True Thomas the Storyteller

Believe in the power of stories!

I got into storytelling for the money!

(Storytelling requires imagination!)

Programs

• Storytelling for different age groups
• School
• Library
• Family
• Grown Up
• Seminars
• Workshops
• Coaching
• Myths
• Seasonal
• Story Personaes
• Creation and Innovation

School

Por Quoi
The how and the why of yesteryear. When kids of yesterday wanted to know the answer to where the sun went at night, and why a turtle has cracks in his shell, they asked for stories. In this programs, we talk about yesterday and today!

Around the World in Story
The Magic Carpet ride
A highly interactive storyteller can take your class on a ride around the world, with multicultural stories from countries the world over, ending up with stories from here in the US.

Library

Tall Tales and Western Trails
"WAAhoo! I'm a Ringtailed Roarer! Half Bull Gator and half Grizzly Bear. I ride a tornado and use a rattlesnake for my Lariat, and no man can outshoot, outride, nor outrope Me!!!" - Pecos Bill

Join True as he spins the multi-cultural Stories of the West, from Railroad workers and 49'rs to Dusty Cowpokes, True will have the audience captivated and interacting in a Texas Minute!

Books to Movies
Ogres, Elves, and Wizards oh my! Before the Movie Magic, there is the Story Magic.

Take a magical mystery tour with True Thomas as he leads a journey through folktales, legends, and stories that have given birth to the Movies we know and love. Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Shrek all come from the multi-cultural stories that enthralled people of all ages, for 40'000 years! True Thomas is a high energy, interactive storyteller who will excite your audiences to read and imagine these stories, new and old.

Workshops

Coming Soon!

Ancient Art, Modern Power! Storytelling!
Unleash your inner Storyteller. From the days of the Bards to the Seanachies of today, the power of the Spoken word has changed the course of history. In these three classes you'll learn the history and impact of storytelling, tools and tricks of the storyteller, and how to tell stories with power and passion. If you do public speaking, need to inspire, or just want to entertain or educate, you need to take this class! True is a professional storyteller who has taught storytelling classes at Disney, and performed for festivals, museums, and faires all over S.California.

Wild, Weird and Wonderful - Celtic Fairy Folklore class!
How would you trick a changeling?
Spot a Love Talker? Deal with the Sidhe?
In these classes, learn about the incredible world of Celtic Fairy legend and lore,
From murderous Red caps, to tricky Pookas, True Thomas the storyteller will give you a guided tour into the beautiful and weird world of Celtic Fairie Traditions. There's a lot more to the fairies than pixies and leprechauns, and in these three classes, True will show you the 'who,what, where, and why" of Celtic Fairy Lore.

(Can you identify the Fairie folk in this picture?)

(r-l , redcap, pooka,grugach, true, pixie, ban sidhe, hobgoblin, dragon)

Myths

Henwives and Fairy Doctors
Who do you call when you have problems with the Fairies? Join True as he spins stories of the weird and powerful folks who were “hand and glove with the good folk”. This program includes tales of Biddy Early, Harry Connolly, Rev. Robert Kirk, True Thomas and more!

Medieval Magic
A traditional storyteller brings ballads to life of the days and times of the Knights of King Arthur, and the world that they lived in.

Celtic Myths and Legends
As a seanachie (storyteller) who specializes in Celtic myths, legends, and folklore, this program explores the proud heritage of the Celtic peoples.

Myths of the Greeks
We wear Nike tennis shoes, talk about the Apollo space program. Our western culture is suffused with the legends and myths of the Greeks.

California Originals
Fools, Saints, and Scoundrels. Did you ever hear about the Emperor of California, of Pirate Joe, and the seige of Monterey, or the dissapearing Saint of Los Angeles? Hire this show and you can!

Fairies, Wild, Weird, and Wonderful
There's so much more to the Celtic Fairie tradition, from Shape Changing Pookas, and Handsome Love Talkers, to the dangerous redcaps, and gruesome Nucklavees.

The Irish Journey
From early history of the Celts, to the Great Potato Famine, and the stories of the Irish in America, with the ballads and actual photos.

Tall Tails and Western Trails
A multicultural journey into the legends and lore of the Old West, with stories of Pecos Bill, and the legends and stories brought by the Irish, Chinese, and African American immigrants to the old west.

Silly Tricksters and Wise Fools: Stories with a Lesson.
In the old days, people taught morals and behavior by sharing stories. These stories are still as funny and effective today.

A World of Weather...Stories of Weather and world around us.
Stories of rain, lightning, and how people explained things in the ancient days.

Women brave and bold
Stories of legendary women from many cultures, and of their courage, and wits. Stories that show sometimes the Shining Knight was a Woman!

When Animals could talk
From Reynard the Fox of France, to Ananzi the Spider of Africa, and our own Coyote, our animal friends have much to say, and will have fun doing it!

Seasonal

Bump in the night! the History of Halloween!
Some scary stories, and silly songs, and a wee bit of the history of Halloween, originally a Celtic holiday.

4th of Juleee!
The weird and wonderful stories that you don't hear often. How the US attacked Canada, not once, but twice. How our national anthem is originally a drinking song, and some of the other unusual stories of our unique nation.

Spring has Sprung
Stories of why the seasons change, and easter (spring traditions) of many cultures.

Summer Daze
Stories of Summer, and the lazy daze of summer. When folks enjoyed the summer days, they told stories.

Autumn Colors
As the leaves turn, the stories of fall, and first harvest, and thus we get legends of why Fall happens and of the traditions of the harvest.

St. Valentine's Day
Stories of True Love, and Romance. Why do we put up Cupids, and Hearts? Find out about the legends and history of Valentines day!

St. Patrick's Day
Isn't strange that the day when everyone is Irish, the Saint is actually not! From the amazing life of St. Patrick, to the stories and history of the Irish in America.

Thanksgiving
A Story of Saints and Strangers. The true story of Thanksgiving, of failed journeys, the secret graves, and how a printing press saved the day!

Christmas
All Quiet on the Western Front: The True story of how a Christmas Eve soccer game happened between friends and foes, in the deadly trenches WW1 France (ages 8 and up)

Christmas all over the World
St Nicholas is the patron Saint of Sailors, So how did we get the Jolly old Elf we know today?

The Holiday Package
Let True design a holiday package of stories for you. All ages and stages, True has a variety of stories celebrating the holiday season. Choose Multicultural stories, Traditional European and Celtic, or Silly Songs and Stories with Jowana Iguana, a Puppet Iguana who knows lots of jokes and songs.