NLS: That All May Read

About the Narrator

Laura Giannarelli

Photo of Laura Giannarelli. Audio file of this text (mp3 format, 3.8 megabytes)

Hello, this is Laura Giannarelli. I am a native Washingtonian, a summa cum laude graduate of Catholic University of America's Drama Department, having receivedmy B.A. in 1978 and a longtime Washington, D.C. actor. I began narrating books for the Library of Congress way back in 1979, fresh out of college. I am deeply honored to have received an Alexander Scourby Narrator of the Year Award in 1990 from the American Foundation for the Blind for my narration of children's literature. Presently, I read for NLS and also for Potomac Talking Book Services in Bethesda, MD. I have narrated over 500 titles to date, including how-to books, biographies, serious non-fiction, classics, romances, bestsellers, poetry and children's books. Among the authors whose books I've narrated, my favorites include Laura Ingalls Wilder, Joyce Carol Oates, A.S. Byatt and Adriana Trigiani. I am also the narrator of numerous popular series novels, including the Mrs. Murphy cat mysteries written by Rita Mae Brown with her cat Sneaky Pie; the Callahan Brothers romance series by JoAnn Ross; Lemony Snicket's "Series of Unfortunate Events" novels for children and Janette Oake's "Love Comes Softly" series. In addition to my narration work, I travel occasionally for the Library of Congress, conducting narration workshops for volunteer studios around the country, where I truly enjoy meeting patrons and volunteers alike.

My work away from the recording studio centers around acting <www.LauraGee.com>. In 1986, a number of colleagues and I co-founded The Washington Stage Guild, a Washington, D.C. theatre company that specializes in literate plays <www.stageguild.org>. I'm on that theatre's Board of Directors and also a member of the acting company, having appeared in 26 Guild productions, most recently as the Woman in Yasmina Reza's two-character play, "The Unexpected Man." Other favorite Stage Guild roles include Lady Chiltern in "An Ideal Husband" and Teresa in "The Memory of Water."

I have also performed locally with The Kennedy Center, Metro Stage, Olney Theatre, Studio Theatre, Source Theatre and others over the years and spent four happy seasons with Potomac Theatre Project. I was honored with a 2003 Mary Goldwater Award from the Theatre Lobby. When not on stage, I do voiceover work, industrial film work, and occasionally work in film or TV. I can be spotted (and heard) in a recent Maryland anti-smoking PSA TV campaign.

I am a past president of Washington, D.C.'s Actors' Center and served on its Board of Directors for many years <www.actorscenter.org>. I am most happily married to Clay Teunis, my partner in life and in Tunarelli Sound and Design, a small studio that produces audio demos, CD artwork and web design <www.tunarelli.com>.

Send an email about Laura Giannarelli to the studio.

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Posted on 2006-05-30