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Alisa Rosenthal
Alisa Rosenthal (she/her) is a musician, comedian, and teaching artist living in Chicago, IL. A humorous singer-songwriter, her natural energy and engagement infuses her live shows as well as her music and theater programs for learners of all ages. She teaches outreach in the Chicago Public Schools, facilitating drama via Lookingglass Theatre and music via the Old Town School of Folk Music. Specialized programs include work with people with dementia, children with special needs, and children's hospitals.
Check out her music production here, and you can read her writing on Hey Alma or produce it via Brooklyn Publishers. -
Steve Dawson and Diane Christiansen
Steve Dawson and Diane Christiansen have been co-conspirators, husband and wife, and leaders of the band Dolly Varden for more than 20 years. They live in Wicker Park with their dog Leo.
When they aren’t singing together, Diane spends her time making paintings and animations (christiansenstudio.com) and Steve teaches songwriting at the Old Town School of Folk Music. In 2020 Steve received an Esteemed Artist Award from the City of Chicago and his album with Funeral Bonsai Wedding, “Last Flight Out,” was released to rave reviews. He has a new solo album coming out in 2021 called, “At The Bottom Of A Canyon In The Branches Of A Tree” on Pravda Records.They are the first-ever First Time storytelling duo!
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Jeremy Owens
Jeremy Owens is the creator, producer and host of You're Being Ridiculous. He makes a delicious roast chicken and wants to be Nora Ephron when he grows up.
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Tony Fitzpatrick
Tony Fitzpatrick is an accomplished artist and author, having published nine poetry and essay collections, most recently Dime Stories on Curbside Splendor.
His art has appeared in galleries and museums in New York and Chicago including MoMA, the Museum of Contemporary Art and The Art Institute in Chicago, as well as album covers, books, and most recently on the official 2015 Lollapalooza poster.
In 2009, Tony was named by Newcity as the most iconic Chicagoan living today, and currently writes a column for this publication.
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Julie Mueller
Julie Mueller is a photographer and photo editor living in Chicago’s Old Irving Park neighborhood. She enjoys creating fun and affordable images for clients to use on their various social media platforms. portraitsbyjulie.net.
Currently she manages a photography studio for iconic portrait photographer Marc Hauser and spends time on the air as a DJ for CHIRP Radio (chirpradio.org) - tuesdays 3 p.m. 6 p.m. She is also the Director for the First Time series - a live lit and music show at Martyrs’.
She wants the world to know what it's really like to support a loved one with Alzheimer's and dedicates her blog, judysalzheimerstale.wordpress.com, to this mission in support of her mom, Judy, and the other 5.3 million Americans afflicted with Alzheimers and their 15 million caregivers.
When relaxing at home she watches old-school Law & Order (the original series), roots for the Green Bay Packers and some day she’ll be able to play the piano that sits in a corner of her apartment. Some day.