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Jingle Tales & Tunes 2023
Fun and Festive Evening raised over $4000 for
Family Service Agency
Wednesday, December 13, 2023
Want to see what you missed or revisit your favorite stories? Check out the videos in the photos of our show below, with much thanks to Susy Shearer for the great still shots and David Flynn for the videos.
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Jingle Tales Videos
Meet the Cast
Meet the Cast
Bella Mahaya Carter
is an award-winning author of three books: Where Do You Hang Your Hammock? Finding Peace of Mind While You Write, Publish, and Promote Your Book; Raw: My Journey from Anxiety to Joy, a memoir; and Secrets of My Sex, a poetry collection. Her work has appeared in dozens of journals, including The Sun Magazine. Her flash and micro stories appear in The Dribble Drabble Review; Friday Flash Fiction; MacQueen’s Quninterly; Five Minutes(forthcoming), and elsewhere. A devoted wordsmith and healer, Bella founded and facilitates Write Where You Are, transformational writing circles for writers, artists, healers, and seekers. Since 2008, she’s helped hundreds of writers find and share their voices. Born and raised in New York, Bella studied dance at The Juilliard School and graduated from Scripps College with a BA in dance and literature. She holds an MFA from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and an MA in spiritual psychology from USM. She’s currently working on an intergenerational family memoir in Flash. A micro version of “Ghost of Christmas Perfect” was published in the October issue of the new literary journal, Does It Have Pockets? Visit Bella’s website: www.BellaMahayaCarter.com, or Instagram @bellamahayacarter.
Eric Conner
(he/him) is thrilled to be JAM-ming again at the Colony Theatre. You might have seen him as store owner / plant victim Mr. Mushnik in Conundrum’s production of Little Shop of Horrors. Or may recognize him as the lone bearded member of the Burbank Cultural Arts Commission. Eric produced the feature documentary Other Voices / Aswat Acherim (available on Amazon – yes, that’s a plug), has appeared on multiple podcasts and was a finalist for the first (and last) Howard Stern Film Festival. He teaches TV and film writing at New York Film Academy in Burbank and overseas (via Zoom) with StarCoach. Massive thanks to Suzanne & Heather, the entire Burbank creative community, his sons Alex & Judah, wife Lauren and their chaotic canines Fezzik and Iggy Pup. To misquote two holiday classics, “Yippee-Ki-Yay to all, and to all a good night.”
Susanna Curtis
has loved performing original stories in shows across Los Angeles for the last decade. Spark Off Rose, Expressing Motherhood, and the upcoming un-told are just a few. She enjoys taking her audience on unpredictable journeys. Any night of the week, you can see her on a stage across the city doing what she loves best. Well, you could. In theory. But more likely she’s in bed by 8 p.m., attempting to stay awake to watch “Dateline”, because driving and putting on make-up and clothes at night are a lot of work despite her love of performing.
Susanna is often “inspired” by her teen sons, who have provided great fodder and material as they’ve grown up. An L.A. native, she’s married to the love of her life, who, like her father, is from Ohio. (Anyone here producing an upcoming show called “Daddy Issues”?). She’s mom to three rescue dogs whom she loves and drive her crazy (see above: teens). Susanna adores gourmet cheese so stinky it may be mistaken for a dirty diaper, and pairing it with whatever wine is under $11.99 at the corner liquor store.
Susanna is often “inspired” by her teen sons, who have provided great fodder and material as they’ve grown up. An L.A. native, she’s married to the love of her life, who, like her father, is from Ohio. (Anyone here producing an upcoming show called “Daddy Issues”?). She’s mom to three rescue dogs whom she loves and drive her crazy (see above: teens). Susanna adores gourmet cheese so stinky it may be mistaken for a dirty diaper, and pairing it with whatever wine is under $11.99 at the corner liquor store.
Wendy Hammers
is a writer, speaker, actor, comic and 8+ year pancreative cancer survivor and thriver. She is the curator and host of Tasty Words. Acting credits include: WRITER. Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Sopranos, Mad About You. Stand up appearances - Oprah, Craig Ferguson. ONSTAGE: Grey Nomad (Broadway World Award Nom) 75 performances of Old Jews Telling Jokes right here on this stage. (National tour) Coolest credit: Friends with Suzanne Weerts! Learn more, connect, or book Wendy to speak at your event: wendyhammers.com
Alexandra Helfrich
has been a decades long advocate on behalf of children and arts in education. Her past professional experience includes Director of Feature Post-Production for Fox Searchlight Pictures, and ten years of freelance independent and studio film production work in New York City. Alexandra is married to feature film editor and director, Mark Helfrich, and they have two daughters. When not baking or making Limoncello, she manages her family-owned film business. She’s made countless gallons of Nana’s legendary pasta sauce and her house frequently smells like garlic cooking. There's no doubt she has consumed more than double her lifetime allowance of cookies. Recipes are available upon request @AlexandraHelfrich.
Jennifer L Hughes
was a theatre major back in the 1900s and has had the honor of doing voice over work in cartoons for Nickelodeon and Disney feature and television. She is currently a happily married college student with two grown daughters, doing a pivot in her 50s from production to occupational therapy because it’s never too late to learn something new.
Carlos Kotkin
is an author, screenwriter and storyteller. His dating memoir of romantic misadventures, PLEASE GOD LET IT BE HERPES was published by Penguin. He has written the animated features RIO 2, OPEN SEASON: SCARED SILLY and THE STAR. His stories have been featured in THE MOTH, RISK, KCRW'S UNFICTIONAL and STORY COLLIDER podcasts as well as in SUNSET MAGAZINE, READER'S DIGEST and The New York Times' column MODERN LOVE.
Kevin McGeehan
is an award-winning storyteller, including 8 Moth StorySlams and the 2019 New York GrandSlam Championship. He worked as an actor, writer, and teacher for Chicago’s famed Second City theater for over 20 years. His autobiographical stories can be heard on The Moth Radio Hour and the RISK podcast, as well as read in Men’s Health magazine and The Moth’s 20th Anniversary book, All These Wonders.
Vickie Wippel
is a Long Beach-based writer and storyteller. In both 2021 and 2023, she won the Search for Long Beach’s Greatest Storyteller. Vickie has also performed stories for “Unheard LA," "Long Beach Community Theater's Speak.Easy,” “Riveted Storytelling,” and, “Stories from the South Bay.”
Still Life, her first collection of stories, will be published in late 2023. Her stories have also been published in Saga Literary Journal volumes, 5, 6, 7, and 8, and the following book anthologies: Below The Poverty Line, Dialogue at a Bar, and Road Trip to El Dorado.
Vickie holds a master’s degree in public policy from CSULB and is enrolled in Long Beach City College's creative writing program. Information on her publications and storytelling events can be found at www.vickiewippel.com. You can also find her on Instagram @vicwippel.
Still Life, her first collection of stories, will be published in late 2023. Her stories have also been published in Saga Literary Journal volumes, 5, 6, 7, and 8, and the following book anthologies: Below The Poverty Line, Dialogue at a Bar, and Road Trip to El Dorado.
Vickie holds a master’s degree in public policy from CSULB and is enrolled in Long Beach City College's creative writing program. Information on her publications and storytelling events can be found at www.vickiewippel.com. You can also find her on Instagram @vicwippel.
The NashBerry Family Band
Our Musical Guests are indeed a family! Ken Berry is a guitar player who toured and continues to work in the studio with Barry Manilow, and has been writing music for television for 30+ years. Connie Nassios is a keyboard/bass player; she toured with a band - Aureus - for 12 years and continues to make music in addition to building websites. Their daughter, Abbi Berry, is an award-winning jazz and pop vocalist, pianist, guitarist, songwriter and teacher. She graduated from University of North Texas' prestigious music program and has released the first 2 of 3 EPs this year.
With Gratitude to our Generous Sponsors
Our show would not be possible without their kind support
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