From The Audience

“An excellent program for all students. Our students all had fun and learned a lot in the process.  One of our best assemblies.  Highly recommended.” “Beautiful sculptures and wonderful storytelling.  We felt as if we were at a Broadway performance. Our students were mesmerized by the way her sculptures were created and worked. Any school would be lucky to have her come.  Simply the best!”

“Susanmarie’s presentation was witty, charming, endearing and honest. The ideas she spoke about were those things I had discussed in class – children made connections which deepened their understanding. One girl in particular needed to hear about the ups and downs in life and it was a perfect suggestion for her to think about the things that she’s good at. This is the 2nd time I’ve seen this performance and I loved it as much if not more.”

“From start to finish the students and staff were totally engrossed in this show.  A+++! The quality of the work (costumes & sculptors) and the storytelling were all top notch. A feast for the eyes, mind and soul.”

Nassau BOCES Teacher Evaluation 2005-2006

In my many years producing hundreds of splendid performances for multi-aged, multi-cultured audiences, I have never known any performer to so thoroughly captivate such a vast variety of people as you did in A Family Album at the National Theatre. You and your shows are wonderful! At Saturday’s children’s show, kids from ages 10 months to 17 years were utterly spellbound. Their parents and grandparents were equally engaged. So was I. Even the teeniest tiny tots were awed into silence by your brilliant soft sculptures, clever vignettes, gentle humor and informative stories and explanations. They were touched and influenced by your wise and inspiring message as well.

The National Theatre, Washington, DC

Moms in attendance made a special point of expressing their pleasure at not only the entertaining aspects but your style of easy going conversation as you made your points concerning adolescent behavior. The pleasure on the faces of the younger school children and the excited comments from the upper grades, 6th-8th, as they told me yours was "the best" program they remember seeing.

Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, Roseland, New Jersey

You were fantastic. Students and faculty thought you brought "morality" into the school. Faculty and students had worthwhile discussions following the presentation. Thanks.

Ellicott City, Maryland

Thank you for a scintillating week of sculpture presentations of A Family Album in the Rochester City Schools. In addition to marveling at the program myself, I have heard nothing but rave reviews from the schools. Your sculptures delighted and amazed, while the dramatic timing and dialogue of your presentations directly addressed many concerns of students as they mature from children to adults. the honest, straight-forward discussion of your life experiences, while fully demonstrating the sculptures, was a most unusual and effective educational approach.

Artists-in-Residence Program, Rochester, New York

Thank you for your superb performance at our elementary school. I, myself, thoroughly enjoyed your show. I felt your message was appropriate for all grade levels. I think you were particularly effective with the sixth grade. As you well know, there is a lot of peer pressure at this age. Your discussion on choosing friends and clothes was excellent. Your "Boyfriend Sculpture" definitely hit home with them.

Farmingdale, New York

Everything that I can say about your show has probably been said before. Let me just say it is the best program I have ever seen in a school; and someone else here said that in the almost 30 years she’s been at Coleman, it’s the best she’s ever seen!

Glen Rock, New Jersey

Your assembly program at Friends Academy last week was just wonderful and has been a topic of conversation among parents, teachers, and students since. Everyone was very impressed both by your fantastic puppets and by the message you brought to the students concerning their own worth and abilities.

Locust Valley, New York

The "life skills" you presented I think had a real impact on the kids. My daughter came home from school and wanted to immediately sit down and make a list of all the things she’s good at. Sometimes as a parent I find I don’t focus enough on the positive aspects of my children, and this gave me a good opportunity to do that. It was a real pleasure to have a performance like yours that appealed to all ages.

Strafford, Pennsylvania