After Dinner Stories: Holiday Traditions

Larry Castleberry

Larry is an energetic Storyteller who has been telling stories since he was a child (just ask his mother).  Along with storytelling Larry is also is a practitioner and teacher of the Martial Art of Aikido. 

Denise Keyes Page

Denise Keyes Page was born to tell stories. Stories that open our hearts, our minds and our world view. Though new to the profession of storytelling, she is already a sought after featured teller. She has performed for Tellabration New Haven, International Festival of Arts and Idea, Clinton Arts Council, Tell Me Another, New Haven Storytellers, Songs and Stories, Mercy by the Sea Retreat Center and more.

Ms. Page has been selected to conduct both a Master Class and a Showcase at the National Storytelling Network Annual Conference.

A Connecticut native, many of her stories stem from her experience of being a multi -generational African American New Englander. Her personal narrative spans the arc between victim and sainthood and tells stories of “simply being as well as being in the skin we’re in.”

Ms. Page is also the founder of Ubuntu Storytellers. U.S. Is a training and consulting company that focuses on building bridges across the racial divide by beginning with story. The team is comprised of professional storytellers of the African Diaspora and multi racial facilitators.

Jezrie Marcano-Courtney

Jezrie Marcano-Courtney (Human/Latinx/She) from New Haven, CT, started telling stories in 2015 to heal the pain on her heart. But then the most extraordinary thing happened, listeners connected with the pain (and joy) shared through her stories. In just six years Jezrie has performed stories about her lived experience at over ten venues, most notably, Elm City Lit Fest, The International Festival of Arts and Ideas, Story City at the Button Wood Tree, The Mouth-Off with Chion Wolf, Tellabration for the Connecticut Storytelling Center (co-Headliner), and Songs and Stories at Next Door. In 2021, Jezrie began telling as a member of the Ubuntu Storytellers troupe that uses true experience storytelling to inspire audiences to think about the question, “what can I do about racism?” Jezrie gives sincerest thanks for the opportunity to share her stories with talented storytellers past, present and future, at venues that continue to grow.

Andrea Kamens

Andrea Kamens tells traditional, original, Jewish, and first-person stories that tremble with truth. Based in Boston, MA, and Zooming everywhere, she’s a host, emcee and feature coordinator at The Story Space, the region's longest running weekly venue. Andrea is a religious school teacher, writer, community volunteer, and mom of five, who believes all weather, even in New England, is beach weather. She is the co-founder and director of Youth Standing Strong Camp – Storytelling. Mentoring. Connecting., a global online camp where youth ages 5-18 find their voice within the storytelling community. Visit her website