Members as of December 2007
additions/corrections made monthly as needed
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Jill Bachmann
5344 Pat's Court; Plover WI 54467
Phone: 715-344-6029
Evening: 715-252-4421
Email: kbachmann[at]charter.net
Phyllis Blackstone
5209 S. 33rd St.; LaCrosse WI 54601
Phone: 608-788-4692
Email: pablackstone[at]viterbo.edu
Director of the Bluff County Talespinners. Storyteller for adult and child audiences.
Gwyn Calvetti
702 E. Garland St.; West Salem WI 54669
Phone: 608-786-2526
Email: rcalvettijr[at]centurytel.net
Website: www.storytelling.org/Calvetti
Teller of tales for all ages, with a special love of that fearsome age group - middle schoolers! Founder and advisor to the Longfellow Storyweavers and Southern Bluffs Storytellers, middle school and elementary school tellers' troupes in LaCrosse.
Jean-Andrew Dickmann
1160 E. Singer Circle #16; Milwaukee WI 53212
Phone: 414-962-4425
Email: storylore[at]yahoo.com
Website: www.storylore.net
Animated, participatory storytelling for any age, group size or setting. Designed-for-you programs for schools, libraries, festivals, conferences, special events, workshops and credit courses. Founder of the Milwaukee Area Story Tellers (M.A.S.T.). Teacher/librarian/consultant. Storytelling tapes.
Jerry Falkenstein
410 West State; Hartford WI 53027
Phone: 262-673-2662
Email: storytellerjerry[at]charter.net
Storyteller Jerry, born, raised and educated in Wisconsin. Performs for children, adults and teachers by telling fairytales, fables, folktales and other stories. Workshops for children and adults. Prices can be negotiable.
Don Falkos
6218 Countryside Ln; Madison WI 53705
Phone: 608-441-2476
Email: storycoachdon[at]hotmail.com
Website: www.storytelling.org/Falkos
Don's personal stories and personable style have gained him high praise as a storyteller. His coaching workshops and private coaching have allowed many others to improve their own telling.
Judy Farrow-Busack
821 Walnut Street; West Bend WI 53095
Phone: 262-334-7868
Email: judyfb[at]alexssa.net
Judy tells to all ages - from "Mother Goose" for the preschool set to adult conferences, banquets and lounges. Stories are fast-paced and humorous from folk and literary traditions as well as original work. Available for programs, schools, festivals and workshops.
Debra Fritz
401 S. Third St.; Evansville WI 53536
Phone: 608-882-3135
Evening: 608-334-2422
Email: fritzd[at]evansville.k12.wi.us
Debra Fritz is the reading specialist at Levi Leonard Elementary School in Evansville, Wisconsin. She uses storytelling as a reading and writing activity with her kindergarten, first, and second grade students. She is convinced that kids tell the best stories!
Hardy Garrison
P.O. Box 792; Madison WI 53701-0792
Phone: 1-866-242-0084, Ext. 1
Email: hardy[at]storyguy.com
Website: www.storyguy.com
A popular children's and family entertainer and an award-winning storyteller, Hardy entertains audiences of adults and kids of all ages throughout the year with his unique "Story Guy" versions of folk tales from around the globe: trickster tales, fractured fairytales, and more. His lively presentations are usually infused with plenty of humor, a wealth of character voices, and a healthy dose of audience participation. Additional details and commentary about Hardy's rollicking tales and telling style are posted at his web site. E-mail him for fee information and availability.
Jane Gavoni
264 County Road EE; Oxford WI 53952
Phone: 608-586-5820
Email: janeggovoni[at]yahoo.com
Susan Gilchrist
3126 Buena Vista St.; Madison WI 53704
Phone: 608-249-5030
Email: Susan.Gilchrist[at]sbcglobal.net
Website: www.wistory.org/tellers/st_gilcs.htm
Simple storytelling straight from the heart. Thematic presentations geared to any age, preschoolers through senior citizens. Folktales, history, myths and legends, modern sources, personal experience, special interest in storytelling for environmental education. Workshops as well as programs.
Nancy Jackisch
1309 Indigo Dr.; Oshkosh WI 54902
Phone: 920-236-5208
Evening: 920-233-5809
Email: jackisch[at]oshkoshpubliclibrary.org
Virginia Hirsch
8011 W. Keefe Ave.; Milwaukee WI 53222
Phone: 414-447-6130
Email: virginiahirsch[at]earthlink.net
Website: www.bayfieldheritagetours.com
Virginia tells stories to all ages, but particularly loves to reach older children, adults and seniors. Her stories range from historical tales and biographies from the North country to original ghosts stories. She performs in libraries, schools, private parties, homes and senior centers – always in costume. In demand for Halloween.
Denise Janssen Eager
120 Grove St.; Evansville WI 53536
Phone: 608-204-2000
Evening: 608-882-6854
Email: leotalane[at]eishome.com
Janet Jones
2928 Curry Pkwy, #10; Madison WI 53713
Phone: 608-277-1951
Email: bluedragonfly1[at]charter.net
Janet explores storytelling and music from Folk Art to Mozart. She performs folk and original stories and songs with wooden flute, thumb piano, rhythm instruments, keyboard and puppets. She also uses her Master's Degree in music to involve audiences of all ages with tales of famous composers and their music.
Jennifer Lindsay
9101 39th Ave.; Kenosha WI 53142
Phone: 847-881-8803
Evening: 262-694-1363
Email: jlindsay[at]nscds.org
Kathy Luck
W244 N6611 Westchester Dr.; Sussex WI 53089
Phone: 262-782-4140
Evening: 262-820-1687
Email: luckk[at]milwpc.com
I have been doing storytelling programs for children since 1990. My favorite stories are folktales from around the world. My programs include audience participation, songs and ventriloquism.
Ruth Maschmeier
2330 Chestnut St., #8; West Bend WI 53095-2987
Phone: 262-334-5994
Email: rmasch2000[at]yahoo.com
Kevin McMullin
N2538 Winselman Rd.; Sarona WI 54870
Phone: 715-635-7641
Email: kevinfriend[at]centurytel.net
Robin Mello
7339 St. James St.; Wauwatosa WI 53213
Phone: 414-476-0421
Email: rmello[at]uwm.edu
Maggie Melvin
2952 N Murray; Milwaukee WI 53211
Phone: 414-964-3231
Email: maggmelv[at]aol.com
I am a school librarian (K-5), freelance children's storyteller and teach storytelling.
Debra Morningstar
Neenah WI 54956
Phone: 920-915-4154
Email: dawest[at]centurytel.net
Website: www.debramorningstar.com
Weaving tribal teachings, ancient legends, drumming and song into an entertaining and educational cultural presentation, Debra speaks to audiences across the country about Native American culture, and has presented her storytelling programs at hundreds of schools, universities, museums, art galleries and conferences.
Engaging her audiences with an interactive format, Debra uses a Native story basket, hand-drums, rattles and shakers in all of her lively presentations. Available for workshops, schools, universities, art galleries, coffee shops, book stores, community celebrations, nature centers, retreats, keynotes, museums, libraries and more.
August Rubrecht
W4380 Hemlock Dr.; Mondovi WI 54755
Phone: 715-926-5831
Email: rubreca[at]uwec.edu
I tell mostly funny stories set in the Ozarks, from personal and folk sources, for audiences from junior high age through adult
Susan Santner
5825 Timber Land Cr.; Madison WI 53711
Phone: 608-890-0364
Evening: 608-241-5331
Email: sbsantner[at]wisc.edu
Website: www.slis.wisc.edu/continueed
Outreach Program Manager, Continuing Education, School of Library and Information Services, University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Rico Saskill
7929 26th Avenue; Kenosha WI 53143
Phone: 262-605-8885
Email: hermanorico[at]yahoo.com
Website: www.globaltales.com
Sadarri Saskill
7929 26th Avenue; Kenosha WI 53143
Phone: 262-605-8885
Email: globaltales[at]yahoo.com
Website: www.globaltales.com
Multilingual, storytelling troupe extraordinaire ~ Unique lend of language, movement, and teaching ~ High demand interactive performances across the country and abroad! ~ Fluent in English, Spanish, French, Haitian Creole, and Sign ~ Authentic dress, seamless translation, and hilarious character voices ~ National winners of numerous awards ~ Once you've had them, you'll want to book them again!
Mike Scott
323 S. 20th St.; LaCrosse WI 54601
Phone: 608-317-2917
Email: mscott66[at]hotmail.com
Michael Scott is a former award winning advertising copywriter, as well as a former Shakespearian actor and stand up comedian. For the last six years Michael has been a full time father to his three children and recently developed an interest in storytelling professionally.
Sara Slayton
2116 S. 31 St.; LaCrosse WI 54601
Phone: 608-787-0744
Evening: 608-797-2807
Email: sara.slayton[at]gmail.com
Website: www.slaytline.com
Mark Steidl
S38 W26310 River View Dr.; Waukesha WI 53189
Phone: 262-524-7802
Email: marksteidl[at]hotmail.com
Mister Mark is big and loud and so are his stories. Storyteller at Greenfield Public Library over five years. Won Milwaukee Coffeehouse Mid-Winter Fold Festival Contest. Stories told with respect and humor. Any group, any venue, any age.
Julie Swanson
27 Frederick Cr.; Madison WI 53711
Phone: 608-262-7469
Evening: 608-238-5503
Email: jswanson05[at]yahoo.com
Kay Weeden
126 Manilla St.; Stoughton WI 53589
Phone: 608-873-4668
Email: kayweeden[at]sbcglobal.net
Spanish-English storytelling. Stories are told so that through movement, inference, and some translation, they are easily understood. Many stories are Hispanic, others just told in both Spanish and English.
Karen Wendt
1218 S. Thompson Dr.; Madison WI 53716
Phone: 608-222-6127
Evening: 608-222-0512
Email: wendtworks[at]ameritech.net
Karen braids folktales, fables, and animal tales together to create a fast-paced program of stories for preschool and elementary age children. Karen enjoys encouraging children to join in the telling, and often invites them up front to help act out part of the story. Karen is a face painter and with her daughter, Janelle, has combined it with storytelling for a "Go Global" program. As a librarian, Karen does workshops at schools and daycare centers and works with middle school youth in the summer. The Kids As StoryTellers share stories in a variety of ways with young children.
Kristine Wildflower
N1828 Forest Lake Rd.; Campbellsport WI 53010
Phone: 920-533-8883
Evening: 920-207-8709
Email: wildflower[at]excel.net
Website: www.aboutwildflower.com
Did you know that Water Dragons, Mandrakes and Wolfbane are all growing in WI? Witch Hazel or Lady Rosemary can tell you more about these poisonous, as well as healing herbs. Do you know the stories behind popular holiday plants such as; mistletoe, evergreens and holly? Ivy the English Elf can tell you. Medieval and Native American Legends, Roman and Greek myths, fairytales from Scandinavia to Asia are packed full of pumpkins, apples, and corn, oaks, willows and mulberries, lilies, roses, violets and many more. People, plants, stories, science, history, horticulture and humor have been inseparable since the beginning of time. So it is for Wildflower Productions, Kristine brings all these elements to life with her dozens of WildFlower costumed characters and programs.
Jim Winship
184 N. Franklin St.; Whitewater WI 53190
Phone: 262-472-5304
Evening: 262-473-3381
Email: jim.winship[at]gmail.com
"Things are not what they seem" in Jim Winship's stories. Bilingual (Spanish-English) stories, tales of wizardry, retellings of traditional stories, and magical realism tales - where reality takes a right turn. For adult groups – storytelling presentations that bring to audiences the reality of being hopeless or poor.