Events & Classes > Tapestry of Tales > Festival Storytellers
Featured Storytellers
Len Cabral
Cranston, RI
Len Cabral is an internationally acclaimed storyteller who has been enchanting audiences with his storytelling performances since 1976. Len's strong Cape Verdean ancestry comes alive in his exuberant retelling of African, Cape Verdean, and Caribbean folktales as well as original stories and tales from around the world. Len has performed at festivals in the United States, Ireland, Belgium, Austria, Holland and Canada. He is the recipient of the National Storytelling Network Circle of Excellence Oracle Award. The author of a children's book for young readers and contributer to several folktale collections, Len also has five CDs featuring a wide range of his favorite stories, several receiving NAPPA and Parents' Choice awards.
Kim Weitkamp
Philadelphia, Pensylvannia
Kim Weitkamp is an award-winning, nationally-known storyteller who spent 15 years using applied storytelling with at-risk youth before she turned to stage performance. She is the National Youth Storytelling representative for Virginia and founder of the Wrinkles Project, a national project to preserve the stories of our elders. A commanding presence, impeccable comedic timing, perfectly woven stories and a velvet voice provide a "hear a pin drop" performance peppered with moments of raucous laughter. Kim's quick wit, genuine care for the audience, and beautifully delivered original stories and songs gently pull back the cover and reveal the sleeping child in all of us.
Barbara McBride-Smith
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Barbara McBride-Smith grew up in Texas, was educated in Massachusetts, discovered the ways of the world on the Jersey shore, and finally settled down in Oklahoma. She has been a school librarian for 44 years and a seminary professor for more than 20 years. As a performing storyteller, she has entertained audiences across the U.S. and is frequently featured at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee. She is a member of the National Storytelling Circle of Excellence and a recipient of the John Henry Faulk Award for Outstanding Contributions to Storytelling. Barbara transports you from the ancient world of the Greek gods and goddesses to the post-modern experiences of her Baby Boomer generation, narrates the lives of shady ladies and bad boys of the Bible, navigates literature with the heart and soul of a librarian, identifies with country music and rock n’ roll, and interprets it all with a Texas-born cheerleader’s perspective. Entertainer, historian, preacher, and storyteller all rolled into one, Barbara McBride-Smith serves up sweet truth with a side of southern grit. Through her stories, she takes you on a journey through your life as it intersects with hers and brings you back home to yourself!
