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.

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.

Dr. Nooshie Motaref

When Nooshie fled her native Iran over thirty years ago, she wanted to keep something dear to her, her mother, her grandmother, and all Iranian women—FREEDOM.

Dr. Nooshie Motaref is the award-winning author of Tapestries of the Heart, Bird of Passage, Land of Roses and Nightingales, The Girl Raised in Bull Blood, and soon, look for the release of Emerson: My Hero: A Love Story!

Unlike many women from the Middle East, Nooshie has faced many challenges in her life. She grew up in Persia and studied in four different countries: Iran, Germany, Switzerland, and the United States.

In addition to being a public speaker, storyteller, and biographer, she has served as the president of Tucson Tellers of Tales, a nonprofit national organization that has existed since 1979.

Donna Fields Brown  is a well-known published author of two books, professional musician, retired RN, avid outdoor sportswoman, and professional pantomime, living in Pearce, a small rural community in SE Arizona. Her first novel, a musical memoir, “Finding Medusa – The Making of an Unlikely Rock Star,” and latest thrilling murder/mystery, “One Moonlit Night,” have been receiving rave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. She has also written several articles for Authority, Thrive Global, Woman’s World magazines, and for the Huffington Post newspaper. She studied for three summers with world renown French mime artist, Marcel Marceau, and performed as a pantomime throughout several states across the U.S.

 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?”

Bella Vivante is a storyteller, actor, writer, dancer who thrills listening to great piano music which she stumbles, albeit enthusiastically, to emulate. She has lived in many places and relishes personal exchanges with people of different cultures. The support and camaraderie of the Tucson Teller of Tales storytelling community uplifts her, and she is delighted to lead off the theme of Heritage for March 2025.

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.

Omar Tarango is a professional stand-up comedian and the media and marketing specialist for Tellers of Tales Tucson. Originally from El Paso, Texas, he infuses humor into the art of storytelling, creating engaging and memorable experiences. As a dedicated father of four and grandfather to six, Omar’s deep-rooted family values bring authenticity and sincerity to his speaking career.

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.