ConnTell Directory A-F
 Virginia Lynn Anderson
Phone: 860-523-8943
Email: elandra3@sbcglobal.net
Websites: www.elandraarts.com
www.jestplaytivity.com
Virginia Lynn Anderson brings her newly published children’s picture book, “The Flying Phlox”, to life through dynamic interactive storytelling adventures. Virginia is an artist, musician, spiritual minister, healing practitioner and author/illustrator who uses a multi-disciplinary approach to her programs for young audiences. You may find yourself playing music, creating new story characters, becoming an artist or engaged in spontaneous movement during one of her programs.
Montessori Storybook Series:
“The Flying Phlox”, “The Very Lonely Garden”, “The Magical Garden”
Audiences: ages 3 years +
Fees: Range from $300
 Carol Birch
32B Heritage Circle
Southbury, CT 06488
Phone: (203) 264-3800
Fax: (914) 238-3597
Email: carolbirch@earthlink.net
Website: www.carolbirchstoryteller.com
If you know metaphors rock, appreciate words/images vibrantly spoken, and respond to art without artifice, Carol Birch will delight you. Recipient of the National Storytelling Network's national award for master tellers, Carol's stories undo the damage of haste to enrich life's journey. Her repertoire celebrates the culturally specific in stories with universal appeal.
PERFORMANCES WORLD-WIDE TEACHER RECORDING ARTIST DIRECTOR
"You were the main course at the National Storytelling Festival when it came to nourishment of the soul."
- Will Werley.
Fees: $500 and up. Reduced rates for Public Libraries, block bookings and residencies
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 Eshu Lawrence Bumpus
75 Lincoln St.
Holyoke, MA 01040-2664
Phone: (413) 533-0767
Email: eshu@folktales.net
Website: www.folktales.net
Performances of African, African-American and World Folktales
accompanied by workshops in storytelling and storywriting form a
full-day program designed to entertain and educate students while
increasing their confidence in their own story creation.
Eshu offers single-day programs, workshops, in-services and
residencies.
"It is remarkable how quickly he establishes rapport with children and how skillfully he creates an environment of collegiality among students."
- Peg O'Sullivan, Literature and Whole Language Consultant, Rowayton, CT.
Fees: Call Young Audiences of Connecticut, (203) 230-8101
 Len Cabral
30 Marcy Street
Cranston, RI 02905
Phone: (401) 781-0019
Fax: (401) 781-0020
Email: Len@LenCabral.com
Website: www.lencabral.com
Graceful movement, mime, poetry, song, humor and vivid characterizations describe Len's award-winning style of telling original stories and folktales from around the world. Traveling throughout the country, Len is equally adept at performing for the youngest audiences and adults alike. As author, keynote speaker and workshop leader, Len is always in demand.
Fees: $500 and up. Block booking available.
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 Tom Callinan & Ann Shapiro
Crackerbarrel Entertainments
55 East Town Street
Norwich, CT 06360
Phone: Ann (860) 889-6581;
Tom & Fax:(860) 889-6648
Email: ann.s@crackerbarrel-ents.com
tom.c@crackerbarrel-ents.com
Website: www.crackerbarrel-ents.com
Featured tellers at the National Storytelling Festival and
tellers-in-residence at the International Storytelling Center, Tom Callinan & Ann Shapiro present a collage of stories with music and humor as an integral part of the telling. As solos or in tandem, they tell folktales, stories of the sea, Irish stories, stories with a twist and even spoonerisms.
They are available for performances and workshops for all ages, preschools through senior centers.
Tom was chosen to be the first Official Connecticut State Troubadour. Ann is a teaching artist through the Connecticut Office of the Arts
Department of Economic and Community Development.
Fees: Negotiable
 Maude Carpenter & Chris Rothe
Contact Chris Rothe
31 Hayes Ave.
Ellington, CT 06029
Phone: 860-871-0514
Email: stitcher44@comcast.net
Maude Carpenter and Chris Rothe have been a storytelling duo since 1990. They tell children’s stories of peace and learning, stories for adults with characters that intrigue, stimulate conversation and make you laugh. Stories of the Bible, both first person character and verbatim.
When the two of them get together for storytelling it is always a fun and joyous time. Tandem or individual stories, Maude and Chris play off each others’ style of telling.
They have been featured in the Connecticut Storytelling Festival and at the Network of Biblical Storytelling as well as many Tellabrations around Connecticut. They are tellers that promote Ending Hunger stories for events with a special twist and always a treat at assemblies, professional meetings and intergenerational gatherings.
Fees: Negotiable
 Emily Chasse
Librarian/Storyteller/Teacher
Burritt Library, CCSU
New Britain, CT 06110
Phone: 860-832-2063w 860-521-9033h
Email: Chasse@ccsu.edu
Folktales and family stories have been part of my life since I was born! My book, Telling Tales: A Guidebook, Neal-Schuman, 2008, provides information to novice and experienced tellers about the magic of stories and making the tales come alive for individuals and groups of all ages.
I love sharing tales with children, young adults, and adults, and I have been telling and teaching others how to tell for the past 20 years in my two courses at Central Connecticut State University:
FOLKTELLING ART & TECHNIQUE Reading. 569
STORYTELLING ENG. 264
I've told with all ages focusing on traditional tales and peace tales.
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 Audrey Daigneault, Ph.D.
43B George Avenue
Groton, CT 06340
Phone: (860) 446-8431
Email: adaigneault@groton.k12.ct.us
STORIES GALORE AND MORE
Audrey tells traditional and literary stories for children, adults and family audiences. Puppets and instruments form an enticing part of participatory performances. Experienced with malls and outside settings. Workshops available
 Sara deBeer
51 Randal Avenue
West Hartford, CT 06110
Phone: (860) 561-5905
Email: sdebeer@comcast.net
Website: sdebeer.home.comcast.net
Ears of all ages perk up, eyes widen, and minds travel to distant lands when Sara deBeer launches into a tale. A teller since 1978, Sara delights audiences of all ages with her repertoire of international folktales. Sara performs in schools, libraries, senior centers, museums, and festivals. Listeners savor the wit and wisdom of the stories she tells.
In her work as an artist-in-residence, Sara designs programs that tie in with on-going classroom studies of science, social studies, and language arts. An experienced classroom teacher with degrees from Yale and Bank Street, Sara offers workshops for tellers at every level of experience. Participants develop new insights about storytelling, guided by Sara's expertise in both education and the arts.
Sara is a “Connecticut Performing and Teaching Artist” (Department of Economic and Community Development) and is affiliated with “Storytellers in the Schools” (CT Storytelling Center). She is also a trained facilitator for “Familyread”, “Book Voyagers”, and “Literature for a Lifetime” ( CT Humanities Council)
Sara has two solo storytelling recordings: Women of Wisdom, Women of Faith (Jewish folktales) and Seven Stories (international folktales). Sara also is the editor of Open Ears: Musical Adventures for a New Generation.
When Sara thinks of the value of storytelling, she remembers running into some New Haven teenagers. They stared at her for a few moments and then smiles of recognition broke out on their faces. "You're the storyteller, aren't you? You came to our second grade class and told us that story about that magic tree.” These kids had heard her six years before, and yet they still remembered her AND the story she'd told them; their smiles showed that the memories were good ones.
Audience: All ages.
Fees: $250 and up.
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 Leeny Del Seamonds
Master Story Performer TM
PO Box 1268
Westford, MA 01886-1433
Phone: (978) 692-3961
Email: leenydel@comcast.net
Website: www.LeenyDelSeamonds.com
With a face and voice that launched a thousand characters, Leeny Del Seamonds, Master Story PerformerTM, is an internationally acclaimed performer of Latino, original and multicultural stories spiced with mime, a cornucopia of voices, and love of people. With a twinkle in her eye and fire in her heart, Leeny breathes life into her stories, as she masterfully and effortlessly springs from one story character to another, inviting audiences to share in her Cuban-American sense of humor and love of performing. Leeny creates and performs tales that are uplifting and demonstrate the passion, resiliency and triumphs of the human spirit. A Parents' Choice Gold Award and Silver Honor winner, a 2005 Storytelling World Winner, a 2006 iParenting Media Award Winner, and the 2002 National Storyteller of the Year®, Leeny is known for animated interactive performances and has been a headliner at festivals, conferences, community events, corporate functions, museums, libraries, school systems and universities nationally and internationally, and has been published in several international periodicals.
"Leeny, a heartfelt thank you for sharing your multiple talents and superb stories with our audiences in Jonesborough - you are truly a wonderful ambassador for storytelling!" - Susan O'Connor, Director of Programs, International Storytelling Center
News Flash! Leeny stars in Ribert & Robert's WonderWorld, a multi award-winning national PBS Television and DVD series distributed worldwide. In the series, she plays "Leeny the Story Performer."
Fees: $575 and up.
 Tammy Denease
P.O. Box 281054
East Hartford, CT 06128
Phone: (860) 299-6090
Email: Tammy@historicalfirsts.org
Website:www.historicalfirsts.org
In her series "Obscured Women", storyteller/performer/teaching artist, Tammy Denease brings to life fascinating women who have been obscured through the annals of history yet were prominent in history.
Ms. Denease has developed performances appealing to a wide variety of audiences, engaging her audience through folk tales that teach life lessons coupled with hands on activities that leave her audience educated and eager to learn more.
"Ms. Denease's reenactment was illuminating ... done with great professionalism and expertise."
- Dr. Gloria Emeagwali, Professor of History/African Studies, Central CT State University - New Britain, CT.
"Tammy is excellent at engaging and entertaining her audience."
- Caroline D'oTreppe, Director of Education New England Air Museum
"Ms. Denease's performance was outstanding, and extremely well-received by our diverse staff. Her verbal and visual weaving of the life experience and social context elicited an emotional response from the audience, many of whom were moved to tears.... [Her] ability to seamlessly blend education and entertainment while captivating her audience is a rarity."
- Michael Sherman, Chief Executive Officer, Community Health Services, Hartford, CT.
Tammy is an artist with Young Audiences of CT and a member of Matchbook.org where funding is available through NEFA(New England Foundation for Arts) NEST(New England State Touring) program.
Fees: Call
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 Jeanne Donato, Ed.D.
82 Potter Hill Rd
Westerly, RI 02891
Work: Joy-O-Loons: (401) 596-0886
Fax: (401) 596-6935 "push send"
Email: JeanneDonato@aol.com
Website: www.JeanneDonato.com
Play & Learn, with Storyteller Jeanne Donato.
Presentations designed to meet your needs featuring: Storytelling, Creative Drama, Music, Movement, Writing, Humanities Enrichment, and Enhanced Learning Techniques.
Jeanne’s Doctorate focused on Reducing Test Anxiety and Improving Academic Performance;
her Masters, Storytelling in the Curriculum, and BA, in Elementary Education.
She is a Master Word Weaving Instructor; Certified Master Balloon Artist; Resilient Educator Trainer; Educational Kinesiologist, and Brain Gym Instructor.
Jeanne is an adjudicated Teaching/Artist on New England Foundation for the Arts’, and Rhode Island State Council for the Arts’ Educational Rosters; with 25 years artist-in-residence experience pre-school - middle school, and 15 years, teaching SCSU’s 6th year graduate storytelling program.
She’s the National Storytelling Network’s RI State Liaison and co-authored: Storytelling in Emergent Literacy: Fostering Multiple Intelligences, a rich resource for educators and parents.
Enjoy: “Storybook Lady," "Winter Lady ®," "Goodness Dust ®," and more!
“One of the most extraordinary workshops and learning experience I have ever had!”
- Professor Library Science – CT
“Informative, educational and enlightening…Well prepared, entertaining and fun!” – CT Storytelling Festival Reviews
“Jeanne has a wonderful rapport with children.” – Past president RI, International Reading Association
“She is personable, energetic, flexible, and easily adapts to any grade level or curriculum.” – James Devine, Principal Harbor School New London, CT.
Fees: Block Booking - Artist-in-Residence Available
 Peg Donovan
P.O.Box 106
Stonington, CT 06378
Phone: 860-535-4106
Email: mspeg10@email.nu
It's storytime like you've never had it before! With books, puppets and flannel board in hand, Ms. Peg will lead your children on a merry journey into the magical world of words, spoken and written. Using rhyme, rhythm and audience participation storytelling, Ms. Peg engages preschoolers and K-1 classes in a fun-filled, 45 minute story program sure to delight your youngsters and inspire their teachers!
Listed in the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism's Performing Artists roster, Ms. Peg has performed in schools, daycares, libraries, community centers and festivals throughout Connecticut and Rhode Island.
"Ms. Peg's storytime is a must for any school readiness program."
- Pat Dalton, Early Chilhood Education Director, Mystic
"When Ms Peg comes,the children take delight in "reading" with her as they are guided through their learning using songs, fables, puppets and books. Our youngest learners come to love and respect early literature, understand stories, predict story outcomes, develop phonemic awareness, rhyme, all while having fun. I've seen children come to love literacy in all its forms - talking, listening, reading, writing and communicating. There can be no better gift to give a child that will prepare them for future success." - Cheryl LaMothe, Site Manager, New London Day Nursery
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 Diane Edgecomb
PO Box 300016
Boston, MA 02130
Phone: 617-522-4335
Email: dedge@livingmyth.com
Website: www.livingmyth.com
One of the most versatile voices in the storytelling movement today, Diane has been lauded by Publisher’s Weekly as a master of her craft.
An award-winning storyteller and author with over twenty years of professional experience, Diane’s entertaining and interactive performances for family audiences and elementary age school children are known for their unique ability to reach all ages.
Choose from popular programs such as Digging Dinosaurs, Tales for the Earth, Once Upon A Halloween, Insect Comedy, Rainforest Legends, Night Lights (tales of the night sky), and many more. Create even more impact for your event and pair a performance with a companion workshop on the storytelling art.
For older audiences Diane’s Storytelling Concerts often accompanied by Celtic harp have timeless themes: Twilight of the Stones, A Celtic Evening and The Winter Solstice in Legend and Song are just a few.
Diane has been featured on NPR and at acclaimed folk clubs and theaters. Her new book A Fire in My Heart: Kurdish Tales, consisting of stories collected firsthand from Kurdish storytellers, was recently published by Greenwood Press. Her newest performance is a multimedia presentation on her travels collecting Kurdish folktales entitled: A Fire in My Heart: A Storyteller’s Journey Among the Kurds.
Diane is a winner of the first Oracle Award for Regional Excellence from the National Storytelling Network.
"A storyteller in the grand tradition, Edgecomb is a virtuoso of the spoken word...an entire cast rolled into one." - Publisher's Weekly
Audiocassettes: CD - Pattysaurus and Other Tales; CD - Deirdre of the Sorrows; CD - New Age Gawain and the Green Knight; CD - In the Groves: Tree Myths and Music from Around the World.
Books - A Fire in My Heart: Kurdish Tales
Fees: $525 for solo performance, $675 with musician accompanying.
Block-booking and special library rates available.
Workshop rates $75 per classroom when booked on same day as performances.
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