The Story Behind Stories on Stage

Stories on Stage creates programs from the belief that literature is a rich source of powerful stories and actors enhance the impact of literature on people’s lives.

 

We present literature by writers of diverse cultural groups, read by professional actors of varying backgrounds to an audience that is as broad-based as our community.

 

In March 2008, the Mile High Chapter of the American Red Cross awarded Stories on Stage its first-ever Leadership in Inclusiveness Award. In being the Community Inclusiveness Hero, Stories on Stage was cited for giving audiences “an experience of identifying with people and situations outside of their own worlds.”

Our Board of Directors

Linda Treibitz, chair, a Denver native, is senior manager of Product Support for SunGard iWORKS. She earned a B.A. in Music from Pomona College and an M.S. in Accounting from the University of Colorado at Denver. Linda has sat on the Alumni Board of Pomona College and has been on the board of Stepping Stones, an interfaith religious school program. She loves to sing and is a soloist for her congregation and leads music at a monthly healing service at Swedish Hospital. Linda is married and has two daughters, both graduates of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.

Albert Mizrahi, treasurer, worked at Bell Telephone Laboratories for over 30 years, including two years as an on-site CEO of a small AT&T owned company in England. Initially an engineer, Mr. Mizrahi progressed through several levels of management and retired from the position of International Research and Development Vice-President, Bell Labs in Denver, Colorado. Currently Mr. Mizrahi volunteers for various organizations including Habitat for Humanity (Metro Denver and Colorado), and Academia Sandoval (Denver Charter School). His board experience includes serving on Tinton Falls Board of Education in Tinton, New Jersey;  Chairman of the Rabbi Search committee at Temple Har Hashem in Boulder Colorado; President of the Willow Springs XVI Home Owners Association; Executive Board member and Treasurer at Temple B’nai Havurah; and Board member at Brooks Tower Home Owners Association. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from City College of New York and his Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering from
Stanford University.

Fern Seltzer, secretary, Ed.M., coaches students who are preparing for the SAT and other standardized tests. She is a former president of the Rocky Mountain Harvard University Club. Past volunteer work includes serving as president of the Littleton Englewood American Association of University Women and founding a preschool in Eugene, Oregon. She does the New York Times crossword puzzle daily.

Les Crispelle practiced law in Colorado for many years prior to his retirement. The first part of his career was spent in the area of corporate law and the last part was spent in the mental health and substance abuse. Les founded the Colorado Lawyers Health Program (a peer support group for lawyers and judges who were dealing with substance abuse and mental health issues). He also was legal consultant to Governor Romer’s “Communities for a Drug-Free Colorado”, and served on the boards of a number of groups including the Phoenix Concept, the Mile High Council on Alcoholism, Peer Assistance Services, The Mile High Institute. He was the founder of the American Bar Association’s Youth Advisory Commission on Alcohol and served on several American and Bar Association committees. He is a certified trainer for the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies for the required jurisprudence workshop for mental health practitioners, a faculty member at Metro State College and a consultant to various business and trade associations relating to substance abuse and mental health issues.

Lisa Demberg recently relocated to Fort Collins, CO from Los Angeles, CA. She has a long history in the entertainment business. She has been a network and cable television programming executive, a television studio executive and a tv executive producer for 20 years. She has produced 11 movies and supervised the development, production and post production of  countless more. She has also supervised numerous television pilots and series primarily for cable television.  She has been involved in numerous not for profit organizations such as Big Sisters of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Leadership Academy, and a program that tutors illiterate adults in reading. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from UCLA.  

Madie D. Gustafson is a partner with Davis Wright Tremaine LLP and specializes in telecommunication and cable law. Before joining Davis Wright, Madie was AT&T Broadband’s senior vice president–Franchising and Local Government Affairs, where she was responsible for local government relations, franchise renewal, transfer and compliance. She entered the cable industry 16 years ago as corporate counsel for United Cable Television Corporation. She subsequently served as General Counsel of United Artists Cable Systems and senior vice president of Franchising and Local Government Affairs of Tele-Communications, Inc., and AT&T Broadband. She was national treasurer and a member of the Executive Committee of Women in Cable & Telecommunications. Madie serves on the Executive Committee of the Council of 100 for Northwestern University and served on the Board of Directors for the Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center. She currently is chairman of the Board of Directors of Stories on Stage. Madie holds a bachelors degree from Northwestern University and masters and law degrees from the University of Denver.

Susan Kelly Henderson has been advising, facilitating and conducting workshops for 20 years.  Ms. Henderson's professional experiences cover corporations, government agencies, small businesses, nonprofit organizations and individuals.  She has a B.S. in Nursing and Psychology from the University of Colorado and M.B.A. from the University of Denver.

Lonnie McCabe, Lonnie McCabe is a mother of three and a recipient of the Colorado Trust Fellows Project receiving a Masters in Nonprofit Management from Regis University.  She has worked with numerous nonprofit organizations including Mile High United Way, North American Indigenous Games, and The Denver Foundation. She a member of A+ Denver (DPS), Denver Preschool Program Board of Advisors and the Expanding Nonprofit Inclusiveness Initiative. She is an actor, vocalist, writer and director.

John McKiernan earned a PhD in Communication Studies from the University of Iowa. He taught speech and coached forensics at several universities, then worked as a researcher in nonprofit leadership and administration. He currently works for Quantum Corp. (NYSE:QTM), the leading global storage company for backup, recovery and archive. He is an active volunteer in a local church congregation, an organization focused on hospitality and service with International students at Denver University, and Canine Companions for Independence.

James V. (Jim) Neely's career includes more than 40 years as an engineer, manager, consultant and business owner. In retirement, he has engaged in various activities, including tax advisor, property maintenance, real estate sales, and as a mentor and tutor for high school students. He has traveled extensively in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa and enjoys theatre, music, poetry, opera and sports. Past and current activities are as follows: Registered Professional Engineer (inactive); B.S. and M.S degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Mexico; other graduate and undergraduate work at the Universities of West Virginia and Pittsburgh; licensed Realtor since 1990, member, Graduate Realtor Institute, Senior Tax Advisor for a major tax preparation firm (12 years); board member (treasurer and financial advisor) for a 1,800-member condominium association, board member, Colorado Senior Sports Development Council, Rocky Mountain Senior Games medalist (800 meters and 1500 meters); member, Arapahoe County Cultural Council (SCFD Tier III Funding); member, Standby Draft Board (U.S. Selective Service Commission); and a former referee and umpire for high school, college, AAU and Industrial League sports.

Star Waring is a partner at the law firm of Dietze and Davis, P.C.  Ms. Waring practices natural resources and water law and has lived in Colorado for over 35 years.  She is a graduate of the University of Colorado with a degree in anthropology and archaeology.  She attended law school at the University of Wisconsin at Madison and the University of Colorado.  She serves on a number of boards and is a strong supporter of the arts.