ODYSSEY STORYTELLING PHOTOS and BIOS

SEPTEMBER 10, 2009- "Silver Linings: The Gratitude Show"

3 minute storyteller, Arianna, 12 years old, and her mother Adria

Edie and Frankie telling their story

Adria Elliott has lived in various decidedly wondrous places throughout her life however the melting pot of the Southwest is her home base. Spending most of her early childhood either writing, reading or performing, she had a natural knack for rhyme and verse. After a very short enlistment, she returned to the Southwest to attain a higher education. Of course life, had other plans... She became a wife and mother, as well as self employed, divorced, a student once again... and all of the ironic self schadenfreude, contained therein! Along the way, she has written a few things, won a couple awards, sung some songs, performed some theater, comedy, tragedy and learned a few things about life. She has even been in a band or two... Throughout all of it, she has managed to retain a certain amount of levity and wit. Just as the colors of the humanity color her multi-ethnic background, it also allows her to paint a visual portrait, with words and candor, that allow you think and not mind spending the moment. She can often be found performing in CA, in such venues as The Ice House, The Comedy Store, or any fine coffee house offering an open mike night!

Kim Lowry is a writer, actor, playwright, cook, baker, and graduate student. She has a BFA in performing arts, which came years ago, and is currently moving through a Master of Arts program at Prescott College. While working through the climbing, speeding, swerving, hurling, thrilling, emotional and mental roller-coaster of graduate school, she creates savory and sweet eats at her job with Bentley's House of Coffee and Tea. Kim is happy and amazed to be on, as well as at, any stage performing the art of living.

Claudia Fleming has her origins in New York City and naturally enjoys the pulse of a city with diversity. Living in Green Valley hasn't kept her off the road to Tucson . Retiring last year to Arizona Claudia apparently has no clue to the meaning of 'retirement'. She immediately signed up for OLLI/UA classes, volunteered for Pima County Victim Witness Program, started going out dancing at least once a week, joined various other active groups and continues to eagerly demonstrate her endless penchant for learning something new. Her infectious laugh and easy smile has won her countless friends in a town where she didn't know a soul when she landed here last October. Her professional background includes Public Relations and Marketing, Financial Sales and Services, Insurance Agent, Stock Broker, Private Investigator and a really cool stint doing on-camera industrial commercials. She's been writing poetry since childhood and is working on fictionalizing her autobiography in her spare time. This lady exudes energy that belies her age so don't even try to guess.

Jerry Farnsworth emigrated to Tucson in 2006 to establish a philanthropic program for the MHC Healthcare community health clinic system. He has subsequently joined the YMCA of Southern Arizona as director of marketing and capital support. This continues a career-long involvement in non-profit sector resource development with groups ranging from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse to New Hampshire's decidedly quirky Dublin School - with many stops before, after and in between. He notes that while an organization might make the stories, in the end, it's the quality of the stories and their telling which make (or break) an organization … a metaphor for the meaning of life. Speaking of which, he is a life-long endurance sports participant, especially cycling, hiking and physical training. He pursues the latter under his spiritual guru, former Mr. Buffalo, Tucson, Phoenix, Pacific and Mid-USA and Mr. Arizona, Too Tough Tommy Ferrentino (adding, "Now there's a fellow with a story…").

Will Clipman is a musician, poet, maskmaker, storyteller, performing and recording artist, and arts educator. A five-time GRAMMY® Nominee and two-time Arizona Governor's Arts Award Nominee, Will combines his original mask art and world music with mythopoetic storytelling in his Myths & Masks® program, which is available as a concert performance, a weekend workshop for adults, and an artist-in-residency for children, and is forthcoming on DVD. His CD Pathfinder is a 2009 GRAMMY Nominee for Best New Age Album. www.willclipman.com

Edie Jarolim earned a Ph.D. in English literature from New York University; edited guidebooks at Frommer's, Rough Guides, and Fodor's; published myriad travel articles and three travel guides; and otherwise led a respectable but dogless life until 2004, when she began palling around with terriers -- specifically, one small terrier mix named Frankie. Cluelessness about dogs in general and Frankie in particular inspired her to begin reading up on all things canine; to contribute articles to such publications as The Bark and Your Dog; and, eventually, to write her newest book, Am I Boring My Dog and 99 Other Things Every Dog Wishes You Knew She is the Pet Travel Correspondent for KVOA TV's 4 at 4 show; Contributing Dining Editor for Tucson Guide; blogs at http://WillMyDogHateMe.com ; and devotes much of the rest of her time to keeping Frankie from becoming bored.

Chezi & Lily took a bow with mom Laura