Bany-Winters, Lisa 1968-

PERSONAL: Born April 15, 1968, in Hamilton, OH; daughter of John (a jazz bass player) and Nancy (a laboratory technician) Bany; married Brian Winters (a naturalist), August 28, 1993; children: Michaela, Carlin. Education: Attended Wright State University, 1986-87; Columbia College, Chicago, IL, B.A., 1990. Religion: Unitarian-Universalist.

ADDRESSES: Home— Glenview, IL. E-mail— banywinters@sbcglobal.net.

CAREER: Emanon Theatre Company, Chicago, IL, founder and managing director, 1984-2000; Northlight Theatre, Skokie, IL, academy director, 1998-2007. Skokie Jewish Community Center, educator and administrator, 1990-98; Second City Northwest, instructor, 1993-95; theater producer, director, performer, and consultant.

MEMBER: Women’s Club of Evanston (board member, 2005-06).

AWARDS, HONORS: Parents’ Choice Award for Excellence in Education and selection among top ten arts book of the year, Chicago Tribune, both 1998, for On Stage: Theatre Games and Activities for Kids.

WRITINGS

On Stage: Theatre Games and Activities for Kids, Chicago Review Press (Chicago, IL), 1997.

Show Time: Music, Dance, and Drama Activities for Kids, Chicago Review Press (Chicago, IL), 2000.

Funny Bones: Comedy Games and Activities for Kids, Chicago Review Press (Chicago, IL), 2003.

Family Fun Nights, Chicago Review Press (Chicago, IL), 2006.

Contributor to encyclopedias.

The book On Stage was translated into German.

SIDELIGHTS: Lisa Bany-Winters told CA:“I was lucky because I never had to look for a publisher. My publisher was looking for someone to write a book on theater games and came to me as a drama teacher. I had never thought to write a book, but when the opportunity presented itself, I quickly embraced it. Writing On Stage: Theatre Games and Activities for Kids was like a thesis for me. I wrote all I had learned and all I was teaching about theater to young people. The other books have come about more as I had developed my theater programs, and most recently since I have had my own family to play with.

“I try to write how I teach—clear and accessible to kids, without ever talking down to them. I hope my enthusiasm and love for kids, games, and the performing arts comes through in my books.”

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES

PERIODICALS

School Library Journal, December, 2002, Cynde Suite, review of Funny Bones: Comedy Games and Activities for Kids, p. 153.