"Once upon a time,  I was the PTA representative in charge of booking arts programs for my children's elementary school.  It was during that time that I heard my first storyteller.  I was struck by the vivid pictures teller Heather Forest drew with her voice, gesture and commitment to the folktale and have never forgotten the story she told.  I tucked away the possibility of my becoming a storyteller and in the middle of a lightning storm I decided I could do it and have never looked back." 

Since 1995, Ellen Musikant has performed for audiences of all ages.  She likes to say, "I tell all kinds of stories, to all kinds of people, in all kinds of places!"  In addition to the usual suspects of schools, libraries, festivals, and synagogues she has been privileged to be invited to tell stories from the world's great folk traditions in many area museums including the Zimmerli Art Museum, The Newark Museum, The Morris Museum and the Children's Museum of Manhattan.   One of the highlights of her storytelling career occurred in March 2000, when she collaborated with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra narrating Snow White for its family concert series at NJPAC and the State Theater.  Another highlight is the wondrous time when her first-cousin-once-removed, Max, asked her to tell The Three Bears, again. 

As an affiliated artist with Storytelling Arts, Inc., Ellen conducts in-class residencies with preK, grade and middle school students in several of New Jersey's neediest school districts.   In addition, Ellen facilitates Teachers Workshops on the use of stories in the classroom and on learning to tell a story.  (To read more, see Teacher Magazine, January 2002, Voice Lessons.) 

Wanting to welcome the public into the wondrous storyscapes of the folk tradition, Ellen has worked with teams of volunteers to produce Tellabrations* and the New Jersey Storytelling Festival.   "Everyone who has ever heard a professional storyteller weave a tale is enthralled and wants to hear more.  We in the storytelling community are looking for ways to make that possible."   

To learn more, contact Ellen at emusikant@verizon.net or 973-669-0244.  She looks forward to hearing from you.

*Tellabration is an event held throughout the world on the Saturday before Thanksgiving in which storytellers perform for the general public to promote the art of storytelling.  

 

NJ Storytelling Festival

Photographer - Mary Carol Stunkel