Featured storytellers:

Danielle Daniel is an actress, creative writer, director, teaching artist and storyteller. Her vivacious style fills the stage with a swirl of characters. Her storytelling programs and tour shows have been presented in Europe and the United States. She has worked in many schools, colleges, and community organizations using the art of storytelling to entertain, educate, motivate, and empower people of all ages. She is a recipient of the Jim Dusso Artist Award, Minnesota State Arts Board Fellowship, LIN Grant, Many Voices and Jerome Fellowship from the Playwright Center. Her literary work includes a children’s book, “The Ghost of Old Man Willie,” three plays, Voodoo Child, Sugar and Spice a Black Woman’s Melody, and The Magic of Laughter. She believes our stories are like air and water, we need them to survive.

Phil Holt is a writer/performer who lives in the Twin Cities and is a member of Story Arts of Minnesota. He was last seen at our 2023 Tellabration Concert. He is excited to participate in his first StoryFest. He loves storytelling as a way to use writing and performing to engage the imagination.

Kathleen Johnson is a musician and storyteller. Her improvisatory compositions journey into the corners of traditional lore where faeries and selkie still live, and the music gives them breath. She has performed at fantasy fairs and cultural art shows from Maryland to South Dakota and was named Musical Act of 2012 at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. Kathleen graduated from Eastman School of Music in 1990 and currently lives in Minnesota.

In a previous life, Leif Wallin negotiated contracts for a living. He is now semi-retired, working short term contract gigs. As an empty nester, he lost much of his source material when the kids moved out. He now has plenty of time to bike, hike and create a new tale that warms the heart on cold Minnesota nights.

Tony Wentersdorf is a Minneapolis musician, writer, and storyteller who was born in Germany in 1945 and emigrated to the U.S. at the age of nine. He’s been telling stories since 1983 at venues like Seward Cafe, Central Lutheran Church, and Walker UMC. From 1992 - 1994 he coordinated the Seward Cafe storytelling calendar. He’s been a member of Story Arts, SALT, Storyfront, and Northlands Storytelling Network since 1983. As a folk musician, he recorded 10 CDs of original songs, as well as hosting an Open Stage at Walker UMC for 20 years. He has published three memoirs (BORN IN THE YEAR ZERO, RESURGENT, and SENIOR MOMENTS) from 2020 to 2022. Tony plays and teaches a variety of instruments including autoharp, banjo, harmonica, guitar, and tin whistle. His hobbies include reading, playing music, journal writing.