ConnTell Directory M-Q

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Linda Marchisio

South Windsor, CT
Phone: (860) 944-7277
Email: Librarylinda10@gmail.com
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/marchisiostoryteller/home

“Linda's storytelling brings my imagination to life and takes me back to days of my childhood when stories were magical." – B. Johnson, Teacher

Linda is an animated performer who frequently uses song, dance, and audience participation. Her stories travel to far-off countries, into your playful imagination, and touch the spirit. She tells folktales, original stories, personal narratives, and PechaKucha (a form of oral storytelling supported by digital images).

“Beautiful job you did in telling your PechaKucha tonight. Such a beautiful story – almost a poem –  you looked out at the audience and I could feel the story flowing through you."  –  Bill Derry, Consultant/Playsultant, previous Library Media Specialist.

Performances for adults or children include stories that remind us that liars usually get fooled, music and dance make the heart sing, and true life brings laughter and tears. She has performed at a variety of venues- schools, parks, libraries, theaters,

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Lauren Mendoza

Phone: (203) 219-7697
Email: lmccmendoza@yahoo.com
Website: www.thelionandrobin.com

Lauren McClelland Mendoza comes from a family with a deep love of storytelling and books.  Folks who know her best will tell you she began telling as soon as she could put together a sentence. She has told in elementary and preschools in Fairfield and Westchester counties for longer than she'd like to admit.  Luckily, she has a regular weekly outlet for her passion, telling to preschoolers at the Greenwich Library.  Her most loyal, enthusiastic, and honest audience is her daughter Sara and husband Baltazar.

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Motoko

24 North East Street #4
Amherst, MA 01002
Phone: (413) 253-1664
Email: motoko@folktales.net
Website: http://www.folktales.net
Available for virtual performances and workshops

The recipient of the National Storytelling Network’s 2017 Circle of Excellence Award, Motoko has enchanted audiences of every age since 1993. Her repertoire includes Asian folktales, Rakugo and Zen tales, ghost stories, mime vignettes, as well as oral memoirs from her childhood in Osaka, Japan, and her life as an immigrant in the U.S. Her latest work includes “RADIANT: Stories from Fukushima,” an original one-woman multimedia performance on Japan’s 2011 nuclear power plant meltdown.

Motoko has appeared on PBS’ Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, and toured Miyazaki, Japan, as part of CarnegieKids sponsored by Carnegie Hall. She has been featured in festivals and theaters across the U.S., most notably, the National Storytelling Festival, Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, Connecticut Storytelling Festival, JapanFest-Atlanta, and the Provincetown Playhouse at NYU.

As a teaching artist, Motoko has been awarded numerous grants for her residency programs on creative writing, Japanese culture, Ancient China, and origami geometry. Her story CDs have won a Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Award, a Storytelling World Award, and a National Parenting Publications Award (NAPPA). She is the author of A Year in Japan: Folktales, Songs and Art for the Classroom.

Audience: Kindergarten through adult

Fee: Upon request

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Jennifer Munro

250 Old Toll Road
Madison, CT 06443
Phone: (203) 421-0625
Email: jennie.munro@comcast.net
Website: www.jennifermunrostoryteller.com

Recipient of the Barbara Reed Award from the Connecticut Storytelling Center and the National Storytelling Network’s Circle of Excellence Award, Jennifer Munro is a master storyteller whose funny, original stories will touch your heart, lift your spirits, and make you laugh.

Her repertoire not only includes personal stories but also fairy and folk tales, myths, and legends, and “braided” stories, which weave traditional material with personal experience.

Since covid, Jennifer has adapted to the online format by producing storytelling programs and workshops virtually. As a feature teller at the 2020 Timpanogos Festival, she conducted an online master class and created professional level video recordings of her stories, which were then accessed through the festival website.

In “real time” she has performed on national public radio, at libraries, schools, coffee houses, conferences, and major festivals, most notably the national festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee, Timpanogos, Utah, and the Storytellers of Canada Conference.

An important addition to her repertoire, is her one-woman show of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, which she brings to life in her dramatic and thoroughly English interpretation of this classic. Following a performance, Paul Hodes said, “For the first time, I really got the richness of the language, the subtle quality of the humor, and the depth that comes from my own imagination, inspired by her brilliant performance. A most memorable evening!”

Her CDs, Relatives and their Body Parts and Beginnings are both Storytelling World Winners, as is her collection of short stories, Aunty Lily and other Delightfully Perverse Stories, published in 2016 by Parkhurst Brothers. Released in 2019, her latest CD, Stories at the Intersection of Myth and Reality is also a Storytelling World Winner.

Storytelling Reviews:

"Jennifer is an exquisite storyteller. She has a rock-solid sense of story and a great command of the language. She takes her work very seriously - you can see and hear that in the care in her presentation. She has great breadth in her work - understanding the importance and essential nature of myth and folklore and a keen eye for what her own experiences have to say to others.” –  Bill Harley 

“Elegant, insightful, and wickedly funny, Jennifer leads us to love the characters in her stories not just in spite of, but because of their foibles and peculiarities. With language as brilliant and precise as a laser-cut diamond, Jennifer reminds us how wonderfully odd and oddly wonderful it is to be human!” –  Dolores Hydock

“Everything [Jennifer] does is done with integrity, a great sensibility for the subject matter and the audience’s experiences of those matters and is laced with sometimes subtle (her delivery of which I envy), and sometimes overt, but always, perfect humor.”  – Bil Lepp

Book Reviews for Aunty Lily and Other Delightfully Perverse Stories:

“These beautifully crafted stories manage to be at the same time literary and fluid and oral. How brilliant the little darts and jabs of phrase, the children's wild glee, the family portraits of (as she puts it) “rogues, gossipers, and raconteurs”! . . . No stories better demonstrate the intimate relationship between humor and deep feeling. These are masterpieces.” –  Jo Radnor, storyteller, folklorist, scholar.

Video sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEae_UrX4rc&feature=youtu.be

Fees: Negotiable

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Mystic Paper Beasts Theater Company

Co directed by Dan Potter and Marya Ursin
Contact: Marya Ursin: (860) 535-3346; Marya cell: (860) 444-7247,
or better email: mybeasts@aol.com
Website: www.dragonseggstudio.org

Masked performance theatre for all ages.

The tales told by the Mystic Paper Beasts Theatre Company are original or traditional folk stories, expressed through humor and movement, in witty and whimsical handmade masks. The primary performers are Dan and Marya, both of whom are artists, writers, dancers. These performances have delighted audiences of all ages and many nationalities, from Scotland to California, but primarily in the North East of the US, in sites such as museums, libraries, schools, festivals.

SkyTails is a series of Native American stories having to do with the sky, with beginnings, with flourishings, and is offered as a duet (Dan and Marya), or, currently, as a solo version (also on zoom) with Marya. This play is aimed for K-4 audiences, or family audiences.

Marya has written a storybook, illustrated by her and by Dan, based on this performance. (She has a second book of stories of yoga asana also available, and a third book in process.)
Other plays are available on request.

Performances, workshops, and “rovings” (interactive improvisation for festivals, etc.) are available year round.

Currently a solo (with Marya) zoom version of this performance is available, live.

Fees available upon request

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Maritza Nieves

Phone:(860) 514-0038
Email: dialoni@ymail.com

Maritza Nieves was born and raised in Puerto Rico.  Prior to coming to Connecticut, she worked for Head Start directing the parenting services area under the ACUDEN central office.

She has over 30 years of experience working with children, families, and different communities where she has provided direct services.  She also works as Payasita Dialoni/Shaloni in private events, community events, hospitals, and school activities bringing joy during fun educational activities. Maritza does artistic face-painting and balloon figures.  She is a singer, musician, poetess and songwriter.

During the past 14 years, she has worked with early child education at Even Start programs in New London, CT and is an active member of Connecticut Storytellers. She is bilingual and CPR certified.

Maritza Nieves nació y se crió en Puerto Rico donde trabajó para Head Start dirigiendo el área de servicios para padres en la oficina central de ACUDEN.

Tiene más de 30 años de experiencia trabajando con niños, familias y diferentes comunidades donde ha brindado servicios directos. También se desempeña como Payasita Dialoni/Shaloni en eventos privados, eventos comunitarios, hospitales y actividades escolares brindando alegría y diversión durante actividades educativas. También pinta caras artísticamente y hace figuras de globos. Maritza es cantante, músico y compositora de poemas y canciones.

Durante los últimos 14 años, ha trabajado con la educación infantil temprana en los programas Even Start en New London, CT y es un miembro activo de Connecticut Storytellers. Es bilingüe y está certificada en RCP.

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Denise Page

Email: info@ubuntustorytellers.com
Website: UbuntuStorytellers.com

Denise Manning Keyes Page was born to tell stories. Stories that open our hearts, our minds and our world view.  Though new to the profession of storytelling, she is already a sought after featured teller. She has performed for Tellabration! New Haven, International Festival of Arts and Idea, Clinton Arts Council, Tell Me Another, New Haven Storytellers, Songs and Stories, the National Storytelling Center,  Mercy by the Sea Retreat Center and more.

Denise entertains, educates, challenges and inspires you. Above all, Denise believes that sharing and listening to the life stories of others has the capacity to normalize the inevitable challenges of life and deepen understanding of self and others.

A Connecticut native, many of her stories stem from her experience of being a multi -generational African American New Englander. Her personal narrative spans the arc between victim and sainthood and tells stories of “simply being as well as being in the skin we’re in.”

She believes as she paraphrases here . . . "In order to serve the people, you have to respect the people; in order to respect the people, you have to know the people; in order to know the people, you have to be open to the discomfort of learning their stories,” and, she adds, “as well as your own.”

Ms. Page is the founder of Ubuntu Storytellers. Ubuntu Storytellers (U.S.) is a training company that focuses on building bridges across the racial divide by beginning with story. The team is comprised of professional storytellers of the African Diaspora and multi racial facilitators.

What others say about Denise’s storytelling:
“I could listen to (her) all day. She draws you in and takes you places you’ve never been. I mean not just geography but soul. A rewarding and provocative story listening experience.” – Foxwoods International

“Love your tonality and I can feel your heart. Amazing voice quality.” – Pat Lore

“You are able to emotionally engage me with the delivery and storytelling. Truly, Amazing job!” – Aditya Guthey

“You caught and held my attention the whole time. I wanted to cry with you when you received that postcard but celebrated with you when you described your achievements so well.” – Jen Acuna

“Your stories changed me – in ways I didn’t know I could or needed to be. Thank you.” – Charles Martin, Ph.D.

“You are the gift you are bringing.” – Dr. Dorothy Martin Neville

“Beautiful storytelling - emotional, real, loving. your personality and humor really shine. What a beautiful and DESCRIPTIVE story, Denise. I was THERE. When you brought the conflict, I FELT the pain. When you described the beautiful scenes, I was there, too.” – Brandon Eastman

“Denise powerful story - I felt your pain and I was with you all the way - you gave me goosebumps. WOW! You are a story teller with class- loved every word.” – Anne Garland

What Others Say About our Story Grounded Workshops:
“The performance and workshops we sponsored, given by the Ubuntu Storytellers was a grand success!  The performance was up on our YouTube channel for a couple of weeks and received 400 views. The follow-up workshops were attended by 25 people. All of the evaluations were positive and 100% of those who filled out the evaluation said that they would like to attend an Ubuntu Storytellers event in the future.” –  Ann Shapiro Executive Director, Connecticut Storytelling Center

“That was AMAZING.  Thank you for sharing your moving, well crafted and beautiful told stories that made me feel and see” – Nina

“Hearing stories of unintentional exclusion that struck me. . . It made me stop to think how often that sort of thing may have happened and I was unaware.The co-leaders were so present, so skilled at helping the participants develop trust and empathy. They created the setting and provided role models for participants to explore their own vulnerability . . .” –  Carol Mon

“The combination of empathetic listening followed by guided self discovery worked very well for me. While coming into my awareness, I witnessed others doing the same thing with each story being unique, which offered great examples.” –  Jolyn Washington Walker

“I suggest sharing info about the Ubuntu Storytellers and workshops with libraries, congregations, anti-racist training groups/organizations, and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in companies and organizations as well as educational institutions. These stories could be helpful in middle and high schools as well as colleges and universities. They are very powerful, and the facilitators did an excellent job of organizing the workshops and coordinating and elicitin discussion with a nice mix of small and larger group interactions. Kudos to all for a very worthwhile and lasting experience.… the stories expressed emotions connected with the personal experience of racist attitudes and behavior in a way that I found very accessible.” – Jessica

“As a result of this experience ...I think I'm more able and willing to talk about issues of race and culture … ”
– Eileen

Media Links:
https://www.theday.com/article/20201201/ENT10/201209964
https://cthumanities.org/stories-build-bridges-with-the-ubuntu-storytellers

Price: Contact us for pricing regarding your programming needs:
Email: info@ubuntustorytellers.com

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Meris Palmer "Teller of Tales"

Phone: (203) 695-1304
Email: merispal@gmail.com

Meris presents stories of the past and present to fire the imagination of audiences of all ages!

Meris offers folk tales, traditional tales, ethnic tales, and stories from literary tradition to children, adults, families and seniors. Her lively and passionate telling to audiences of all ages offers a wonderful and unique experience. She engages even the youngest listeners in her stories by using props, puppets, costumes and character voices.

A certified teacher, Meris has held successful literacy workshops in schools, childcare centers, as well as a wide variety of other venues.

Meris is available for in school residencies and is also excited to announce she is offering virtual storytelling for remote audiences. In addition she offers intergenerational programs.

Drawing upon her experience as a certified therapeutic recreation director, Meris has worked extensively with the elderly. For those with Alzheimers, Storytelling happens in the here and now, there is nothing to remember or forget. In addition Meris is a trained facilitator for Book Voyagers (Connecticut Humanities Council).

"Meris Palmer...instead started using gestures and voices to tell the group a Native American folk tale...she finished to applause." – Julie Beglin, New York Times Sunday edition

"Your dramatization and active involvement of the youngsters were a delight to behold" – Warren J. Halliburton, director Hale House Center, New York, NY

"You put a picture in my mind. I loved your voices and your costume." – Kaitlin, 5th grade student

“Meris is lighthearted in her approach and uses all manner of props to bring stories to life” – Dee Menard, Bristol Press

Fees: upon request

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Arnie Pritchard

19 Colony Road
New Haven CT 06511
Phone: 203-624-2520 (home)
Email: Apritchard01@snet.net

A few years ago Arnie inherited his late father’s Army foot locker from World War II. It contained hundreds of letters and other papers from his father’s three and half years as a soldier, and his two years with the United Nations refugee program in post-war Europe.

From a selection of this material Arnie has created a story, “This Business of Fighting” focused on his father’s letters home from the European Theater in 1944-45. It puts a human face on one of the huge events of modern history, portraying a young man dealing with everything from raw fear to his role as a leader to his exposure to a world both wider and more brutal than he had known. The story can be accompanied by a slide show of photos closely connected to the events in the story. 

Suitable for teens and up.

"A powerful story, an empathic point of view … did not deny or dramatize the human fear, neither did it preach a specific point of view. Its honest perspective helps me have a broader understanding of what a person who does military service goes through ... your story brings out that need in a loving and human way." – A listener from Fairfield

“We were stunned and moved. Those long-lost accounts were poignant, evocative, beautifully expressed…” – Randall Beach, New Haven Register

"Thanks a lot for sending me these fascinating selections from your father's letters. What a remarkable man he clearly was, in his down-to-earth way – sociable, and yet very introspective and curious, too... a gripping page-turner. In the browsing I'd done in soldiers' letters, I'd been struck by the conflict between a desire to send reassurance and the need to share often chaotic and frightening or disturbing experiences... your father's letters dramatize that conflict deeply" – Prof. Jill Campbell, Yale University

Arnie would also be interested in working with teachers to create classroom units in the use of original sources based on this material.

For more information see Arnie's blog/website:
http://thisbusinessoffighting.blogspot.com/p/first-timers-start-here.html

To hear a public radio interview with Arnie about his father's story, go to  https://www.wshu.org/post/memorial-day-remembrance#stream/0.
The interview includes two excerpts from the story, one beginning about thirteen minutes in and the other about sixteen minutes in."

Arnie also tells literary, personal and folk tales with an emphasis on Americana.

Fees upon request.
Working with the first few teachers on the creation of classroom units would be free.

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