Members: Eastern Region

Adam Booth

www.adam-booth.com/

photo by Katelyn Stoneberger

Adam Booth's storytelling blends traditional folklore, music, and an awareness of contemporary Appalachia. His original voice, both humorous and touching, is influenced by generations of diverse storytellers from West Virginia. His telling appearances include Teller-In-Residence at the International Storytelling Center, resident at the Banff (Alberta) Spoken Word program, and multiple events in fifteen states. 

Equally at home as a teller and educator, his research and educational presentations have included the Berea Appalachian Sound Archives Fellowship, Ghost Ranch, the National Storytelling Conference, and the Appalachian Studies Association Conference. His stories and recordings have been honored with two Parents' Choice Silver Honor Awards, Storytelling World Awards Honors, the NSN's J.J. Reneaux Mentorship Grant, and four West Virginia Liars’ Contest wins.

Adam holds a masters degree in music history from Case Western Reserve University, a bachelors in music composition from the University of South Carolina, and completed additional music theory study at Cleveland Institute of Music. He has also studied folk music with old-time traditional Appalachian musicians. 

His presentations include a unique blend of story, education, and traditional and contemporary music. 

"A real West Virginia treasure." Nila Cobb, WVU 4-H Extension

- See more at: http://www.adam-booth.com/bio/#sthash.nnUhOeMP.dpuf


Katie and Otto Ross

Phone  304 738-2338
Email  okross@atlanticbb.net

Award-winning, professional storyteller, Katie Ross, and her talented musician husband, Otto, present entertaining and interactive programs weaving stories and music together. They call their duo Stories by the Score. Katie invites the audience into a new world with her animated style. Otto’s music, whether it be on the accordion, banjo or guitar, makes folks feel like singing along or clapping to the beat. It is just what Katie and Otto want: to actively engage their audience members by offering them an opportunity to be part of the program rather than mere observers. 

Since Katie was a Spanish/French teacher before she retired, she likes to tell multicultural tales. Katie often teaches Spanish or French vocabulary within the context of the story and shares part of the culture of a given country as well. Otto then adds a musical component by playing songs from the place the story is about. Katie and Otto have a passion for presenting inspirational and Biblical programs as well. The couple also specializes in personal, Appalachian/ West Virginian, Celtic, thematic, and tall tales. They tailor the presentations to the needs of the organization who has invited them to share. Katie and Otto take into account the ages, interests, and the composition of the audience members as well as the theme of the program. They have performed from very young audiences to very senior ones in West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio. Their venues include: Allegany Arts Council, campgrounds, churches, festivals, schools, special events, retreats, civic organizations, libraries, and many more. The two have also branched out to giving various storytelling workshops in several of the above-mentioned states.

An interesting fact: Katie lies well enough to have won first place “Best Liar” award two times at the Tall Tales and Liars’ Festival held in Oakland, Maryland a few years back. She also came in second place in the National Storyteller of the Year contest sponsored by the Creative Arts Institute in Ohio in 2005.

Katie and Otto both are retired school teachers although Otto still teaches one math class at Allegany College of Maryland. The two live just over the Potomac River in Mineral County, WV.


Ilene Evans
http://www.ilene-evans.com/

[e] info@vfte.org
[p] 304-463-4561

Wake it Up! Shake it up! Jump up and live!
Everything lives... Everything sings... We are part of the song…


Ilene is an energetic, vibrant, original performing artist. She uses movement, poetry, story, song, rhythm and rhyme in telling her tales. Ilene specializes in multicultural tales inspired by a rich Affrilachian life and all its folklore. Ilene's stories are full of music and drama. She creates programs that span a vast range of arts disciplines including music, dance, drama, and storytelling. Ilene gives workshops in the theater arts focused on integrating the disciplines. Her historical portrayals include women who have made a difference in the world and inspired others. Such characters include Harriet Tubman, Memphis Tennessee Garrison, and Coralie Franklin Cook.



"Ilene is an outstanding performer. She really knew how to appeal to Kuwaitis' passion for poetry and story-telling, while making a strong pitch for acceptance of diversity. Several Kuwaiti cultural impresarios who saw the program have asked us whether we could bring her back again, or whether they could contact her directly to invite her themselves. We recommend Ilene Evans most highly."

John Berry
United States Embassy
Kuwait