Folklore, literature and mythology from a myriad of times and cultures come alive when We Tell Stories comes to town. Since 1981 this multi-ethnic, story- acting troupe has carried its innovative trunk shows throughout California and the U.S., reaching over 4.7 million people. An extensive repertoire and extemporaneous style adapt to any audience. Audience participation is an integral part of every show and ordinary objects are used in extraordinary ways. Everyone should go home saying, “I could do that!”

With Let Them Eat Books (great literature by great authors), reading becomes an active rather than a passive endeavor as the works of Aesop, Sandburg, Poe, Carroll, Thurber, Twain and others come to life onstage. The presentation focuses on the elements of poetry and prose, and how words affect the imagination. (all grades)

Proud to be Me (a multicultural show) features stories from several very different cultures that revolve around the themes of self-esteem, self-acceptance and respect for each other. (grades 3–adult)

In Earth Tales (tales from ancient cultures), life and death, the earth and its inhabitants, ecology and the environment are intertwined in stories from the early inhabitants of this world. (grades 3–adult)

In Choosing My Way (a multicultural show), young audiences learn the importance of staying true to oneself and making responsible life choices through stories from different cultures. (grades 3-adult)

Whether performed bilingually or totally in Spanish, a richness of heritage, a love of the language and the essence of family values ring through Cuentos de la Familia (Stories of the Family), whose tales are indigenous to Latino culture. (all ages)

The Spirit of Black Folklore revolves around themes of friendship, pride and ingenuity in folk tales and literature from African and African American cultures. (grades 3-adult)

In Feast from the East (Asian folktales), understand through their stories what is shared and what distinguishes the myriad of Eastern, Mid-Eastern and Pacific Rim cultures. (all ages)

The Season of Giving (stories for the winter holidays) regales youngsters with frolicking stories from the mythological darkness of winter to Christmas and Chanukah, the Festival of Lights. (all ages)

We present performances in both English and Spanish.