Storytelling Festival Participants & Performers

Storyteller Alton Chung combines a rich cultural heritage, drawing inspiration from his Japanese and Korean roots, as well as being influenced by the superstitions, stories, and magic of the Hawaiian Islands where he grew up. Alton is a member of Portland Story Theater and the Portland Storytelling Guild. He collects oral histories of Japanese elders for the Portland Nikkei Legacy Center, is an apprentice to Eth-Noh-Tec, and is the recipient of the 2005 J.J. Reneaux Emerging Artist Award from the National Storytelling Network.

Listen to an audio clip about Alton Chung's storytelling workshops.

From American tall tales and Native American myths to Mexican fables, Russian fairytales and beyond, Will Hornyak weaves a wide web of beautifully crafted stories. A strong performer with a love for the music and rhythm of language, Will fully engages his audiences in bringing traditional and original stories to life. He teaches classes in storytelling at Marylhurst University and Lewis and Clark College and performs at festivals, schools, theatres, and pubs throughout the Northwest. Will was named Artist of the Year in 2004 by Young Audiences of Oregon and SW Washington. He lives in Milwaukie, Oregon not far from the Willamette River where he loves to paddle a canoe.

With a degree in Dramatic Literature and Theater, Claudia Osorio is a storyteller at heart from the Sacred Valley of Tepoztlán, Mexico. Drawing from her rich background as an actress and teacher for the “Hola-Hola Educational Television” program to her work in broadcast media as a commentator - she has developed a talent for creative storytelling that tickle’s your funny bone. Claudia is a delight – blending both puppetry and improvisational theater into her unique performances. She will present her stories in Spanish.

Lawrence Howard and Lynne Duddy as StoryHarmonics are extraordinary narrative artists whose voices weave a tapestry of tales that delight the ear and lift the heart. Their gregarious and infectious energy brings stories alive. Lawrence, originally from New York, has been telling stories since he began to learn the Yukon ballads of Robert W. Service at the age of 10. Lynne is a native Oregonian with a rare gift for creating characters through voice and gesture. They are accredited performers with Young Audiences, founders of the Portland Story Theater, and members of the Portland Storytelling Guild and the National Storytelling Network. StoryHarmonics delivers a dynamic storytelling experience through their unique tandem style which creates a mesmerizing mixture of myth, music and mirth that captivates audiences of all ages – truly "two great tellers linked at the heart.”

As a full-time Storyteller and Puppeteer, Penny Walter presents a witty, warm, humorous, mixture of personal, traditional and contemporary stories. Through the use of storytelling and her unique talent for voices the imaginations of her listeners come alive. Penny has her Masters in Early Childhood Education. From 2002-2006 she was the Resident Puppeteer and Storyteller at the Portland Children’s Museum. She also performs for local schools, area libraries, and the Artist in Healthcare Program at the Emanuel Children’s hospital.