About the stories: "What kind of stories do you tell? My repertoire is extensive - hundreds of stories gathered through years of research, refined by scores of tellings and retellings to listeners of all ages.  Some are hundreds of years old, some are thousands; some take a few minutes to tell, others an hour or more. All of them engage, inspire and delight.  I tell the stories I'm passionate about: the  stories my audiences love to hear.  This page gives a broad overview of the types of stories I tell in schools, museums, theaters, and libraries.  Performances are flexible: a program or school visit can be arranged to include one specific type of story or a sampling of many different types. Scroll down this page for an overview, or click any of the links for more details. If you have questions about any of the information given here, please contact me.

World Folktales Passed from generation to generation, these stories have moved through time and across cultural boundaries for centuries.  Although they often involve dazzling fantasy and magic, these compelling stories tell us a lot about the real world. Click here for examples and more information.

World Mythology In myths, cultures express what they value most in the world and consider humankind's place in the natural order of things.  While some myths serve as explanations of natural phenomena, others celebrate the many powerful mysteries around us. Click here for examples and more information. Ancient Civilizations The stories of Mesopotamia (ancient Iraq), Egypt, the Maya, and others have survived for thousands of years despite being buried, forgotten, or almost entirely destroyed.  When listeners hear these stories today, the centuries fall away - these tales are as awe inspiring to us as they were to their first audiences. Click here for examples and more information.

Classical Mythology For many, the sacred stories of ancient Greece are the doorway to both mythology and the ancient world.  Fascination with these stories can begin in childhood and continue for a lifetime.  When performing classical myths, I highlight the many connections between the tales; where one myth ends, another often begins. Click here for examples and more information. The Middle Ages In many tales from the Middle Ages, elements of folktales and fairy tales appear in a realistic context.  Quests and challenges, dragons and spells are all here, but in these stories they form the backdrop for very human characters, faced with very real choices. Click here for examples and more information. Irish Myths & Tales It's more than just leprechauns.  The mythic traditions and legendary tales of Ireland are a fascinating window into the ancient mind.  The pantheon of gods and heroes here is as rich and nuanced as that of the ancient Greeks, but with some fascinating , not to say startling, cultural variations. Click here for examples and more information. Shakespeare One root of Shakespeare's genius is storytelling.  In fact, many of his plots were taken from folktales and historical legend.  While Shakespeare's language brings our experience to new heights,  the story at the heart of every play makes those heights accessible to all. Click here for examples and more information. Ramayana & "The Rama Project" The "Ramayana" is one of the two great epics of India, known by billions of people around the globe.  The scope of the story is vast, its characters are magnificent, and its themes are utterly contemporary.  Hearing even a portion of Ramayana, one drinks from the waters of the Sea of Stories. Click here for more information. re:creation re:creation is storytelling in the form of a play, or a play in the form of storytelling.  A ninety minute program that weaves together myths, stories, poems, and observations from around the world, all reflecting on the question: "But, how did it all begin?" Click here for examples and more information.