A Storytelling at the Ice house

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 Denise McCormack is a dynamic storyteller and creative professional whose talents transcend mediums, crafting meaningful narratives that truly connect with audiences.

Her extensive involvement in cultural, educational, and artistic initiatives reflects her dedication to nurturing the art form and building storytelling communities. As president of Patchwork, she coordinates a variety of storytelling events each year, providing opportunities for others to share their stories and storytelling strategies—both as tellers and listeners.

In essence, Denise is fueled by her passion for the transformative power of stories. She believes that there is a story for every time and purpose under heaven, each carrying the potential to inspire, educate, and unite.

Step into Denise’s world of storytelling, where powerful stories, meaningful messages, and vibrant communities come together to spark imagination and stir the soul.  www.DeniseMcCormack.live

 For over forty years, Rob Aptaker spent time visiting Native American people from many tribal nations. Rob is an avid student of Native American oral histories and of Native American historical and anthropological records and has been privileged to learn some of the stories, songs, and traditional ways of North America’s indigenous people. Rob shares, “If there is artistry in my presentations and performances, it is not in imitation; rather, it is in finding the words, sounds, and gestures to help audiences connect with what is universal in the unique and particular story I am sharing. To make history and culture come to life for school children, I call on the power of stories to awaken their imaginations.” 

Jim Cyr is a retired minister who is a spiritual companion and storyteller. Jim has told stories at community organizations, jails, libraries, first night festivals, and churches. His repertoire of stories includes folk tales, fairy tales, sacred and biblical stories. Jim specializes in stories of healing, wisdom, and faith. www.jimcyr.com is Jim’s website.   

MaryAnn tells traditional folk tales, fairytales,  and literary stories. She has an animated style that will capture your attention and keep you very entertained. Her repertoire includes over a hundred age-appropriate stories for children, teens, and adult audiences. 

MaryAnn’s also been an Early Childhood Educator for over 45 years and is a natural in the classroom. In her mind , she can play the djembe, the harmonica, and the ukulele.  MaryAnn lives in Burlington, Vermont and will happily travel to your event.

Charles takes great pleasure in telling traditional fairy tales to audiences of all ages.  He focuses on the German, English, and Irish stories collected during the nineteenth century, such as The White Snake, Laidly Worm of Spindleston Heugh, and The Horned Women.

In addition, Charles is a fantasy writer, author of A Vacant Throne, and Sword of Trueterra.  He is also known for his blog “Fairy Tale of the Month.”  www. chaztales.net

 Karen Maurer has been a storyteller all her life, weaving tales and songs from a boundless imagination that first took shape in childhood and continues to inform her work today. A beloved children’s librarian for nearly 30 years, she helped inspire the storytelling movement in the Lehigh Valley and beyond. A poet, songwriter, and former zine editor, Karen brings warmth, humor, and heart to every telling—inviting audiences into stories shaped by memory, creativity, and wonder. 

 Larry Sceurman became an educator in his twenties, a storyteller in his fifties, a writer in his sixties, and a published author of nostalgic fiction and children’s stories in his seventies, but the truth is that all of his skills and talents are rooted in his love and execution of the oral tradition of storytelling. Larry has the "it" factor, and if you ask him what's the key to success to becoming a virtuoso of this age-old pastime, he'll tell you, "It's being a good listener." In fact, audiences do lean in to hear what Larry has to say, and boy! does he say it with aplomb!