A Bolt From the Blue:

Boom.

Suddenly everything is different.

Honest tales about a moment in life where a completely unexpected event occurred that proved to be life-changing.

Join us as we continue our series of curated personal story evenings with a lineup of real-life stories told by real people—poignant, funny, or heartwarming tales that showcase life’s pivotal moments.

Storytellers:

Drew D’Amelia
Sylvia Jimison
John Kolwaite
Jennifer Lavenhar
Frank L. “Cranky Frankie” Palmeri
Debra Pigliavento
Alex Shapiro
Isabella Smarro
Del Tashin

Debra Pigliavento

Debra Pigliavento enjoyed a distinguished career as a performer, choreographer, and teacher. Her performing highlights include Broadway, national tours, Radio City Music Hall, and tap dancing on the legendary Carnegie Hall stage. As a teacher, she was devoted to her students at the University of Michigan’s Musical Theater Program, Skidmore College, and her family’s business Orlando School of Dance in Schenectady. Debra is now retired and has turned her creative focus to writing novels, under her pen name Debra Edmans. Coming soon.... her fourth novel!

Frank L. 'Cranky Frankie'

Frank L. 'Cranky Frankie' lives in Guilderland, NY. Frank has recently retired from a long career in Information Technology. Frank stays busy by being a volunteer firefighter, leading a group for guitar players, reading voraciously, and writing for the Altamont Enterprise. Frank will be celebrating his 40th wedding anniversary to Charlotte in September, and loves nothing more than trying new things and learning something new every day.

John Kolwaite

I am a semi retired industrial designer. My 'out of the blue' story is how asian travel became a big (surprise)  part of my life and career- traveling there for the General Electric Company more than 65 times over 37 years. I applied my art training to cartoons of company events and then to illustrate stories from my travels.  I've held jobs in Ohio, Indiana and New York State designing everything from snowmobiles, to tools, gas pumps, boats, radios and telephones and many more. .  My wife and I settled in Schenectady to be near children and grandchildren. 

Sylvia Jimison

Ms. Sylvia Jimison is a recently retired three-time fellow and NYS 2024 Woman of Distinction awardee. In her career, she has served as Director and Associate Academic Dean at various colleges and universities. She has also led a five-county nonprofit organization. She now uses her skills to write grants for small and underfunded nonprofit organizations. For fun, Ms. Jimison does stand-up and has won “Clash of the Comics” at Funny Bone comedy club. She beat out 9 other comics during the competition.

Isabella Smarro

Isabella Smarro graduated from SUNY Oneonta in 2024 with a bachelors in Theater Arts. Favorite credits include: Little Women (Beth March) and Almost Maine (Glory).  She’s been actively involved with MOPCO for about five years, always joining a class and even competing in a few Mestreo performances. Outside of acting, Isabella drowns herself in anything art from poetry, drawing, photography and playing piano. Please check her out on AllPoetry.com and Viewbug.com, both under the username Si-On.

Jen

Jen is an improviser, ballet teacher, actor, dancing clown, and proud mama, who loves to gather with friends for stories.

Alex Shapiro

Alex Shapiro grew up in picturesque Madison Wisconsin. As a storyteller Alex believes that his works have been published in the Newyorker and McSweeny’s. This belief is incorrect, however it seems to make him happy. 

Drew D’Amelia

Drew D’Amelia is a writer, filmmaker, songwriter, and actor.  He is best known for creating content for Scatterset and bopping about on the Mopco stage.

Del Tashin

Del Tashlin (he/they): A magic spell of liminality and whimsy, Del coalesces for you this evening with years of experience sharing extremely personal stories in front of a bunch of strangers. That is, for over 20 years, they taught adults about sex and sexuality - including their own. Grew up in Beacon, NY, Del has spread their love and oddness along the eastern coast in a variety of performances, from Little Red in Into the Woods to Addaperle from The Wiz. Storytelling was something that came naturally, from being a wildly dishonest child to competing in improv; in any form, it lets the wacky miasma get a moment in the spotlight. Tonight's story is one about disability, but with no medical terminology or laundry list of diagnoses. This performance is dedicated to my superhero/sister Sara, as well as to Lucy. You'll learn who Lucy is soon.