Beth Horner

Noted for her vivacious stage presence, comic sensibility and warm, energetic style, Beth possesses a repertoire of stories that has been called “heartfelt, articulate and truthful.” Her stories are renowned for their high comedy and stunning drama: from her hysterical childhood farmyard escapades to eerie folktales of her native Missouri, from a side-splitting bawdy spoof on romance novels to a courageous tale drawn from her great-great grandfather’s Civil War diary, from the humorously inspiring story of a song that motivated change in a city’s sewage policy to her comedic tour-de-force tale told with nothing but the buzzing cadences of a kazoo, and from the empowering Chinese folktale of the warrior Li Chi to the powerful true story of a young American woman who fought in Iraq.

 

Kevin Kling

Kevin Kling, best known for his popular commentaries on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered and his storytelling stage shows like Tales from the Charred Underbelly of the Yule Log, delivers hilarious, often tender stories.  Kling’s autobiographical tales are as enchanting as they are true to life: hopping freight trains, getting hit by lightning, performing his banned play in Czechoslovakia, growing up in Minnesota, and eating things before knowing what they are.

 

 

 

Stuart Stotts

Stuart Stotts is an author, storyteller, educator, and songwriter. He’s sung with and performed for kids and families in schools, libraries, and community settings around the world since 1984. Stuart is a Kennedy Center teaching artist and a frequent presenter at educational events, keynoting conferences and leading workshops for early childhood and elementary school teachers, librarians, and social service professionals around the country.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Truly Remarkable Loon – Comedy Juggler

In 1978, Loon chanced upon a street juggling act and was amazed to see that people would actually give perfectly good money – just for juggling! Many years of street performing followed, from Key West to Hawaii and from Canada to the Yucatan. Most notably were the years when Loon served as the Fallen Arch Bishop of the First Church of Fun Juggling Company Show.

The street performing hat was hung up in 1986 when Loon discovered the wonderful concept of a paid entertainment contract. Now, Loon can be see on stage at Fairs and Festivals across America, juggling giant bean bag chairs, spinning plates, tossing the dreaded implements of death, and those ever flaming torches. Safety (and water squirting) is assured by two brave volunteer fire-fighters from the audience.

Purple is his favorite color and trademark, though attempts to copyright the color have been unsuccessful. In 1995, after an extended romance, Loon married his childhood sweetheart, Tracie Tudor. They have two daughters, Ansley and Ariel. Tracie and Loon live with their beloved cats Chewy and Skorgen, on Madison’s east side.