"In my almost three decades of teaching, I have heard a wide variety of internationally known authors, many of them award recipients. Marc was easily the most engaging and inspiring presenter I have ever heard. He held the rapt attention of the entire auditorium—students and staff alike. He is such a gift!"
—Adrienne DeMichele, Taipei American School, Taiwan ***
Author Marc Tyler Nobleman has inspired audiences of all ages - including the most reluctant students - in 30+ states and almost 20 countries with his twist-filled true story of overcoming odds and speaking up for others.
16Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County https://www.creativemoco.comSuzan.Jenkins@creativemoco.com(301) 565-3805
801 Ellsworth Dr
Silver Spring, MD 20910
United States
Barry Louis Polisar is an author, songwriter, poet, and story-teller for children who also writes songs and books for adults. He performs his songs on two different Grammy Award-winning albums and sings his song All I Want is You in the opening credits of the Academy Award winning movie Juno.
His books and poems have been translated into other languages and his songs have been recorded and performed by singers and musicians internationally. He has written songs for Sesame Street and The Weekly Reader and starred in a television show for children that won two Emmy awards.
Mark Jaster served as teaching assistant to Marcel Marceau. He brings over 40 years of performance experience, including over 30 years as a featured act at the Maryland Renaissance Festival, thousands of performances and hundreds of residencies for school-age audiences. He is also Artistic Co-Director of the award-winning Happenstance Theater, and has served as movement consultant to many regional theaters.
RAMON MENOCAL was born in Havana, Cuba, and attended La Academia de arte San Alejandro in Havana where he graduated in 1976 in Painting and Drawing. He began working in the research department of the National Museum of Fine Arts while attending Havana University from where he holds a master’s degree on Art History.
A child of the ‘70s, Jonas Benjamin Raider was born and raised in the quaint, but hip, oceanfront town of Rockaway Beach NY. Only a quick drive from the bustling creative vibes of Manhattan, he found early artistic inspiration from both his childhood suburban surroundings and the big city.
He was fortunate enough to grow up with multiple influences throughout his youth-as the music, films, fashion and pop icons of the era, directly shaped his artistic ambitions.
Martina Sestakova is a native of the Czech Republic and the owner at RADOST (est. 2016). The name of her company means ‘joy’ in Czech. Martina holds a BFA in Communication from the University of Maryland (MD) and an MFA in Fashion Design from the Academy of Arts University (CA).
Rita is a native of New York and studied studio art and history of art throughout her life. In the Washington DC area, she studied at the Art League in Alexandria (now, The Torpedo Factory), Rockville Arts Place, and the Yellow Barn Studio at Glen Echo, Maryland. She has exhibited in numerous group and juried shows. Her work is in private collections in the United States and in Europe.
Just minutes from the nation's capital you'll find a nationally renowned music center, shopping options, award-winning restaurants, and outdoor events. Wheaton A&E boasts activities and attractions as eclectic and diverse as its residents.
Silver Spring’s A&E District is the place for music, theatre, visual arts, dance, and more! Enjoy dining at an array of restaurants, catch an independent film at AFI Silver, enjoy concerts at Veteran’s Plaza, and look out for public art–it’s everywhere.
From an award-winning theatre to thought-provoking independent films, Bethesda is filled with inspiring artists and arts venues. Unique galleries and public art fill the streets throughout this urban arts destination.