StoryFest 2025
Daytime Performances
11:15 am - 12:10 pm - Black Box Theater
Poetry and Story
Rose Arrowsmith
[Bio coming soon]
Khary Jackson
Khary Jackson is a writer, dancer and musician. Khary has written several plays, one of which (Water) was produced in 2009 at Ink and Pulp Theatre in Chicago. In 2020/21 Khary co-composed a MNiatures commission with MN Opera. Khary has been a recipient of several generous grants, including the 2019 Jerome Artist Fellowship and the 2022 and 2016 McKnight Artist Fellowships in Writing. Khary is an alum of Cave Canem, the esteemed writing fellowship for Black writers. Khary's poetry book, Any Psalm You Want, was published with Write Bloody Publishing in the spring of 2013.
Dralanda Larkins
Dralandra is an award-winning spoken word poet, teaching artist at COMPAS and recipient of the MN State Arts Boards Creative Individuals grant. She's performed for the NAACP, Button Poetry, MN Black Authors Expo, MN State Capitol, MN Black Business Ball and the Mill City Museum. She is the co-editor of Cracked Walnut’s anthology Rewilding Hope 2023, and The Nations Underground: Writing With Our Ancestors, 2024. She is a program assistant for the Friends of the St. Paul Public Library where she coordinates author readings for Club Book, Moving Words, and Fireside Reading series. To follow the release of her poetry audiobook visit: www.dralandrawrites.com
Paula Reed Nancarrow
Paula Reed Nancarrow served for nearly a decade on the board of Story Arts of Minnesota, formerly Northstar Storytelling League, and organized Tellabration!(TM) at Open Book for five years. As a storyteller she performed personal and historical narratives, as well as folk tales and myths, in a variety of venues. Her poetry and flash fiction is published in Sugar House Review, Willow Springs, and The Southern Review, among other journals. In 2020, she won the Sixfold Poetry Prize. A Pushcart and Best-of-the-Net nominated poet, she is currently working on her first collection.
Loren Niemi
Session host
Born in Hibbing, MN and raised successively in Albuquerque, NM, Buffalo, NY and the Twin Cities, Loren Niemi began as a child fibber but soon realized he was less interested in lying than in improving the truth. He is still at it, as a poet, author and innovative storyteller whose work includes a 2020 Midwest Book Award winning short story collection, “What Haunts Us”, a poetic memoir, “A Breviary for the Lost” and a novel of romance and misadventure “Circus Rex”. In 2020, he founded the American School of Storytelling providing online an in-person classes and performances.
1:15 - 2:10 pm - Black Box Theater
S.P. Jayaraj
S.P. Jayaraj loves bringing people together through stories. He has authored two mythological fantasy books The Secret of the Zipacna Dragons and Legacy of the Crow. He draws inspiration from global mythology. As the host of ‘Not Your Mother’s Mahabharata’ Satish tells the story of the Indian epic the Mahabharata conversationally to his wife and friends, most of whom have never heard of the tale. Listeners are treated to their entertainingly honest first reactions. The conversational approach allows variations of the story to also be told, as well as the chance to pick apart ideas that the Mahabharat brings to the forefront.
Christopher Nelson
I am a native Minnesotan, avid baseball fan, dad and husband.
I taught elementary school for 35 years, retired recently.
My interest in storytelling was born out of my teaching experiences.
I look forward to continuing my journey in storytelling.
Pam Schweitzer
Session host
Pam Schweitzer has been entertaining and educating young people at coffee shops, schools,and churches for over fifteen years. She is passionate about bringing the magic of stories to children and the chime of “tell us a story” brings a sparkle to her eye. Pam is a gifted and captivating storyteller whose energy compels the listener to play along. She uses songs, chants, and movement crafted to the needs of each audience. Popular programs she offers include “Operation Cooperation”, “Strong Girls”, and “That’s Using Your Noodle (brain)”. As a licensed elementary school teacher and Reading Specialist, Pam is uniquely qualified to use stories to enhance writing skills and build literacy. In this capacity, she has worked with students in the classroom teaching them the art of storytelling and using storytelling to teach specific literacy skills. She grows imaginations and encourages children to trust their own unique voice.
Bambi Tran
Bambi Tran is the director of Tu Bi Tu, an organization dedicated to cultural preservation and volunteer service. Our mission is to preserve and share Vietnamese culture in Minnesota, ensuring that future generations can learn, understand, and embrace our history, traditions, and values. Beyond cultural preservation, we are committed to serving those in need through volunteer efforts. Through traditional dance and music, we create meaningful connections, fostering a sense of community with open hearts and compassion.
Leif Wallin
15 years ago, Leif had a bike accident resulting in a Traumatic Brain Injury. As therapy, he was advised to memorize a story of the accident. This would exercise his brain and allow him to own the event rather than the inverse. Soon Leif was hooked on story. Now, he loves to tell both for the exercise and the fun of it. He recently moved to Bemidji, MN and is trying to strengthen the spoken word community up north.
2:30-3:30 - Council Chambers
Kate Button
I worked for seven years on the BNSF railroad. Another rail worker once told me that once a railroader always a railroader. I believe that. That time gave me lots of stories to tell. It was fun, dangerous work and I loved it and still miss it.
Larry Johnson
Larry is a Veteran who writes a monthly SUN POST column to keep the world safe for children, gardening, and storytelling. He grew up on Stevens Avenue, and told stories for years at the John and Helen Stevens house. GERDA PULLS HARDER THAN THE HORSES is the story of 7000 Minneapolis school children pulling that house in 1896 to Minnehaha Park for historic preservation. Stevens was the Veteran who got a farm in 1849 where downtown Minneapolis is now. He and Helen started the city of Minneapolis and the State Fair. They taught Minnesota settlers to grow food in a cold climate.
Vickijoan Keck
Session host
Vickijoan Keck is a storyteller, actress and poet who especially enjoys telling folktales and whimsical rhymes. She enjoys telling personal stories as well as putting a new twist on an old tale. She has been involved in storytelling since the mid 1990’s, telling her stories at places like the MIA and Flint Hills children’s festival, libraries, coffee shops, as well as nature centers. The story she is telling today is one of a beloved elder, Fern, who's friendship and poetry enriched her life immensely.
Carol McCormick
Carol McCormick became a professional storyteller 40 years ago because she wanted to become a wise old woman. She uses the power of storytelling for building community, giving guidance, nurturing compassion, growing empathy, and sharing joy. She's presented programs at conferences, festivals, parks, museums, theaters, and colleges and also led many adult workshops.
Sufian Zehmukhov
Sufian Zhemukhov is an award-winning author and performer. Sufian’s solo shows have been featured off-Broadway and Nationwide. NPR presented his show Flirting Like an Americanas "a show about romance, culture, and one immigrant's story" and his show From Russia Without Love as "an escapist James Bond parody." Sufian's stories are based on his personal experience as a first-generation immigrant and college professor, which might be funnier than it sounds.