Beth Horner is noted as a vivacious talent dedicated to providing an entertaining and empowering experience for her listeners, young and old. Her performances captivate audiences with a wide variety of folk, literary, traditional, contemporary and original tales from around the world. Horner's lively, traditional storytelling style often incorporates music, creating a unique performance which critics have called "dynamite!" Each program is designed for the specific audience's age and interests (with listener participation for young audience). A nationally acclaimed storyteller who has performed for adults, teens and children for over 18 years, Beth Horner takes her listeners on journeys of adventure, warmth, wonder, haunting eeriness and raucous laughter.
Beth's goal as a storyteller is to entertain and to encourage her listeners to dip into the wealth of their own imaginations. "When you watch a story on television or in a movie theater, you see one person's (the film maker's) depiction of the an image - of a monster, a prince or an enraged tiger eating a buffalo chip! When you hear a story, you create that image yourself. When I'm telling stories to 50 different people, there are 50 different movies going on in the minds of listeners. Nothing is as powerful or vivid as your own imagination."
Although she currently lives in the
Madafo
Madafo Lloyd Wilson has presented as a Storyteller and Musician since the early 1980s. His programs are patterned in the spirit of the "Griot"; those individuals responsible for keeping the History, Traditions, Principles and Values of the people alive and vibrant. A Madafo Storytelling presentation breathes life into the age old Art Form and speaks from the African experience in As a Musician, whether in the orchestra pit, playing jazz, flamenco, secular or world music, Madafo is considered a master and has collaborated with musicians of all genres, throughout the USA, as well as, parts of East and West Africa and Europe. He combines traditional and contemporary percussion instruments to accentuate the imagery created by the listener. With chants, demonstration, characterization and audience participation, a Madafo performance is sure to be fun-filled, enchanting, educational and therapeutic.
For more than four decades, Madafo has been actively and consistently contributing to the forward movement of his community; he coordinated the Annual Kwanzaa celebration in Wilmington, NC, co-created an award winning Mentoring Program for African American boys and girls and was Artistic Director of several community based Children's Theater and Summer Arts Programs. He has also produced several Storytelling Festivals; (A Christmas Telling and Word Up), appeared on stage, in movies and is the writer/co-producer/host of a Public Radio International (PRI), syndicated program (A Season's Griot), featuring African American Folklore.
Elizabeth Rose
Elizabeth Rose was introduced to the world of storytelling by her family in the traditional way, by sitting around the table and on the front porch sharing stories and episodes of life growing up in the small southern town of Etowah, TN. Elizabeth’s stories include a blend of traditional southern folklore, fairy tales, ghost stories, and folktales from around the world.
Carrie Sue Ayvar
From the time she could sit at the knees of her grandparents, listening to them tell their stories of the Old World or hearing her father recount show business adventures, through her move to Mexico as a teenager, Carrie Sue has been collecting and telling tales.
An acclaimed bilingual storyteller, Carrie Sue Ayvar is dedicated to preserving and promoting the art of storytelling. Sharing her stories in both Spanish and English, Carrie Sue performs at schools, parks, libraries, community festivals, hospitals and museum outreach programs. She connects people, languages and cultures through her stories.
Tamara Green
Tamara was born into a family of storytellers. Her mother told stories of hard work in the cotton fields, and her father told stories of living in the Mississippi Delta. They remembered the history of generations past and old sayings that made them wise. In time, Tamara began to tell their stories, to research, to write, and to tell her own stories that teach us how to respect, share, and befriend others. She specializes in African, African-American stories, folktales, and citified urban tales. She has shared her stories at universities, festivals, schools, reunions, conferences, and any place where people will listen. Tamara’s energetic style takes her listeners on a roller coaster ride to a place called imagination. Then she encourages them to look, learn, share, and celebrate the diversity of others.
Mitchell O'Rear
Mitchell O’Rear has been a professional teller since 1987. He received his training in the acting program at
Holly Denton Fran Clemons
Jack Copeland Jeremy Evans
www.jackcopeland.com www.jeremyevansstoryteller.com
Don Leonard Jessica McCune
Ann Scroggie