art, dance, and photography to address universal themes with a specific focus on communities of color.
Barbara Sherf
Nancy Wexler Taylor
Christina Sturgis
Barbara Sherf wears many hats—Storyteller, Writer, Speech Coach, Publicist, Marketer, Free Hugger, and more. An old school storyteller and personal historian, she helps others craft their messages and shares. This veteran Toastmaster of 25 years and award-winning print and broadcast journalist also conducts Public Speaking Boot Camps and facilitates one-on-one speech coaching.
Christina Sturgis
Nancy Wexler Taylor
Christina Sturgis
Christina Sturgis is an award-winning journalist, storyteller and wordsmith. From her humble beginnings in a tiny home in Massachusetts, she always looked for the healing, but humorous, message in everyday occurrences. She is a graduate of Temple University, where she majored in communications, following a two-year stint at Bates College,
Christina Sturgis is an award-winning journalist, storyteller and wordsmith. From her humble beginnings in a tiny home in Massachusetts, she always looked for the healing, but humorous, message in everyday occurrences. She is a graduate of Temple University, where she majored in communications, following a two-year stint at Bates College, where she majored in theater. She is the editor of her church newsletter, The Pulse of DDUUC, and blogs at clsreal.com.
Nancy Wexler Taylor
Nancy Wexler Taylor
Nancy Wexler Taylor
Nancy Wexler Taylor is a native of Philadelphia and currently resides in Doylestown, PA. Winning Best in Show in The Philadelphia Moth Nov.’19 and at First Person Arts in June 2023. She thanks her family and friends for the true stories she shares with strangers.
About the rotunda
The Rotunda, located in Philadelphia, PA, is a community-gathering place that is fueled by the belief that art is a catalyst for social change and that the arts can lead to the formation of meaningful partnerships between our parent organization the University of Pennsylvania, and surrounding neighborhoods. Over 300 events are offered every year, including live music, film, spoken word, theater, art, dance, education, youth programs, arts incubation, and various experimental genres. As an alcohol-free venue, The Rotunda provides a critical social alternative for all ages. At its core, The Rotunda is a shared space fostering learning, enrichment, and community support while empowering the public to present, produce, and promote their work. The Rotunda's programming is currently virtual but we will reopen the venue soon enough!