Announcing the 2018 Tellers
Izzi Tooinsky
Ken Kesey says: “Izzi is an amazing original,” and he has graced our stage many times. Sierra Storytelling is thrilled to have him return as our bold and creative, flamboyant and fun emcee for the 2018 Festival. His quick mix of comedy, juggling and audience participation makes him a favorite everywhere.
Larry Littlebird
Larry Littlebird is a visionary social entrepreneur having founded a Native owned business and three nonprofits, besides being an author, filmmaker and mentor. He is the founding director HAMAATSA, and is a Pueblo Indian from Laguna/Santo Domingo Pueblos in New Mexico. Larry played the lead role in the feature motion picture, House Made of Dawn, based on N. Scott Momaday’s Pulitzer-Prize winning novel.
Charlotte Blake Alston
Librettist, musician and narrator, Charlotte Blake Alston tells from her deep traditional roots. Charlotte’s performed from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Smithsonian Institution, the Carnegie Hall, to prisons, detention centers and a refugee camp. In the PBS documentary Safe Harbor, producers proclaim her “strong, steady voice is like a lantern in the darkness”.
Charlie Chin
As a community historian, storyteller, and musician, Charlie Chin has been at the forefront of Asian American artistic expression since 1970. He was the Community Education Director at the Museum of Chinese in America in New York City and has continued his research and performances as the Artist-in-Residence at the Chinese Historical Society of America in San Francisco.
Clare Muireann Murphy
“Clare Muireann Murphy’s beautiful lilting Irish voice was in stark contrast to the darkly humorous stories she told us, and she her first-rate comic physicality only served to enhance her storytelling.”–Everything Theatre 2015. She’s performed in more than 20 countries since 2006. Clare has played the Globe, Barbican and National Theatres in London as well as many stages worldwide.
Vicki Juditz
Vicki Juditz—is an actress, comedian, writer, and spoken-word artist. “I take experiences from my life and craft them into monologues that hopefully shed light on universal truths. Vicki has appeared in countless TV commercials and sitcoms. Her stories have aired on The Moth Radio Hour, and KCRW’s UnFictional.
Plus special Guest Teller Tom Wade
An energetic teller of mostly-true tales, Tom Wade’s stories engage and delight people of all ages. He has appeared several times as a Guest Teller at the Sierra Storytelling Festival and is also a three-time winner of the Sierra Storytelling Festival Story Slam. If you catch him offstage, beware! With no time limitations, you just might find yourself spellbound for hours.
