We've heard it all before... we rejoice in the retelling!
Find A Storyteller
Larry G. Brown
Contact Larry G. Brown at:
10 Hourigan Circle
Columbia, MO 65201
573-256-0091
Biography:
I tell folk tales, Ozark Jack Tales, personal memories, historical narratives, current issues, and have developed the specialties of chicken stories, tall tales, and spooky stories. I do Biblical Storytelling (Academy of Biblical Storytelling Certificate) as well.
I have performed all over the state of Missouri, in 10 other states, and in 5 countries.
I want people to know that I enjoy telling to all ages and stages, but my preference is adults; and that I thoroughly enjoy helping people experience humor, wonder, awe, inspiration, and motivation to be one with all people and the earth.
Raelene Crotser
Biography:
My name is Raelene Crotser and I live in Mt. Vernon, Missouri. In 2007, I attended a library program on storytelling. It didn’t take long for me to fall under the spell of stories. Now, 18 years later, I still love introducing the magic of storytelling to audiences everywhere.
I’ve told stories in a variety of venues. Everything from schools, libraries, senior residential facilities, parks to historic sites. Once I even told stories in the checkout
lane at Wal-Mart. I prefer to limit my traveling to 100 - 150 miles from home.
My preferred audience ranges in age from 10 years old to senior citizens. Seeing multiple generations brought together in this way is truly rewarding. My story themes vary from Uncle Remus, Anansi, Ozark Folktales and Noodlehead stories. Also, as a family historian I love telling my personal family stories. I firmly believe that stories are the glue that hold us together.
Rosie Cutrer
Biography:
Rosie Cutrer is a Kansas Creative Arts Industry Touring Artist. She has been a featured teller at the Kearney Nebraska Storytelling Festival, The Choctaw Land Run Festival and Franklin County Children’s Literature Festival. The Children’s Music Web awarded her CDs best-spoken word for younger and older children.
Robert Daniels
Contact Robert Daniels at:
405 West Prairie St.
Olathe, Kansas 66061
913-744-7211
Biography:
Robert Daniels was Born in Des Moines, Iowa and currently lives in Olathe, Kansas. As a Storyteller he can transport his audience to times and places where stories were pass down by families through generations. His Stories themes (folklore, tall tales from the south, Ghost Stories, Historical Stories and Stories about his Childhood experiences). He can travel within 300 miles of the Kansas City area. Audience ages have a range from Children to Seniors. Buffalo solider, railroad worker, farm hand Costume’s and audience participation are part of his performances.
Mr. Daniels completed courses in oral storytelling and writing in 2022 and 2023 offered by the Mid-Continent Public Library Story Center.
He is a member of the Alexander/Madison 9th and 10th Cavalry Buffalo soldiers association, River and Prairie Story Weavers and Missouri Storytelling, Inc (MO-TELL). He has performed oral presentations with the Alexander/ Madison Buffalo Soldiers, Missouri Park department, Mahaffie farmstead Olathe, Kansas, Johnson County Developmental supports, Missouri Town Living History Museum, Mid-Continent Public Library Story Center, Kansas City Missouri Public Library and for Senior Groups in Kansas, Missouri and Iowa.
Becky Everly
Biography:
Becky has shared stories with elementary-aged kids for over 30 years. In performance she often takes on the clothes, voice, and personality of a person such as Polly Pilgrim or Mrs. Claus, portraying life from that character’s perspective.
She has worked with students second through eighth grades to help them apply oral language skills in order to enrich historical and informational presentations. Supporting students in making the transition from oral language to personal narrative and persuasive writing has brought productive experiences. She has co-sponsored storytelling clubs and camps with kindergarten students through 5th graders. Exploring benefits and applications of storytelling with parents, families, and educators has been an on-going focus.
She was a nurse and childbirth educator before receiving her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education, as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching. Her proudest moments and best stories have come through family, especially her two sons and six grandchildren.
Sue Godsey
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Contact Sue Godsey at:
2905 S Wall Ave
Joplin, MO 64804
(903) 809-3899
FB page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BF36NgWYf/?mibextid=wwXlfr
Biography:
STORYTELLER * DRAMATIST * EDUCATOR
I discovered the joy of telling a tale when I broke Aunt Lurline’s vase and blamed it on the cat. That was only the beginning! I am a retired teacher with over 30 years of experience teaching Theatre and Communication Arts, giving me a lot of time to develop skills to engage my audience.
I tell folktales, fairy tales, literary stories, scary stories and personal narratives for audiences of all ages. Children’s performances often include puppets and creative drama. I have worked with youth, children and adults in learning to craft their own stories and presented workshops on incorporating story in classroom settings and public speaking.
My workshops offer useful information presented in an entertaining way. Past presentations include libraries, schools, festivals, museums, after-dinner entertainment and community events in both Missouri and Texas. I can craft a program suited to your needs or bring a ready-to-go program.
Denise Grow
Contact Denise Grow at:
26803 South Blinker Light Rd
Harrisonville, Missouri 64701
816-380-6345
Biography:
I have been a writer for many years and began my journey as a storyteller and historical presenter/performer in 2004 when the Living History Guild of the Cass County Historical Society invited me to create a script for their Orphan Train drama. I have since adapted that first effort for use in a variety of settings. I learned much about one-room schools during my employment at the Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead in Overland Park, KS, where I was head School marm several seasons. Growing up in Belton, MO, where Carry Nation and her mother are both buried, led to my interest in developing a program about her.
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In addition to the specialized programs mentioned above, my story themes include small town memories, historic anecdotes, personal narratives, folktales, humorous situations, and more, performed in first or third person, as appropriate to subject and venue, and often employing costumes and props. Each original story and program includes an original song I create and sing accapella. I also love being Mrs. Claus, which I recently did for two seasons with a natural-beard Santa. I live in rural Cass County, MO, and will travel anywhere in the state.
Teller Specialties:
Historical, Humor, Folktales, Personal Narrative Stories
Heather Harlan
Contact Heather Harlan at:
Email: hcharlan@gmail.com
Phone: 573-673-3681
Website: www.Heatherharlan.com
Biography:
Heather Harlan is a professional storyteller, recording artist and songwriter. Heather delights audiences of all ages. From performing at libraries, festivals, spiritual retreats, classrooms, campfires—even the Missouri Governor’s Mansion—Heather weaves stories and music to entertain and often inspire. She spins traditional folk tales from around the world and blends them with her own whimsical style of original stories, songs, and guitar playing. Animation, warmth, and audience participation hallmark her performances. Heather has two recording projects.
Heather lives in Columbia, Missouri and is experienced in virtual and live performances. Heather can work with you to customize an affordable program. What can Heather do for your gathering?
January Kiefer
Biography:
Storyteller, Workshop Leader, Artist, Writer, Poet St. Louis
With her sure dramatic sense, her energy, clarity, rhythmic variety andintense communication, January always provides a riveting, stirring evening ofstorytelling. (St Louis Riverfront Times)
She's blessed with a keen sense of timing, a wide range of nuance, an ability to get deep beneath the surface of characters and their actions...the results are spellbinding. (St Louis Post Dispatch)
I mostly just plainly loved you. (Third Grader)
January ran her own storytelling company for years, presenting solo and ensemble works nationally. Twice a featured teller at the St Louis Storytelling Festival, and the host and star ofa monthly Story Cabaret at St. Louis' Center of Creative Arts, Kiefer counts dozens of schools, universities and cultural institutions among her many venues.
She leads workshops on storytelling, on creativity, and on the spiritual journey. With a Doctor of Ministry in Theology and the Arts, she ministered to congregations as an ordained pastor. She now officiates at memorial and other services for people of all beliefs. Storytelling is at the heart of all her endeavors.
Genres: folk and fairy tales, myths and wisdom tales, nature and just-so stories, personal narrative, commissioned works
Gary Kuntz
Biography:
Gary tells a mixture of stories: folk, classic, personal, humor, drama, and tall tales. He is the 2013 winner of the Kansas Storytelling Festival Tall Tales Contest and his name is inscribed on the handle of the Golden Shovel, along with the other winners of that contest. Gary took 2nd place in the 2019 Missouri Liar’s Contest. All of his stories are 100%, completely, absolutely, true – at least, while he tells them.
Contact Gary Kuntz at:
5704 N Euclid Ave
Gladstone, MO 64118
Email: galirahi@aol.com
Phone: 816-896-8611
Linda Kuntz
Biography:
Linda has been telling stories all her life but no longer gets into trouble for spinning a tall tale. Linda has competed in Tall Tale and Liar’s Contests but her favorite stories have a universal truth. She has found that naked truth is accepted when clothed in story. Linda enjoys telling tales from around the world to all audiences.
Linda tells fairy tales, folktales, personal experience and tall tales.
Linda lives in Gladstone, Missouri and is willing to travel to share her stories.
Teller Specialties:
Fairy tales, Folktales, Personal Narrative Stories, Tall tales
Mike and Nancee Micham
Contact Mike and Nancee Micham at:
565 Max Creek Rd
Taneyville, MO 65759
417-251-5928
https://www.facebook.com/EZNDIL/
Biography:
Mike and Nancee Micham are EznDil. EznDil is their band name when playing music at faires and festivals. Locally they are known as just Mike and Nancee. They have been entertaining thru song and stories, humor and education for over 25 years in the Ozarks region.
As Silver Dollar City performers for 13 years, where Mike was known as Ezra and Nancee portrayed as Dilly (hence the name EznDil) they honed their love of traditional artists.
They have been featured storytellers, hired for National and State Parks, libraries, schools, renaissance faires and roots music celebrations. Their love of folk songs and tales, Dad Jokes, Irish traditional music and legends continues to grow. The couple love to share their gift of laughter and song with kids and kids in adult clothing!
Teller Specialties:
Fairy tales, Historical, Scary/Ghost stories, Personal stories, Humorous stories, Campfire stories, Tall Tales, Special Needs audiences
Bobby Norfolk
Contact Bobby Norfolk at:
Address:
105 East Drake Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63119
Phone: 314-968-2606
Email: jdolan9928@aol.com
Website: www.bobbynorfolk.com
Biography:
Bobby Norfolk is an award-winning storyteller, teaching artist and author from St. Louis. He has been performing throughout the United States and world-wide for over 45 years. Bobby began his career as a National Park Ranger for 10 years at the Gateway Arch
creating and presenting living history programs.
Today, he is an actor, comedian, author and teaching artist, and is well known for his high energy performances with lively animation and sound effects. His prior CBS children’s TV show “Gator Tales” won 3 Emmy Awards! He also has 8 published storytelling CD’s, many having won the National Parent’s Choice Gold Award.
As an author, he has written several award winning books for children and adults. Bobby was also honored with the prestigious Circle of Excellence Award presented by The National Storytelling Network. Faculty at the University of Missouri-St. Louis voted to honor Bobby Norfolk the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters where he also gave the commencement speech at the May graduation ceremony. His stories promote cultural diversity, character education and literacy. Bobby is truly an adventure story come to life!
Teller Specialties:
Fairy tales, Folktales, Personal Narrative Stories, Tall tales, Scary Stories, Historical, Nature, Just So, Humorous, Campfire
Contact Sarah Poff at:
Address:
Traveling Life’s Trails, Sarah
Sarah Tucker Poff M. Ed.
Phone: 816-225-3824
Email: jdolan9928@aol.com
Website: Multimedia-Storyteller.com
Biography:
Sarah Poff will engage, entertain, and educate, all at the same time as she brings history to life with her storytelling. She is a 5th generation Missourian. Sarah lives in the Columbia area; however, she grew up in the bootheel, her grandparents lived in the Ozarks, in-laws lived in St. Joseph, and she lived in the Kansas City area for 37 years. She is an award-winning educator who, over the course of the past 40 plus years, has worked with 25 principals and taught over 10,000 students, ages two to 102, through her signature mixture of history, storytelling, art, culture, costumes, music, and dance.
She has presented programs in public and private schools, in museums, in historical houses, in preschools, in public libraries, in basements, in dance studios, in parks, in churches, in hospitals, on kitchen tables, and even during a funeral!
Sarah is one of those rare individuals who lives and breathes history .
but who also has a burning desire to share her stories with others, through historical storytelling. In her Historical Storytelling, the primary focus is on entertainment as Sarah grabs her audiences by the heart and takes them on a journey of discovery.
Joyce Slater
Contact Joyce Slater:
Address:
7338 Belleview Avenue
Kansas City, MO 64114-1220
Phone: 816-523-5038 Home
Phone 2: 816-804-2442 Cell
Email: joyceslater20@gmail.com
Website: http://www.slatertales.com
Performance Fee Range: $175-$2500
Technical Requirements: Electrical outlet
Availability: Year-round
Biography:
Joyce is a storyteller for everyone from pre-school through adult. Her stories range from participatory for the little ones to personal experiences for adults. She tells stories about Missouri history, Holiday tales, Ozark adventures, Ghost stories and more. Stories from folktales, fairytales, fables, myths and legends come to life with puppets and songs. Her stories bring people of many cultures together through her own work in schools, libraries, retirement centers and festivals and the storytelling festival she serves.
Joyce teaches workshops for adults and children. Beginning Storytelling, Telling your Personal Story, Storigami and more.
She is a storytelling coach for other storytellers and public speakers from all walks of life.
She is the Artistic Director for the KC Storytelling Celebration and the President of Missouri Storytelling Inc.
Joyce Slater is available for Virtual programs on Zoom, YouTube and Facebook and will adapt to other platforms. She will also travel.
Professional Memberships: Missouri Storytelling Inc, River and Prairie Storytelling, National Storytelling Network, North East Storytelling, Gateway Storytellers
Awards: The National Storytelling Network Oracle Regional Award for Service and Leadership: Distinguished National Service Award
Teller Specialties:
Personal Narrative stories, Missouri history, Holiday tales, Ozark stories, Ghost stories, Folk tales, Fairytales, Fables, Myths, Puppets, Songs, Workshops, Storytelling coach, Public speaking coach
Fran Stallings
Contact Fran Stallings at:
1406 Macklyn Lane
Bartlesville OK 74006-5419
http://www.franstallings.com
Biography:
Storyteller, Songwriter, Biologist, Author. Fran Stallings paints stories with voice, gesture and song. Her degrees in biology were not a detour: her folktales and "fact-tales" of our fellow creatures and the environment have earned her the title Earthteller, helping zoo docents and park rangers become story-teachers. She has collected over 400 traditional tales plus original stories and songs. Her articles and stories are widely reprinted. She has produced 5 CDs and 4 books of stories. For fifteen years she worked with thousands of K-12 students as an Artist in Education. She is now in demand nationwide and overseas. She lives in Bartlesville, OK.
Teller Specialties:
Prairie Tales– folktales, songs, and history of early days on the plains.
Stories & Songs for a Green Earth– folktales and science “fact-tales” about the animals and plants in the park, with songs and participation.
Shine On! – our Sun, Moon, and Starsin myths, legends, and astronomical facts, with songs and audience participation.
Deb Swanegan
Biography:
Deb explains, "I was born to be a story teller. My great-grandfather determined I should be the guardian of our family stories the day I was born; I was his seventy second birthday present, and the eldest of his great-grandchildren. He passed on the stories he had been taught by word of mouth from his family; stories from the troubled days of slavery”, tribal ancestors, their family members and from all the ancestors had learned and observed. Deb also learned stories from other family members, “old fashioned church”, teachers and parents, and a myriad of multicultural friends.
Deb is also a retired Art educator, lecturer, national workshop facilitator, master teacher, seminar leader and curriculum writer. She has been a performing actress in the Missouri Repertory Theater, and The Columbia Entertainment Company Chalkboard Theatre, one of Missouri’s premier children’s theater companies. She is currently writing a book called Recollections, a collection of stories told to her by elders about their ancestors and families, and one of these days she’ll finish it….family elders keep “re-collectin’" stories she needs!
Ric Vice
Contact Ric Vice at:
809 Avon Court
Olivette, Missouri 63132
314-602-8170
Biography:
Ric told stories to children for nineteen years as a school librarian. He loves telling stories that use laughter, sound effects, and characters with a message that students can take home. His tales engage his listeners, drawing on his background as a professional jazz musician, to enliven the stories with sound and movement.
Ric has performed as a regional storyteller at the St. Louis Storytelling Festival for the past seven years and will appear again this year. He received his training in the art of storytelling from Lynn Rubright , Bobby Norfolk, Annette Harrison, Sue Hinkle, and Ken Wolfe.
Teller Specialties:
Curriculum Based, Ghost Stories, Historical Stories, Humor Stories
Jim Two Crows Wallen
Biography:
National award-winning oral Historian, Jim Two Crows Wallen, combines his love of history with a good story keeping his audiences spellbound. The Missouri Native has captivated audiences for more than four decades spanning four continents and 46 of the 50 States. Program attendees have often described him as a living museum, and are quoted as saying, “he made me feel like I was actually there.”
Two Crows presentations are interactive and age appropriate. His stories are carefully researched and his clothing historically accurate. Many of his artifacts and authentic clothing he makes himself. Two Crows invites you to be submerged in history through his exceptional presentations.
Contact Jim Two Crows Wallen at:
Email: jimtwocrows@att.net
Website Address: Jimtwocrows.com
Phone number: 816-795-7119
Jackie and Papa Wright
Contact Jackie and "Papa" Wright at:
Email: jpapawright@sbcglobal.net
Website Address: www.jackieandpapawright.com Phone number: 314-997-2376
Biography:
Jackie and “Papa” Wright combine their storytelling and musical talents to form “Tales Told the ‘Wright’ Way.” Jackie loves to tell folktales and fables with her smooth silky voice as “Papa” adds color and texture with percussion instruments. Before each story, “Papa” demonstrates the instruments he will use in the story and then gives children an opportunity to play those instruments. Jackie engages her audience with her glowing eyes as they travel from child to child. “Papa” ‘glides’ from one instrument to the other, bringing out the emotion of the story. Jackie’s audience hangs on every word as she interacts with them.
Jackie and “Papa” also offer storytelling with puppets for their preschool audiences. “Papa” tells the story using puppets and Jackie becomes the musician.
They have been featured tellers at the St. Louis Storytelling Festival, the Kansas City Storytelling Celebration, the Mid-Missouri Storytelling Festival, and the By Word-of-Mouth Storytelling Festival. Jackie and “Papa” are recipients of St. Louis Magazine’s 2007 A-List Awards for Best Story Time. Jackie is the Missouri State Liaison for the National Storytelling Network and both are board members of Missouri Storytelling, Inc.
Will you travel for storytelling? No
What age groups fit your repertoire? Preschool and K-2
What genres of stories do you tell? Folk Tales?
