About

For twelve seasons, DPTV’s Detroit Performs profiled the best artists and performers in metro Detroit by telling their stories to a curious and arts-hungry Southeast Michigan.

When the pandemic forced Detroit Performs to pivot, it presented Detroit Public TV with an opportunity to share the immense talents in and around metro Detroit with an even larger audience. By providing a platform for artists and arts organizations to connect with the public and practice their craft, performing arts continue to thrive in our community.

Each episode of “Detroit Performs: Live from Marygrove is curated by a different arts and cultural Partner, and features the most exciting performers that Detroiters should know. Each episode spotlights the Partner organization, three great performers and interviews that introduce the performer to the public.

Contributors

Contributors

Satori Shakoor, Host

Satori Shakoor is the Executive Producer for The Secret Society Of Twisted Storytellers® and Executive Director of TSRS, a Michigan 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization. She is a storyteller, an artist, a social entrepreneur and a 2017 Kresge Literary Arts Fellow.

Satori received early recognition as a background singer/recording artist when she toured with George Clinton, Parliament/Funkadelic as one of the Brides of Funkenstein. She expanded her performance career to include actor, standup comedienne, and comedy writer for Canadian television, published short story writer and produced playwright with awards.

Satori was the catalyst and a founding member of the award-winning Obsidian Theatre Company in Toronto. Founded in 1999, Obsidian Theatre has become Canada’s leading culturally diverse theatre company.

In 2011, Satori began her professional career as a storyteller when she toured the country as a Moth main stage storyteller and host. One of her stories aired globally on The Moth Radio Hour on (NPR) to rave reviews. She currently hosts the Moth Story Slam in Ann Arbor and the Twisted Storytellers podcast produced by WDET Radio with a second season available on ITunes.

She was honored by I. Detroit, along with 100 other Detroiters who have moved the needle forward for the City (October 2018). In November 2018, Satori installed The Secret Society Of Twisted Storytellers, Europe Edition in Utrecht, The Netherlands to address issues of racism. She has partnered with New Detroit in their Racial Healing and Genealogy Project 2019 as story director, coach and producer of culminating tri-city live performance.

Satori designs and facilitates storytelling workshops in the art and craft of storytelling in community for organizations, corporations and privately as a coach.

Sarah Zientarski-Smith, Producer

Sarah Zientarski-Smith is a graduate of The University of Michigan and an Emmy-award winning television producer who started out in the sports radio and television industry at 97.1 The Ticket and ESPN and weaved her way into producing a vast array of documentaries, specials and PSAs. She has worked on the Emmy-award winning productions: “Detroit Performs,” “Great Teachers,” “Arab American Stories,” “Blue Ice: The Story of Michigan Hockey,” “The Passing of the Torch,” and “Making the Music with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.” She has also won multiple Michigan Association of Broadcasters awards.

Cecelia Sharpe, Partner Producer

Cecelia Sharpe is a graduate of Wayne State University has been teaching and advocating for youth and the arts for over 10 years. In addition to her role as an educator and advocate for youth and the arts, Ms. Sharpe is also pursuing her passion for radio. Since 2014 she has been sharing her voice on 90.9 WRCJ. Ms. Sharpe serves as a guest host for the station, produces the “In Concert with the Wu Family Academy Showcase” program, as well as the “Live with C#” program. Ms. Sharpe is an active freelance musician. She performs with well-noted Detroit area artists and provides string instruments for recordings. Currently, Ms. Sharpe has incorporated her love for travel and people into a career as a flight attendant. Ms. Sharpe is thoroughly excited to be a part of the Detroit Public Television Team for Detroit Performs Live From Marygrove.

Tina Brunn, Broadcast Editor

Tina has worked as a broadcast video professional for the past 18 years in many capacities including editor, producer, shooter and writer.  She graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Film and Video Studies. Tina is a 2016 Michigan Emmy Award winner for Best Cultural or Historic Program for Taking the Stage: The Historic Howell Opera House, a 2014 Michigan Emmy Award winner for the WTVS series Detroit Performs, a seven time Telly Award winner, and a nine time Michigan Emmy Nominee.

Mariellen Chynoweth, Project Manager

Mariellen Chynoweth received her bachelor’s degree in Television and Digital Media Production from Ferris State University where she was awarded the broadcast department Outstanding Student Award. Mariellen leads on producing arts and culture initiatives for local productions at Detroit Public Television. Her experience includes producing the broadcast and livestreams to the annual Detroit Jazz Festival, Concert of Colors, and the Sphinx Competition. Mariellen has received an EMMY nomination award to Detroit Performs: Kresge Honors in the arts and entertainment category.

About Marygrove Conservancy

Marygrove Conservancy is a nonprofit organization in northwest Detroit, the site of the former Marygrove College. Detroit Public Television is proud to partner with Marygrove Conservancy to capture the production of Detroit Performs: Live From Marygrove inside the beautiful Liberal Arts Theater right on campus.