Tucson Storytellers

Glenda Bonin has been a storyteller since 1996.  She currently entertains family, adult and senior living audiences with shows connecting moments in history through her interesting collection of personal stories and compelling folktales from all around the world.

In the past, Glenda toured the country to provide school residencies, community concerts, storytelling workshops and library shows. During her career, she has lived her motto: “Story Works for All Ages,” by telling stories with her puppets to tiny tots, spine-tingling ghost tales to crowds in forest settings, western history tales at local ranches, and personal reminiscences to senior living and memory care audiences. She has presented workshops at the National Storytelling Network Conference and at regional storytelling events.  See www.storyworksgroup.com for more information.

Raymond Hyde is a popular storyteller who enjoys telling myths and legends from Europe, and has an amazing gift for sharing powerful ghost stories. His quiet and unassuming manner may deceive you at first, but be prepared to feel the hair stand up on the back of your neck once he gets started. Ray originally hails from England, and has been a member of Tellers of Tales for the past sixteen years.

Nooshie Motaref grew up in Persia, and is a world scholar having studied in Iran, Germany, Switzerland and United States. She holds Doctorate degrees in American Literature and folklore from Florida State University. Nooshie’s award-winning book, Tapestries of the Heart, is recognized as “a true representation of the cycle of life.” Her recently completed writing a collection of ancient Persian folktales about strong women, and is developing several to perform in storytelling events.

Penelope Starr is a writer, founder and producer of Odyssey Storytelling, workshop presenter, citizen folklorist and restorer of Navajo rugs. Her book, Voices Uncensored: The Radical Act of Community Storytelling will be available in March 2017. See more at www.Penelopestarr.com.

 Susanne Lasseter has been telling stories for more than 20 years. She has participated in many  storytelling events from concerts to school assemblies and enjoys sharing personal stories and tales from around the world with listeners from children to adults. “What’s not to like about a good story well told?”

Jim Kissane hails from Tampa Bay, Florida and joined TOT via Zoom during the pandemic. He is a member of the National Storytelling Network, Tellers of Tales, and other storytelling groups far and wide. His repertoire includes personal stories, family adventures,” industrial” development stories, a rich collection of tales about railroad history. For additional information and a more complete list of his accomplishments, visit his website: www.JimKissane.com

Marc Severson is one of Tucson’s most popular storytellers known for telling tales to audiences of all ages.  His participation stories keep large groups of youngsters actively listening and laughing. Mark’s brand of storytelling reflects his interests in anthropology, archaeology, history education and writing.

Bill Zucker spent 35 years in pursuit of bio/medical/ecological research interests in both academic and private sector arenas. Upon retirement, he decided to start pursuing new areas of interest that he only dreamed about doing when he had to make a living. One of those was listening to, and telling, wonderful stories. He has a lifetime of unusual experiences to fall back on! Another favorite activity is to translate older Danish stories designed for middle-grade children into modern English. He has recently finished his first book of 10 short stories (The Disobedient Owl) which will be published in late 2018. He is an enthusiastic member of the Tucson Teller of Tales group and attends their monthly meetings regularly.

Debra Olson-Tolar

Debra has shared her stories and taught workshops at the Los Angeles Storytelling Festival, Texas Storytelling Festival, and the National Storytelling Conference, as well as at women’s retreats, schools, churches, and libraries. This talented and versatile storyteller has appeared on television, film, and stage, including a performance on Comedy Central’s Key and Peele that went viral. See www.DebraOlsonTolar.com for more information.

Ron Lancaster is a seasoned storyteller whose life has centered on weaving funny tales about his life. He is really a kid at heart – who started out working as a kid for twenty-five cents a week, and learned a lot about the value of money. As an adult he became an accountant, worked as a comedian, owned a bookstore, drove a cab, and taught high school. His stories about life’s  journey always resonate with audiences, and are known to tug at the heart strings of his listeners. 

Sean Buvala has been engaged with storytelling and communication since 1985. He started his work by accidentally using active storytelling to convert a classroom of slightly (but comically) homicidal 8th-grade teenagers from angry kids to storytelling practitioners themselves. From then on, the kids and Sean were sold on the influence of a great story.

Julie Moss, is member of the National Storytelling Network, Rocky Mountain Storytellers and Tellers of Tales (Tucson).  She is a former member of the Tampa Bay Area Storytelling Guild and Storytellers of New Mexico.  She has been telling stories professionally for over 25 years.  Her favorite stories to tell are folktales from around the world because she believes folktales have much to tell us about life and the culture from which they come. For over 40 years Julie served diverse rural populations as an educator in the roles of teacher and librarian

Julie’s website is www.storiesbyjulie.com.  It includes an occasional blog about various aspects of storytelling.  “Old China through the Eyes of a Storyteller: and Anthology of Chinese Folktales and the Stories behind Them” is available on her website as well as from Julie directly.