Biography
QUOTE:Judy Gail and Carrie Sue Ayvar are consummate professionals who, through dozens of programs have always made me proud and will do the same for you. David Reddy, Ph.D., Resource Center Director of the Florida Humanities Council, August 6th, 2003. Judy Gail and Carrie Sue Ayvar combine their many talents and over 40 years of experience as performers to present several engaging educational programs and workshops. In their HISTORY JUMPS OFF THE PAGE! programs, the two artists present vignettes of past eras with costumes, dramatic portrayals, storytelling, dialogue and old-time tunes that bring history to life. These programs include: The Pioneer Spirit, From Wilderness To Metropolis, Women Who Made A Difference and Flagler’s Florida. The women include Ivy Stranahan known as “Little White Mother to The Seminoles;” Rose Weiss, called “Mother of Miami Beach;” Dr. Anna Darrow, pioneer doctor, painter and “Petticoat Doctor of the Everglades;” Mary Barr Munroe, mentor to Marjory Stoneman Douglas and founder of Everglades National Park; and Mary Lily Kenan Flagler,philanthropist and Henry Flagler’s wife. These women fought against prejudice and for the preservation of the environment,land rights for the Seminoles, schooling for all and women’s suffrage. Their courage and convictions made a difference and left indelible marks upon history. In their delightful program promoting literacy –The Alligator Conjure Man’s Reading Wagon, the medium of the old-time Medicine Wagon Show sets the stage. Instead of a Medicine Wagon,Alli Gator (Judy Gail) and Swamp Cabbage Sue(Carrie Sue Ayvar)come to town with a Reading Wagon. The elixirs on this wagon don’t come in bottles. They are books! They are guaranteed to change the illness of, “Do I have to read all those pages?” to the healthy state of “I can’t wait to get that book and read it.” Judy and Carrie have been Chautauqua Scholars and Performance Artists on the Florida Humanities Council Speakers Bureau since 1996. Both have continually received competitive grants from the Council, from the Broward County Student Enrichment Program and the State of Florida, appearing on the touring roster. Both artists are Kennedy Center trained Artists-In-Education. Carrie is a noted third generation bilingual storyteller (English/Spanish). She is currently serving as the Florida State Liaison for the National Storytelling Network. Judy, a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College with degrees in Theater Arts and Elementary Education, also an award-winning author of Day of The Moon Shadow: Tales With Ancient Answers to Scientific Questions and Work and Labor: A History in Story and Song, is an accomplished musician, singer and songwriter. She has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Florida Storytelling Association. Their additional programs include All Around The Campfire, a family-fun storytelling fest of tales and sing-along tunes; Folklore From Near and Far, a journey around the world in story and song; and Cuentos Favoritos/Favorite Stories, classic tales in Spanish and English. Trained by outstanding mimes, clowns and improvisation artists, they brought fun and laughter to children and their families as Doctors I. Caramba (Carrie) and La La La Loca (Judy) as part of The Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit®. Each program by this dynamic duo is sure to delight audiences, young and old!