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"...I don't want this workshop to end!!"

"It was wonderful having the immediate feedback after activities."

"I am starting to really understand the difference between ASL and English."

Who are we?

Patty Gordon is the creator of StoryBlend and serves as the co-director of the summer institute with Nic Zapko. She has a Master of Liberal Studies from the University of Minnesota and a BA in Linguistics with a focus on ASL from Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, MN. A freelance interpreter for over 20 years, Patty got her start in the field as an actor hired by a Deaf theater company. She left acting, but not performing arts. She's interpreted theater performances throughout the Twin Citiesand has worked as a staff interpreter at the Guthrie Theater for 11 years where she particularly likes interpreting Shakespeare's works. She is an interpreter educator who has worked with the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul and has taught in summer programs in Oregon, Colorado and Montana as well as presented workshops throughout the country. StoryBlend brings together her love of theater, interpreting and interpreter education together in one place and she is thrilled it is continuing to grow.

Nic Zapko has a passion for her work whether she is a mentor, actor or collaborator. Nic began her professional acting career with the Northern Sign Theater in Minneapolis. To further her understanding of the arts and enhance her craft she applied and was accepted to the National Theater of the Deaf (NTD) acting program in 1994, 1995 and 1996. She was invited to tour with the company 1995 through 1997, performing across the U.S. and Europe. She has performed with a variety of visual arts companies including the Nancy Hauser Dance Company, Sourds Theater, VV Productions, Cleveland Stage Theater, and the Ragamala Music and Dance Theater where she participated in the storytelling of "The Transposed Heads". She worked with the Mixed Blood Theater acting in "Sweet Nothing in My Ear" and The Center for Independent Artists Festival of "One Woman Shows". Nic was the co-collaborator and actor for the educational touring show "The Deaf Duckling" presented by Mixed Blood Theater in the spring of 2006. Nic has extended her support to the arts and Deaf community by having served as a board member for the Global Deaf Connection. She most recently focused on mentoring and tutoring for various groups including the College of St. Catherine. She has also provided ASL consulting support to new interpreters in preparation for their certification and to certified and more seasoned interpreters specializing in theatrical interpreting. Nic participated in the first StoryBlend Project 2005 and increased her participation as a co-leader and co-collaborator for StoryBlend Project 2006.