Moving On : Curated Personal Story Evening — The Mopco Improv Theatre

Everything shifts. We let go of things; we chart new paths. Whether with intention or unexpectedly, with clarity or stumbling around in the dark, these moments of change and transformation can surprise and delight, bring hope, healing, and teach us about what’s possible.

Join us as we continue our series of curated personal story evenings with a lineup of real-life stories told by real people — poignant, funny, or heartwarming tales that showcase what it means to move on.

Show: Friday Sept. 18 at 8 PM

The Lineup

• Richard Moran, Jr. grew up in Scotia, NY, earning a BA in Theater from SUNY Cortland (1989) and a Master of Divinity from Northeastern Seminary (2017). A former member and director of three improv comedy troupes (1999–2004), Richard famously ran his dog, Loffredo, for Mayor of Schenectady in 1999 to the chagrin of local officials. Raised Roman Catholic, he converted to African Methodism in 2006, serving five years as an ordained pastor. Today, he is an Independent Catholic priest co-pastoring St. John of God Parish in Schenectady and serves as a Clinical Chaplain Supervisor at Ellis Hospital.

• Adam Biggs took his first improv class at Mopco a year ago and has found immense joy in being part of the local improv community. He has no other formal theater training but serves as a history professor at RPI which, according to some, is the same thing.

• Dee Lee Wind, a professional storyteller for more than 30 years, has presented throughout the U.S., the U.K. and France. Her expressive arts training, as well as her background in drama, speech and theatre, adds warmth, sensitivity and a dramatic flair to her storytelling. Dee performs storytelling concerts and does storytelling workshops for children, family audiences and adults. She also hosts storytelling programs in her home several times a year. She is a member of the Story Circle of the Capital District.

• Beverly P. Schwartz is an educator, speaker, and creator of the first STEM program in the US. A third-grade teacher in Troy, New York, she turned a lack of resources into an opportunity, building partnerships with engineers, scientists, businesses, universities, parents, and educators. Her program became known as STEM in 1990 and expanded across four counties. Today, Beverly shares her story nationally and internationally, encouraging educators and students to embrace curiosity, creativity, and the courage to create their own path.

• Jen DeGroff is the Founder of TrueIcon Inc., where she helps high-achievers stop living for everyone else's expectations and start building a life that genuinely gives them energy. After 12 years in corporate marketing and business strategy, and 6 years as a personal trainer, she made the bold leap to leave it all behind to create impact at a greater level. Through coaching, speaking, and workshops, Jen helps women identify what's holding them back and move forward with clarity, confidence, and a strong sense of self, guided by her mission to help others stay true and boldly grow.

• Michael Eisenstein

• Ross Acevedo

• Sandy Schuman