Stagebridge Teacher Bios

Eleanor Clement Glass delights children with folktales from around the world as a Volunteer Storyteller at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, a Stagebridge Teaching Artist in the Oakland Public Schools and children’s programs of the Storytelling Association of California. She tells personal family stories from her Black and Filipino cultures at National Storytelling Network conferences and local Bay Area venues, including the Noh Theater in San Francisco, Monkey House and The Marsh in Berkeley. She also contributes stories to Asian American Storytopia, a YOU TUBE channel offering Asian stories and cultural activities by Asian American Storytellers to children from kindergarten to 5th grade, as a way to combat Asian hate. As a cultural ambassador with Eth-noh-tec, she exchanged stories with Storytellers in China and South Korea. Recently, she performed folktales for children and families in Kauai at a north shore Community Center.

Joanne Grimm has been a Stagebridge cast member for over 20 years and the director of Never Too Late for over 10 years. She performed with Generation Theatre, a Bay Area based repertory company. She started out as a storyteller and keeps her hand in telling tales at assisted living facilities. She has appeared in numerous Grandparent’s Tales plays produced by Stagebridge. Grimm’s background includes training in radio, public speaking, oral interpretation, improv, acting, and children’s theater. She’s been acting in one venue or another since elementary school.

Scrumbly Koldewyn is an accomplished composer who has performed with the Cockettes, the Distractions and the Jesters Vocal Trio, touring throughout Europe. He has been musical director at many Bay Area theatres including Berkeley Rep and 42nd Street Moon. His awards include the Bay Area Critics Circle and Bay Area Cabaret Gold Awards. Revivals of his shows with the Cockettes have been playing at Thrillpeddlers in SF for 4 years. For Stagebridge, he has been musical director for Comedy Tonight and currently co-directs the touring show Never Too Late. He also created the music for Stagebridge’s world premiere musical Sylvia’s Advice on How to Age Gracefully on the Planet Denial, based on the works of Nicole Hollander.

Liz Nichols got lost in the 398 (Folklore & Mythology) section of the public library at age ten, and hasn't found her way out yet! For 15 years, as a professional storyteller and educator, she has brought her deep love of world cultures and her warm, humorous nature to audiences and students of all ages.

Liz weaves magic as she tells stories from around the world and around the corner to audiences of all ages, at schools, museums, theaters and anywhere folks will listen. She has a special affinity for the tales from her Jewish heritage, and of Japan, where she lived and studied for two years.

A gifted teacher and coach, her passion is to help everyone realize they have a story to tell and provide them the safe and fun starting point to take a risk and tell it! Among those who have blossomed under her guidance are elementary school children, museum docents, active seniors, dementia caregivers, and people with Alzheimers’ and memory loss.

From 2006-2009, Liz was the Storytelling Director of Stagebridge, the nation’s oldest senior theatre company. Since 2007 she has been a master trainer and facilitator for TimeSlips Creative Group Storytelling, designed for those with memory loss. Liz is a member of the National Storytelling Network, the Storytelling Association of California, and the Storyteller Corps of the Asian Art Museum/SF.

Liz has a CA Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. She is also a Certified Laughter Yoga Leader and Certified Rainbow Kids Yoga Teacher. liznichols.net

Ely Sonny Orquiza is a freelance San Francisco-based theater maker. Orquiza is the Director of New Works at Gritty City Repertory and a faculty member at the American Conservatory Theater’s Young Conservatory and Education & Community Programs. He is a Founder and Co-Artistic Director of The Chikahan Company, a new Filipinx American theater company based in San Francisco. Locally and regionally his directing credits have been critically acclaimed, working in theaters such as the American Conservatory Theater, Academy of Art University, Bindlestiff Studio, Playground, UC Berkeley, Theater Rhinoceros and more. As an actor he has appeared in select productions at Cal Performances, Cal Shakes, New Conservatory Theater, Playwrights Foundation, San Francisco Opera and Studio 52nd in Amsterdam. He most recently appeared in Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Bank of the West national commercials. Elysonnyorquiza.org

Kim Saunders received her BA in Theatre from Marymount Manhattan College, then went on to perform at: The Nat Horne Theatre, Neighborhood Playhouse, Academy Arts Theatre Company and American Ballet Theatre at Lincoln Center and many other companies in NYC. She then ventured west to The Oregon Shakespeare Festival where she performed for 6 years. Since moving to California she has performed with: San Jose Repertory Theatre, San Jose Stage, Napa Valley Shakespeare, African American Shakespeare, Lorraine Hansberry Theatre and other companies around the country. Kim is a company member of Custom Made Theatre and Left Coast Theatre. She has been nominated twice by BATCC for best female principal as well as choreography. She also received a nomination from TBA for choreography. Kim is a professional director and works as a teaching artist. kimsaunders.net