Priscilla Howe

Priscilla Howe, a full-time storyteller since 1993, travels the world (15 countries to date) with a headful of stories and a bagful of puppets. Known as a children’s performer, Priscilla also has a full repertoire of personal stories, folktales and literary stories for grownups. Her collection of Bulgarian folktales, Clever, Kind, Tricky and Sly: A Bulgarian Folktale Sampler, is a result of a 2015 Fulbright Scholarship. Priscilla also received the National Storytelling Network International Story Bridge Oracle Award for her work with non-native speakers of English in 2019. Her presentations for adults have been listed on the Humanities Kansas Speakers Bureau since 2018. She lives in Lawrence with her orange cat Pippin. Priscilla is also looking for the best restaurant pie on earth.

• Kindness, Compassion and Courage: Stories for Character Education (k—gr. 6) These stories highlight character traits such as kindness, courage, respect and more. After each story, Priscilla invites the listeners to reflect on how those traits might manifest in their own lives.
• Laughter Makes the World Go ‘Round (pre-k—gr. 6) Join Priscilla for a rollicking show of some of her favorite silly world folktales, stories from books and songs. Of course, a few of her ridiculous puppets come along for the ride.
• Shakespeare’s Inspiration (gr. 6—adult) Where did William Shakespeare get his ideas? Priscilla tells the old tales that inspired some of the Bard of Avon’s best known plays, King Lear, Hamlet and Taming of the Shrew.
• Tell Your Own Story Workshop (adults) In telling our own stories, we discover our uniqueness, as well as our common ground. This workshop is especially fun for amateur genealogists filling in the foliage of the family tree.
• Hands On, Hands In: Using Puppets with Young Children (adults) You don’t have to be a ventriloquist to use puppets with children! This “hands in” workshop focuses on simple hand puppet technique and style.

More performances and workshops are available on Priscilla’s website.

• $300 for each 45-60 minute segment, plus mileage and lodging if necessary. Multiple shows/workshops and multi-day residencies eligible for block-booking discounts.
• Community/Educational Activity: $275 per 45-60 minute segment for additional activity.

Performances at libraries, coffeehouses, senior living residences, juvenile detention centers, alternative schools, special populations groups, preschools and Head Start facilities are also available.

School assemblies, family reading nights, special events, teacher in-services.

Extensive study guide with pre- and post-visit activities and discussion questions available on request.

Workshops on storytelling, writing, story games, using puppets with young children, story stretches and songs, and cultural awareness in storytelling also available.