Letters Aloud

Welcome to Montalvo!

I’m so glad that you are able to be with us tonight. Whether it’s your first time here, or your fiftieth—welcome! I am thrilled to welcome you to another season of Montalvo’s Carriage House Performing Arts Series.

As a multidisciplinary arts center, there’s even more to enjoy at Montalvo in addition to the world-class talent found in the Carriage House. We are a public park and arboretum open year-round for picnics, hiking, and leisurely strolls, as well as a vibrant cultural producer supporting an artist residency, vital arts education programming, and so much more.

Montalvo is a nonprofit organization—as such, we rely on the support of patrons like you in order to continue serving our Silicon Valley community. If you have not yet considered becoming a donor, I’d like to personally invite you to engage in a deeper relationship with our dynamic institution. After all, there’s something for everyone at Montalvo!

Enjoy the show and thanks again for joining us tonight,

Angela Torre McConnell
Executive Director

THANKS BUT NO THANKS

The Greatest Rejection Letters EVER!

The road to success is paved with rejection and boy oh boy, have we got the letters to prove it! Among the dozens of gems in Letters Aloud’s newest show, Stephen King receives his first rejection letter from “Spacemen Magazine”, Andy Warhol is asked to pick up his painting at the front desk before it is hauled away, Gertrude Stein gets a taste of her own repetitive medicine, a young Sidney Poitier tries to borrow $100 from President Franklin Roosevelt (he said no), and a 17-year-old college applicant rejects the rejection letter she receives from Duke University. But our rejectees don’t let the naysayers get them down. Karma and perseverance combine to hilarious and heartwarming results!

About Letters Aloud

Real letters, by real people, read by professional actors. 

Since 2014, we have traveled the country sharing intimate letters written by individuals who have left their mark on history. With a power to evoke both laughter and deep emotion, these letters serve as a testament to humanity’s extraordinary ability to unearth hope, purpose, and happiness amidst life’s many challenges.

With live musical accompaniment and a dynamic slideshow, a Letters Aloud evening is guaranteed to inspire! (As one fan said, “It’s a modern day ‘A Prairie Home Companion’ – but with letters.”)

Letters Aloud is a performing arts company that brings to life intimate, thought-provoking, and often humorous stories hidden within private letters of the past.

Whether you’re a lover of literature, a history enthusiast, or someone who simply appreciates the art of storytelling, get ready to be moved, inspired, and thoroughly entertained in this epistolary celebration of the human spirit.

TONIGHT’S PERFORMERS

PAUL MORGAN STETLER – Curator & Host

Paul is the creator and curator of Letters Aloud and a co-founder and former Artistic Director of Seattle’s multi-award winning New Century Theatre Company. A well-known Seattle actor, Paul has appeared on numerous local stages over the past 20 years, including ACT Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Village Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Intiman Theatre, and Empty Space Theatre, as well as numerous regional theatres across the country. He holds a BA in English Literature at Cal State Northridge and an MFA in Theatre Arts from Penn State University.

BASIL HARRIS – Reader

Basil Harris is a Seattle actor and musician who has worked extensively on stage and in film and media. As a voice actor, he’s a regular contributor to the audio dramas of Jim French’s Imagination Theater. He also plays in the alt-pop band “Awesome”, which will be appearing here at Town Hall in December. More at basilharris.com

MIA TAGANO – Reader

As an actor, Mia has national credits ranging from the Lincoln Center to the Royal Shakespeare Company as well as appearing locally at Berkeley Rep, Magic Theatre, California Shakespeare Theatre, and San Francisco Theatre. Her film and TV credits include Pixar’s Turning Red, All My Children, Law & Order, Tantalus – Behind the Mask and John Barton’s Shakespeare Sessions. Mia is also a voice and leadership coach with nearly four decades of experience in acting, teaching, and coaching. She helps professionals and creatives step into their authentic presence, guiding them to communicate with confidence, clarity, and heart. She received her MFA in Acting from the University of Washington.

JAMIE MASCHLER – Musician

Jamie is a musician, music director, educator and an ambassador of the accordion. She is co-founder of the Brazilian bands Foleada, En Canto, and the accordion duo Creosote. She has been heard with the Pueblo Symphony, Seattle Symphony and Seattle Philharmonic. Jamie has also played the role of Nelly Friedman in Paula Vogel’s award winning play Indecent twice.

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