Festival 2010

Storytellers for Spirit of Oklahoma 2011 Storytelling Festival

Featured Tellers

MaryGay Ducey

MaryGay Ducey travels the country teaching and telling stories through performances and workshops, then returns home to the children who know her best as their librarian. MaryGay grew up in New Orleans and moved to Berkeley in 1967. The Bay Area’s shifting social landscape and New Orleans sense of play have created an artist who relishes diversity and honors the importance of stories in family life. Her performances of contemporary and traditional tales have been described as full of wit, but aimed directly at the heart. Named one of Berkeley’s Distinguished Women, MaryGay has told stories from the Smithsonian Institution to San Quentin and has appeared at the National Storytelling Festival and on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

Donna Ingham

Humorist and folklorist Donna Ingham takes the ancient art of storytelling and gives it a Texas twist to entertain audiences of all ages. Hear tall tales, folklore, historical and personal stories told as only a Texan could--or would. A former college professor with a Ph.D. in English, she also offers workshops, master classes, training and in-service sessions as well as age-appropriate programs for elementary and secondary schools. As a published author, she brings an added dimension to her school visits and both entertains and enlightens audiences at book festivals and conferences.

Tom McDermott

Born Texan, rooted in the musical soil of his grandmother’s opera career, twisted by his uncle’s tall tales, and nourished on the Irish lore of his father’s birthplace, Tom travels the US as a storyteller, guitarist, percussionist, and virtuoso ukulelist at festivals, conferences, and schools. His shows address character education, environmental awareness, history, and creative writing. A John Henry Faulk Award winner and author with Pelican Publishing, Tom accompanies his original stories, adapted folktales, myths, and Texas lore with humor, participation, and music (on guitars, ukuleles, drums, theremin, and hurdy-gurdy) to create an unparalleled experience for listeners of all ages.

Spirit of Oklahoma Tellers

Jeanette Harjo

Jeanette is a certified library media specialist who promotes integration of storytelling in the classroom and curriculum. She has been an adjunct professor of library media studies at East Central University and holds a master’s degree in education, with minors in home economics and psychology. Jeanette currently does contract work for schools needing an Extreme Makeover Library Edition, as well as promotes and motivates students to read and write by introducing them to the wonderful world of stories both written and oral.

Rodger Harris

Rodger Harris is a noted Oklahoma storyteller and musician. (More info. coming!)

David Titus

David Titus, author and professional storyteller, has been entertaining children and adults in libraries, schools, churches and at conferences and festivals since 1968. He travels extensively, consulting, conducting workshops and residencies, instructing adults in storytelling, and collecting stories and string figures. He has entertained audiences across six continents from the frozen Arctic to the Sahara. With a piece of string and a thread of a story he captures his audience, young and old. Needless to say, he is having a lot of fun doing it.