Pat Carr primarily tells stories about her family, calling them “Mike Stories” because the first one she ever told was about her late husband Mike. She may be best known as a member of the performing company at Scarborough Faire, where she delights thousands of children and their parents as “Affinity Rattigan,” the comical rat catcher of Scarborough.


DeCee Cornish is a writer, oral historian and native Texan. His storytelling and work with at-risk kids has been recognized by various national organizations. He is known by many as the "Urban Aesop."




Tim Couch has been a middle school teacher at the Episcopal School of Dallas for 14 years and previously practiced law in Dallas. He has been telling stories for many years, served two terms as the President of the Dallas Storytelling Guild and is currently finishing his third year as a board member of the Tejas Storytelling Association.

Mel Davenport is from Cedar Hill and has been telling stories for 30 years in churches, schools, libraries, museums and festivals. She is the author of My Part of the Sky, a book on care giving. Although she participates in many liars’ contests, she hardly ever wins...this preacher lady finds it SO hard to tell a lie!


Philip Drexler is an applied storyteller from Terrell where he works as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Therapist. He uses a combination of therapeutic and mutual storytelling along with creative dramatics to help adult, adolescent and child patients better understand and manage stressful situations and the effects of mental illness.


Gene Edgerton grew up in a small town in South Carolina, but this farm kid did not want to bloom where he was planted. He has studied and worked in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the former Soviet Union. He has a master’s degrees in both ESL and Storytelling and enjoys teaching and telling stories to adults and children.


Dan Gibson became a storyteller more than ten years ago. But it wasn’t his fault – some friends made him do it. He discovered storytelling is a powerful medium for entertainment, education and often inspiration. He became a fulltime pro in September 2001 when he quit his public relations job. He has been performing throughout Texas, North Carolina, Wyoming, Utah, Louisiana and Oregon ever since. He is listed on the Texas Commission on the Arts Touring Artists Roster and the Mid-America Arts Alliance Artist Registry. He has served for three years on the Board of Directors of the Tejas Storytelling Association. (Photo courtesy of Today Newspapers.)

Julia Gibson has been telling stories all her life. She tells a variety of traditional folktales and has a growing collection of original work. She teaches computer skills at Louise Wolff Kahn Elementary School in Dallas and frequently uses stories to enhance her lessons.



Genie Hammel, accompanied by her puppets and autoharp, loves to tell stories to children of all ages. As a children's librarian for twenty years, Genie had the ideal audience and plenty of resources to hone her energetic and interactive style of storytelling.



Gene and Peggy Helmick-Richardson are “Twice Upon a Time Storytellers.” They have been on the Texas Commission on the Arts Touring Artists Roster since 2003 and recently joined the Mid-America Arts Alliance Touring Program Registry. Gene served on the Tejas Storytelling Association board for four years and was president in 2002. Gene is currently president of the Dallas Storytelling Guild, and Peggy is secretary. In addition to schools, libraries, festivals, conferences and events, they tell regularly at a state prison and federal penitentiary, Homeward Bound drug and alcohol treatment center and the Genesis Women’s Shelter.

Traphene Parramore Hickman has been a storyteller all of her life. Her mother said she spanked her for it when she was small but never did break her of the habit. She is infamous all over Cedar Hill.




Tsagoi Jennings draws upon a life filled with adventure and unique experiences for his stories. He co-founded Tipi Tellers and is creating a retreat center in Southeast Texas.




Donna Lively has entertained audiences of all ages in many venues, including the Rising Star concert and Ghost Story concert at the Texas Storytelling Festival, and was a featured teller at the 2004 Tiger’s Tale, the 2006 Choctaw Storytelling Festival, the 1999 Salado Scottish Festival Storytelling Competition and the Regional Concert at the 2005 National Storytelling Conference. Her background in theater and as a research librarian has given her the tools to translate her love of folklore and the storytelling tradition into memorable and entertaining programs.

Richard Nash spends his time walking in the woods of East Texas, playing his flute to the deer who will listen and having coffee with the coyotes. He says "Storytelling is not about the person telling, it is about the story. Stories have floated in our collected minds since we were born. Stories have been handed down from grandparents, aunts and uncles, parents, teachers, spiritual leaders and our own experiences and will be passed to the next generations, until there is no one left to hear.”

Ann Marie Newman is a high-energy teller with a performing arts background, who has been joyfully telling tales for 12 years. She loves incorporating character voices, facial expressions, body language and audience interaction into her stories for listeners of all ages.



Jiann Powers grew up in Beaumont, bringing 22 years of teaching and 10 years of storytelling experience plus a good dose of pure passion to all her presentations. A Texas Commission on the Arts Touring Artist, Jiaan tells traditional folktales, ghost tales and snippets from down home.



Toni Simmons is an author and storyteller extraordinaire. A former children’s librarian and drama teacher, her multi-cultural stories come to life with audience participation. She has won the Parents’ Choice and the Parent Council Award for Excellence in Children’s Video and her book, The Cheese Chase: Why Dogs Chase Cats, won the IParenting Media Award. A Touring Artist for the Texas Commission on the Arts, Toni has been featured at many storytelling and book festivals throughout the United States

Willie Sims performs his own original stories. His witty, insightful tales enlighten and entertain.





Shelby Smith reveals a deep respect for all in her stories. Her own “Shelby’s Stories” and “Tipi Tellers” keep her busy telling stories, while her spare time is occupied as youth coordinator for the Texas Storytelling Association.



Gary Whitaker began storytelling in 1997 and is known as “The Storyman.” His main focus is history and bringing it to life for audiences of all ages. He brings his own special brand of storytelling to many performances at schools, festivals and campfires all across Texas.



Charles Williams is known as a relic of the last century, telling how it was, how it should have been and how it could have been if you looked closely. His tales provide everyone with enjoyment, education and amazement.

Lucinda Wise has taught storytelling in informal and formal settings including St. Edward's University in Austin. She is facilitator for three national Environmental Education projects and has won a gold medal from the 2005 St. Patrick's National Irish Storytelling Competition at the Cibolo Nature Center in Boerne, Texas. Wise is a board member of the Central Texas Storytelling Guild.

SCHEDULE FOR THE STAGES AND STORYTELLERS

Stages	10:15 a.m. to 1 p.m.	1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
"Lone Star Tales"	Charles Williams Mel Davenport Peggy Helmick-Richardson	Gary Whitaker Donna Lively Philip Drexler
"Ghost Tales"	Donna Lively Jiaan Powers Dan Gibson	Tim Couch Leslie Buie DeCee Cornish
"Humorous Tales"	Toni Simmons Tsagoi Jennings Willie Sims	Ann Marie Newman Dan Gibson Pat Carr
"Fables & Fairy Tales"	Shelby Smith Traphene Hickman Gene Edgerton	Julia Gibson Genie Hammel Lucinda Wise
"Cowboy and Tall Tales"	Leslie Buie Ann Marie Newman Richard Nash	Charles Williams Shelby Smith Traphene Hickman
"Childhood Stories"	Gene Helmick-Richardson Gary Whitaker DeCee Cornish	Richard Nash Mel Davenport Tsagoi Jennings
"Wisdom Tales"	Tim Couch Philip Drexler Lucinda Wise	Gene Helmick-Richardson Peggy Helmick-Richardson
"Stars of Texas"	Elizabeth Ellis Tim Tingle	Elizabeth Ellis Tim Tingle