Email Address

susan@wetellstories.org

Phone Number

323.256.2336

Address

5740 York Blvd Los Angeles,

Email Address

susan@wetellstories.org

Phone Number

323.256.2336

Storytelling Performances

Play Video

Three Person Trunk Shows

45 to 60 minutes

(can be lengthened or shortened)

These are listed in the order in which we
created them

Proud to be Me

Self-esteem, self-acceptance, and respect for each other are the themes about which these stories from several different cultures revolve.

Kindergarten thru 6th

Let Them Eat Books

Reading becomes an active rather than a passive endeavor as the works of Sandburg, Carroll, Thurber, Twain and others come to life on stage, paying close attention to the elements of poetry and prose and how words affect the imagination.

This show can be catered to any age audience.

A Feast from the East

What better way to understand what is shared and what distinguishes the myriad of Eastern, Mid-Eastern, and Pacific rim cultures than through their stories.

Kindergarten thru 6th

The Spirit of Black Folklore

Depth of spirit, pride, and a willingness to laugh in the face of it all are the central themes in this program of folktales and literature from African and African American cultures.

Kindergarten thru 9th

Cuentos de la Familia (Stories of the Family)

Performed bi-lingually, a richness of heritage, a love of the language and the essence of family values ring through these stories indigenous to Latino culture.

Kindergarten thru 9th

Choosing My Way

Finding who you truly are and staying true to your own personal path is the theme of these folktales from different cultures.

Kindergarten thru 12th

Earth Tales

Life and death, the earth and its inhabitants, ecology and the environment are intertwined in these stories from ancient cultures who lived in harmony with the earth.

Kindergarten thru 9th

Aesop’s Fabulous Fables

After each story, we let the children come up with their own morals before we tell them what Aesop said. Oh, the answers we get.

This one works for all audiences and is our best show for very young audiences.

The Season of Giving

From the mythological darkness of winter to Christmas and Channukah—the festivals of light—come these frolicking stories to carry the holiday spirit into the upcoming year.

For all audiences

Larger Trunk Shows

45 to 60 minutes

More Trunks, More Actors

The Truth About Medusa

This is Medusa’s story as made up by the patriarchal pantheon of Greek Gods who wanted to obliterate the ancient Woman Goddess cults that came before them.

Three Acts of Chivalry

An Arthurian Tale, a Samurai tale, and a Russian folktale, illuminate the different aspects of Chivalry

The Emperor’s Clothes

Using the well-known folk tale of the emperor who wore invisible clothes, this is actually the story of the rise and fall of Louis XIV.

The Birth, Death, and All Twelve Labors of Hurcules

Just what it says it is.

And One Big Full Fledged Musical!

With a big set and “lavish” costumes

70 minutes,

and can be done with an intermission

In The Village of Liver and Onions

Adapted from Carl Sandburg’s Rutabaga Stories, this play was created with a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. There’s still a trunk on stage, but lots of other things as well. Five actors and plenty of roles for kids from the audience.

Proud to be Me​

THE STORIES IN THE SHOW

We will choose three stories from the following

“CUTIE COCKROACH” is an Iranian story about a cockroach with low self-esteem who is looking for someone to share her life with. To do so, she hides who she truly is, but finds that the way to find the right person for yourself is to be yourself. Kids teach her how to walk and pose like a model.

“EL ANCIANO,” or The Ancient One, is a story from Mexico in which a husband and wife learn that they don’t need a bigger, quieter, cleaner house in order to be happy. Kids play a Rooster, Two Pigs, Three Cows, and El Anciano himself.

“THE FROG WHO WANTED TO BE A SINGER” is an African tale about a frog who wants to sing in a forest where only the birds have ever sung. Kids play the Birds, the Frog’s Parents, and the Frog’s Best Friends.

Let Them Eat Books

THE STORIES IN THE SHOW

We will choose three stories from the following

THE STORIES IN THE SHOW“THE JABBERWOCKY” by Lewis Carrol, is a hero’s quest. Kids play a Slithy Toad, a Borogove, a Mome Rath, and the Jabberwock itself.

“THE WALRUS AND THE CARPENTER” by Lewis Carroll, is done as a cautionary tale about going away with strangers. Kids play the Young Oysters.

“THE OLD MAN WHO SAID ‘WHY’” by e.e. cummings is a whimsical story about being born. A kid plays the Old Man, and the audience plays All The People In The Air And Everywhere.

“MANY MOONS” by James Thurber tells of a Princess who wants her father to get her the moon. Kids play the Princess, the Chancellor, the Wizard, and the Mathematician.

“THE STONE TROLL” by J. R. R. Tolkien is a Tom Bombadil poem about his run in with a troll. No kids in this one

“THE TWO SKYSCRAPERS WHO DECIDED TO HAVE A CHILD” by Carl Sandburg is a souring tale about the responsibility inherent in freedom. Kids play a Policeman, Shoppers, a Taxi Driver and a Newsie.

“THREE BOYS WITH JUGS OF MOLASSES AND SECRET AMBITIONS” by Carl Sandburg is a journey story to a magical land. Kids play two of the boys and two of their mothers.

A Feast from the East

THE STORY IN THE SHOW

We will choose three stories from the following

“THE TWO STONECUTTERS” from Japan. One stonecutter likes being a stonecutter, the other wants to be more powerful. The Spirit Who Lives In The Mountain grants them 7 wishes that ultimately lead the unhappy stonecutter to see that the greatest power is being yourself. Kids play a Stone, the Clouds, the Town Cryer.

“HOW THE RABBIT GOT LONG EARS” from China. A naughty young rabbit gets his comeuppance. Kids assist the farmer in freeing the rabbit from capture.

“SHANKAR AND THE WHITE ELEPHANT” from India. In his back yard, Shankar finds Arivata, the white elephant that the God Indra rides to and from Heaven. Shankar sneaks a ride and all the town finds out. Kids play the Neighbors who also travel to Heaven and learn a lesson.

The Spirit of Black Folklore

THE STORIES IN THE SHOW

We will choose three stories from the following

“THE BALLAD OF JOHN HENRY” This is the song, spoken and acted out. Kids play the Steam Drill and John Henry’s assistant called his Shaker.

“AKIMBA AND THE MAGIC COW” is a story about the nature of trust and friendship. Kids play a Magic Cow, a Not Magic Cow, a Magic Chicken, a Not Magic Chicken, and a Magic Stick.

“THE LION IN THE WELL” written down by Zora Neale Hurston, is about how Brother Rabbit got Brother Lion to stop tearing up the neighborhood. Kids play other Animals who either get tricked by or out trick Brother Rabbit.

“SIGNIFYIN’ MONKEY” There are whole books written on the evolution of this story from Africa to the streets of America. We’ve modified Oscar Brand Jr.’s rendition. No kids in this one. It’s a shorter piece we do if the show needs to be a little longer or a little shorter.

Cuentos de la Familia (Stories of the Family)

THE STORIES IN THE SHOW

We will choose three stories from the following

We perform three stories from the following:

“JUAN BOBO” is a Puerto Rican “fool of the world” type character, who, through his innocence and simplicity, always stumbles into a good ending. Kids play Wedding Guests, Funeral guests, Hungry Pigs, and a Happy Bride.

“EL ANCIANO,” or The Ancient One, is a story from Mexico about a man who goes to the wisest man in town to seek advice on how to make his wife love the house they live in. Kids play a Rooster, 2 Pigs, 3 Cows, a Happy Bride, and El Anciano himself.

“THE DAY IT SNOWED TORTILLAS” is a Mexican story about how a married couple’s strengths and weaknesses can complement each other. Kids play Los Malos (the bad guys) who come to steal the couple’s money.

“THE MAN WHO UNDERSTOOD THE LANGUAGE OF THE ANIMALS” is a Columbian story about the trust between man and animals and a man and his wife. Kids play Fire, a Baby Snake, a Rooster, a Sad Puppy, and a Happy Bride.

“MACARIO” is our take on a Mexican tale written by B. Travin, of a poor but unselfish man who has his greatest wish come true and almost suffers the consequences. Kids play two children who recover from illnesses and one prince who doesn’t (and gets to perform a spectacular death scene.)

Choosing My Way

THE STORIES IN THE SHOW

We will choose three stories from the following

“JUMPING MOUSE” is a tale from the Plains Native Americans, written down by John Steptow, about a mouse who makes a journey no mouse has ever made before. Kids play The Shadows Who Live In The Sky.

“TWO STRONG WOMEN” from Japan is about a boastful Sumo Wrestler who receives training in more than just strength from a delicate young woman and her Bachan (Grandmother). Kids play other Sumo Wrestlers.

“THE ROOSTER PRINCE” is a Jewish folktale about a prince who tries to escape his destiny by turning into a rooster. Kids play a Doctor and a Veterinarian.

Earth Tales

THE STORIES IN THE SHOW

We will choose three stories from the following

“COYOTE” done in the style of the old Looney Tunes cartoons,” is a combination of several Coyote stories from across Native America, that we’ve adapted to stress the necessity of the 3 Rs: reduce, recycle, reuse.

“RAINBOW BRIDGE” is a Chumash Native American origin tale that stresses living in harmony with the land and sea. Kids play a Magic Plant that turns into Human Beings

“THE INVISIBLE HUNTERS” is a Miskito Indian tale from Nicaragua about staying true to the tenets of the tribe. Kids play a Wari Pig, a Miskito Hunter, and a Rich Foreign Merchant.

“WHO OWNS THE LAND” is a Nordic tale about who should rightfully own the land. The audience becomes the Townsfolk and Seven Previous Owners of the Land.

Aesop’s Fabulous Fables

THE STORIES IN THE SHOW

We will choose three stories from the following

THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE” done as the televised Olympic rematch of the highly gifted rabbit verses the high achieving tortoise. The moral is, “It’s not winning that matters, but how you run the race.” Two kids start and end the race.

“THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE BIRDS AND THE BEASTS” where the Bat can’t decide which side to be on. The moral is, “Nobody likes a fair-weather friend.” Several kids play Birds and Beasts.

“THE STAG AND THE VINE” where the Vine hides the Stag from the Hunters and then the stag eats the Vine. The moral is, “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.” Kids play the Vine and a Hunter.

“THE LION, JUPITER, THE ELEPHANT, THE GOAT, AND THE SPIDER” is actually two fables put together, with the moral that “There is always someone worse off than you.”

The Season of Giving

THE STORIES IN THE SHOW

We will choose three stories from the following

“KING HILARY AND THE BEGGARMAN” by A. A. Milne is about an excited king, a haughty chancellor, and a beggarman at the gate. A kid plays the Beggarman

“THE GIFTS OF THE MAGI” by O. Henry is the story of a poor couple who sacrifice their greatest treasures to buy each other a present. This story could be maudlin, but that’s not the way O. Henry wrote it and it’s not the way we do it!. No kids in this one

“THE HARDEST NUT TO CRACK” is the internal story, and the best part, of E. T. A. Hoffmann’s “The Nutcracker” and it’s not in the ballet, but it explains everything in the ballet. Kids play Mice Children, the Royal Cat, the Princess Perlipat, and three of her Suitors, one of whom turns into the Nutcracker.

“ONE CHANNUKAH IN CHELM” where exactly half the town is beggars and all the rich people give them all their money until the rich become the beggars and get all their money back. So what happens when a beggar from out of town arrives? It’s a Stone Soup type story but where all the people are true givers at heart. Kids play the Beggars and the Rich People of Chelm.

“PERSEPHONE IN HADES” is our feminist interpretation of the Greek myth about how winter came to be. A kid plays Persephone.