Stories Between Keys: An Evening of Piano & Poetry

Kaleidoscope Arts presents Stories Between Keys, an afternoon where music and poetry intertwine.

Pianist Victoria Schwartzman, alongside actors Christopher Ryan and Lori Funk, bring to life Alfred Tennyson’s Enoch Arden set to music by Richard Strauss. After intermission, enjoy a piano solo followed by Shostakovich’s witty Aphorisms interwoven with the absurdist poetry of Daniil Kharms.

It’s not just a concert, it’s a reflection of stories, emotions, and sounds that will stay with you long after the final note.

Get ready to be swept away by the beauty of music and poetry!

Victoria Schwartzman, Piano

Victoria Schwartzman is a classical pianist currently based in New York City. An avid solo and chamber music performer, she regularly appears on stage throughout the United States and abroad. Deeply committed to music education, she is the co-founder of the Newburgh Music Festival, a week-long immersive classical music program devoted to solo performance and chamber music. She is on the faculty at Montclair State University as a Vocal Coach and on the piano faculty at Bard College Conservatory Preparatory Division.

Christopher Ryan, Actor

Christopher Ryan is a New York-based actor and director. His recent screen work includes roles in FBI (CBS), American Horror Story: NYC (FX), and The Blacklist (NBC), as well as the upcoming feature Paul & Greg & Amelia (2025). Other film credits include Dementia 13 and A Brooklyn Love Story.

In addition to his on-screen work, Christopher has an extensive background in theater, with performances in A Sherlock Carol and Shakespeare in Love at Capital Repertory Theatre, as well as productions with Orlando Shakespeare Theater, New York Classical Theatre, and Westport Country Playhouse. As a director, he has helmed productions for NYC's GoodBadGroup, including Tape, Bachelorette, Common Addiction, and Down the Road.

Lori Funk, Actor

SAG/AFTRA

Lori's theatre credits include: Off Broadway: THREE ON A COUCH at The SoHo Playhouse, LOOKING FOR THE PONY at The Vital Theatre, THIRST: A SPELL FOR CHRISTABLE for First Light Theatre Group at HERE, TUNNEL OF LOVE for the Drama League DirectorFest at HERE. Off-Off Broadway and Regional: SPRING AWAKENING for The Culture Project, world premiere of BARGAINS AND BLOOD: HOW TO SUCCEED AT HOME SHOPPING! (2009 FringeNYC Overall Excellence Award for Outstanding Ensemble), BABY WITH THE BATHWATER for the Chekhov Theatre Ensemble, OUR COUNTRY’S GOOD, DINING ROOM, CINDERELLA, VAMPIRE LESBIANS OF SODOM, TAMING OF THE SHREW, and more.

Films include: Plugged In, Dirty Moonie, Bert's Plan, Eden Court (with Tom Lennon and Kimberly Williams), 13th Child (with Cliff Robertson and Christopher Atkins). Television credits include: "Law & Order," "Law & Order: SVU," As the World Turns," "Snap Judgment."

Lori has written and performed sketch comedy at Caroline's, Gotham, and Westbeth, appeared in national commercials (one of which was directed by Spike Lee), and recorded numerous voice overs. She also added motion capture to her credits, playing Miss Danvers in Rockstar Games "Bully."