San Antonio Area Storytellers Directory
Storytellers listed here are full and part-time free-lance professionals who are members of the San Antonio Storytellers Association and/or the Central Texas Storytelling Guild and have participated in the Texas Folklife Festival, Midwinter Tales, Texas Children's Festival, the Texas Storytelling Youth Olympics and other events at the Institute of Texan Cultures. That gives me an up-close-and-personal view of the quality of their work and the pleasure of working with them.
The Storytellers
How to get the most from your guest storyteller
- Mark A. Babino (210) 212-4931
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Mark is a versatile storyteller, capable of drawing out every emotion from hilarity to awe! His personal stories are set in the Beaumont Creole neighborhood in which he grew up, and Cajun and Creole folktales enrich his repertory. As a teacher in SAISD, he also uses many stories from popular children's books and traditional story sources.
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- Brian Billings (830) 765-6810
- Brian deftly applies his keen sense of story, dramatic language and expressive face and gestures to classic folk and fairy tales, often adding music or poetry to his narrative. He brings new insights to even familiar stories, and spins lesser known tales into delicious fare. Brian captivates young and old listeners alike, his thespian experience assuring a satisfied audience every time! Learn more about Brian.
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- Mary Ann Blue (210) 375-6702
- What a blessing for San Antonio to have Mary Ann move south from the metroplex to join us! Her bilingual English and Spanish folktales are said to be for children, but grampa and grouchy Aunt Gertie laugh at her animal antics, too. Her personal tales are supposed to be for grown-ups, but I've seen the children listening bright-eyed, holding their breath to hear what comes next.
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- The Fireside Tellers (210) 939-1026 or (210) 499-4118
- Warm yourself with the tandem telling of Veronica Gard and Jane McDaniel.
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- Veronica Gard (210)499-4118
- A lover of myth and wonder tales, Veronica has built a repertory of traditional stories and tells them with a natural grace--and in a delightful London accent! She brings to storytelling a strong literary background and a gift for finding the heart of the story. Challenge her with an unusual story task, and it will be accomplished in rare form!
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- Donna Ingham (830) 693-1641
- "The Texas Tale Teller" tells personal stories of her childhood in the Texas Panhandle, Texas historical tales and legends, Texas "versions" of classical myths, and Texas folktales. Donna's ability to thrill even young listeners is not compromised by the fact that she is a retired university professor. Learn more about Donna.
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- Mary Grace Ketner (210) 271-0628
- Influenced by her work at the Institute of Texan Cultures, Mary Grace tells Texas legends as well as the world folktales and legends Texans brought with them from their homelands. Her personal artistic goal is to find and tell those stories which clarify our values, for isn't that what stories do best? Learn more about Mary Grace.
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- Sue Kuentz (830) 980-7877
- Besides being a poised and joyful storyteller in her own right, Sue sponsors the "Door to Lore" Storytelling Club at Stone Oak Elementary School. She offers excellent workshops on teaching storytelling to children or forming a storytelling club among your students. She and her students often appear together in classrooms, elder care facilities, and civic events.
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- Jane McDaniel (210) 930-1026
- Jane's storytelling is very personal, arising from a childhood surrounded by the great Celtic myths and romances as well as rollicking Irish folktales-and probably a seanache or two! Listen to her lilting brogue and know what storytelling is all about!
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- Joe "Doc" Moore (830) 899-5678
- Looking every inch the Medicine Show pitchman, "the old Texan" spins folk stories, ghost stories and historical legends. Retired after 35 years in schools and in the Education Dept. at SWTSU, Doc presents excellent teacher workshops as well as student programs. Learn more about Doc.
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- Ruth Murphy (210) 684-5692
- Ruth is a retired city librarian and the holder of many standing-room-only story hours in this city for many years. Her repertory is particularly strong in primary- and elementary-appropriate stories. On request (which comes frequently), she brings along her Japanese Kamishibai picture story theatre.
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- Emma Ortega (210) 534-5673
- Emma learned stories from her Apache grandmother and passes them on gently as a calumet is passed around a circle of newfound friends. She appears in beadwork and clothing of her own or other Native American craftsmanship. Bilingual, her programs can also draw on the Hispanic side of her heritage.
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- Gregorio Pedroza (In Texas, call Diamond Pedroza, 210/479-2513)5673
- Born in Hondo, Texas and living in New York, snowbird Greg comes "home" each January - March to tell stories of his own heroic and quirky family as well as other original stories, folktales, and myths. English, Spanish, or bilingual. Learn more about Greg.
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- Consuelo Samarripa (254) 680-5577
- Consuelo tells personal stories about growing up on San Antonio's west side as well as folk tales from Mexico, Texas, and beyond. She is the driving force behind the International Hispanic Storytellers Association and Austin's Tejas Hispanic Storytelling Festival. Learn more about Consuelo.
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- Atheria Scott (210) 662-9895
- Atheria's wisdom tales, Bible stories and biographical stories from her African American heritage inform and entertain, leaving the listener inspired and affirmed. A top toastmaster, she welcomes audiences from preschool to seniors, in business, church, and social settings. Atheria's stories revolve around moral values such as persistence, forgiveness, and holding on to your dream.
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- Elder Stone (Bob Blackstone) (210) 673-4467
- Elder (Bob Blackstone) offers "Stories Galore," an open mike for storytellers, presently holding forth the third Sunday of each month, 5:00-7:00 P.M. at Commanders House, 645 South Main, in San Antonio. A storyteller in his own right, a correspondent from the folksy folks of Brownwater, Texas, Elder can be identified by his coveralls and sassy attitude.
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- Earley Teal (210) 675-1799
- Earley's repertory includes both African and African American stories, and I have seen him beguile audiences of all ages with his easy and natural style of telling. A buffalo soldier, he tells with pride in his own heritage and often asks leading questions, and opens and closes his stories with wisdom.
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- Larry Thompson (210) 945-9979
- Larry is a genuine raconteur: relentless, rollicking, sincere, and sensitive to his listeners. He involves both children and adults in his stories; inactive listening is not allowed! Larry is the guiding force behind Little Debbie's Crumbs Across America storytelling tour and, as that guy in Mr. Landry's English class said "He's not so bad." Learn more about Larry.
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- Tim Tingle (830) 899-5678
- Tim tells Native American folktales and history straight from his Choctaw heart, often with surprising insights about events from American History. This beguiling author of Crossing Boc Chitto and several story anthologies gives workshops for teachers and storytellers--and plays the Indian flute to boot Learn more about Tim. Learn more about Tim.
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- Two Tall Tellers (210) 271-0628 or (830) 693-1641
- This is what happens when Donna Ingham and I get together. I'm taller, but she's smarter, so take your pick whom to call.
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- Lorece Williams (210) 661-2144
- Dr. Williams is a "griot." Like storytellers of African villages, she tells stories and folktales that illustrate life patterns and values and ways of getting along in community with others. Students and teachers both will feel like they are in the presence of an elder who imparts ancient knowledge.
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- Richard Young and Judy Dockery Young (417) 739-2947
- With nine books used in schools nationwide, these Missouri storyteller-authors' repertory is vast indeed and includes some Spanish and bilingual stories. Together, they can tell to every child in a school in one day! Richard and Judy visit San Antonio several times each year. . Learn more about Richard and Judy.
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How to get the most from your guest storyteller:
Rate schedules vary, but these tellers fall in the range of $300-$600 per school day (plus mileage and expenses out of town.) Individual fees are negotiable, and all will consider portions of days or special projects. Consider teaming up with other teachers/librarians/schools to offer a "package" which includes several days' work among several grade levels or schools.
All of these storytellers will work with you to achieve your educational goals as well as to let students enjoy oral literature and the storytelling tradition. Let them know if you are looking for stories which support a particular curriculum topic or originate from a particular culture.
After hiring a storyteller, call or send a confirmation about a week before the visit to tie up loose ends or give the final schedule and directions or a map with particulars such as where to park or how to check in at your school's office!
Invite other teachers, supervisors and librarians to visit your class on the day the teller comes whenever possible; plan breaks and lunch for all-day engagements.
One proven plan for storyteller visits to elementary schools is to schedule grade level programs in the library, including sets of 15 to 20 minutes for kinder and first grade up to about 40 minutes for 4th & 5th. Do not place vastly different ages together, such as afternoon kinder with 5th grade session!
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