Martie van der Voort has been performing as a musician and actor for most of her life. She works as a psychotherapist by day in private practice and at the U of A, and performs by night. Musically, she sings, writes, plays guitar and percussion, produced a recording of original material 20 years ago, toured twice nationally, and now incorporates her singing and acting in the theatre. She's acted locally with Itch Productions, Wilde Playhouse, Old Pueblo Playwrights, Not Burnt Out Just Unscrewed Comedy Improv Troupe, V-Day Productions, Bloodhut Productions, Borderlands Theatre, Beowulf Alley Theatre, Bloody Unicorn Theatre Company, Arizona Onstage and The Rogue Theatre. Her social activism is always apparent in her creative work from topical songwriting to LGB and T activism and alliance work. Her next original project, "TransFormations," is a one-actor show celebrating the lives (and stories!) of transgender people, integrating her advocacy and educational work in the transgender community with her writing and acting. Look for a 30-minute excerpt of it during Transgender Awareness Week on Wed. November 12, at the Kiva Room, 2 nd floor U of A Student Union, in the early evening. She happily shares life with her partner of 25 years, (and wife of two months, thank you California - vote NO on 102!) Lauren, and their four shedding beasts.

ODYSSEY STORYTELLING PHOTOS and BIOS

OCTOBER 30, 2008 - "Words & Music"

Linda Kavak is an energy worker and toner. She loves using sound as a healing modality. She also has her own business as a personal assistant, house sitter/pet sitter. She also loves working with people with health challenges and disabilities as well as singing and performing. Linda believes that sound/music is the mirror to the soul. She also believes that music uplifts one's feeling of well-being and that you will leave tonight feeling uplifted and full of hope.

John Wakefield was born in England and spent 25 years traveling the world before settling in Tucson with his wife Claire. John has worked as an Exploration Geologist and University Professor and, since 1986, has owned and operated Artistry in Glass, a Tucson Art Glass company located on Grant Road.

Simon Donovan is just another middle-aged man trying to come to terms with the passage of time and his unrealized ambitions. He likes to talk, evidently liking the sound of his own voice; he thinks others should too. Just indulge him, occasionally he can be interesting.

C. Michael Woodward is a writer, musician, speaker, consultant, heteroqueer transman, and social justice advocate-in no particular order. He currently serves as Health & Wellness Programs Manager at Wingspan, Southern Arizona's gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community center. Prior to joining the health & wellness team in spring 2008, he led Wingspan's Southern Arizona Gender Alliance (SAGA) for more than five years and also worked as an Advocate/Educator with the Wingspan Anti-Violence Project. Michael currently serves on the City of Tucson Commission on GLBT Issues, the LGBTQ Behavioral Health Coalition of Southern Arizona, and he is a charter member of The University of Arizona President's LGBT Advisory Council. Beyond Tucson, he is the board of Female to Male International (FTMI) and is profiled on Lynn Conway's "Successful Transmen", a prestigious Web site recognizing leaders in the international transgender community. A life-long musician and entertainer, Michael is the lead singer of the popular Tucson rock and blues band, Too Much Information. Prior to becoming a professional queer (and prior to becoming Michael), he was an Executive Editor at Macmillan Publishing USA. Michael has published books, magazine articles, blogs, and other writings on a variety of non-fiction topics.

Tucson-based singer/songwriter Namoli Brennet has spent the past 6 years touring, playing music and making witty wisecracks between songs. She has a reputation as an intense and poignant songwriter, and recently took first place in the Tucson Folk Festival songwriting competition, as well as Best Local Performing Artist in Tucson. As anyone who's been to her shows will attest, she has a way with words, whether she's belting out a song or relating a tale about her bulimic fish.