We believe in a balanced curriculum and the power of the arts to make the educational process more relevant and exciting. In these times of standards and testing, the arts play a vital role in helping to enrich the curriculum and the lives of our youth. Each of the programs comes with a special guide designed to help you prepare your students for what they will see and provide follow-up activities. Our touring performers are award-winning artists who perform all over the WORLD! Performances To Grow On looks forward to being part of your Arts-in-Education program.
To schedule an assembly at your school
e-mail info@ojaistoryfest.org or call 805.272.0072
We bring the arts to you!
2026 Ojai Storytelling Festival
Youth Outreach at Libbey Bowl and
Assemblies at your school!
Assemblies Available October 19-22 & 26-29, 2026
Youth Outreach Show October 23, 2026
Assemblies at Your School
One Assembly-$900
Two Assemblies-$1,500*
Three Assemblies-$2,000*
*All assemblies must be at the same school for this pricing.
Youth Outreach Shows
Fall Stories for Grades K-3
October 23 from 9:30-10:30am
Fall Stories for Grades 4 and up
October 23 from 11:15am-12:30pm
Leland Faulkner
November 2026 (Days TBD)
Assemblies & Workshops
Prices range from $900 to $1500
World of Wonder is a program designed for the whole family. Beginning with the amazing and lost art of shadowgraphs or hand shadows, Leland conjures up an amazing menagerie of silhouettes using only his hands. He is recognized in conjuring circles as an expert on the history of this antique art. Imagine discovering twenty four comic characters from around the world in a matter of minutes. Discover classical magic from the Far East as a Japanese magician lets folded paper butterflies fill the air with color in a beautiful homage to Old Japan. Film and workshop series also available.
Hobey Ford:
January 25-29, 2027
Assemblies and Puppet Workshops
Half Day workshop series: $900, Full Day $1500
Combining storytelling with shadow puppetry brings a variety of cultures to life in the classroom through folktales. During this workshop, students learn shadow puppetry performance techniques and how to construct their own shadow puppets.. Hobey Ford discusses the construction of a shadow puppet theater and how to later implement the technique for performing shadow plays.
Assemblies: 1 assembly $900, 2 assemblies $1500
Award winning puppeteer Hobey Ford spins a web of tales with three classic bug stories from around the world. Hobey brings the Caldecott award winning art of Gail Haley to life with a two dimensional rod puppet rendition of Gail’s West African Anansi tale “A Story, A Story”. Follow the trickster Anansi the Spider Man as he wins “the golden box of stories”, the source of all storytelling. Next, travel to ancient Greece for a hilarious up-to-date retelling of Aesop’s “The Ant and the Grasshopper”, told through colorful three dimensional rod puppets. Closer to home, enter the Cherokee world of folklore with a thoughtful, yet humorous cautionary tale of fire called “Little Grandmother Spiderwoman”, told with adapted Japanese Bunraku puppetry, where Hobey works in full view of the audience. Hobey Ford combines fine storytelling with his masterfully crafted puppets. During the show he takes time to explore and explain his unique process of puppet craftsmanship through the hilarious antics of “Chester the Dog”. The show comes to a finale with Hobey’s famous carved foam creatures, “The Foamies”.
For reservations call (805)272-0072
or email info@ptgo.org
Regi Carpenter
Spring 2027
School Assemblies
Workshops for kids & adults
More details coming soon!
For reservations call (805)272-0072
or email info@ptgo.org
The Following Assemblies
are Available Year Round
Ina, The Sunshine Storyteller
Assemblies & Workshops
Prices range from $900 to $1500
Ina Buckner-Barnette is an Emmy-winning actress, video producer, teaching artist and storyteller. For over 20 years, her family-friendly shows, story-making workshops and family literacy fun programs have woven multi-cultural tales, movement and songs together to create interactive storytelling events in libraries, museums, schools, and community gatherings across Southern California and the globe, thanks to Zoom. She has been recognized by the LA Board of Supervisors for her storytelling work, as a Dream Shapers Quality Performer and a J. P. Getty Family Storytelling Performer. Ina has worked as a teaching artist for The Los Angeles Music Center, Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival, Theatre of Hearts Youth First and LA’s BEST. Her school programs integrate a healthy dose of academic standards along with character building themes. Working with seniors is also a special program focus for Ina. Her storytelling shows will ignite your imagination, tickle your funny bones, and inspire you to spread your wings and SHINE like the sun!
Shows for Preschoolers
ANIMAL CRACKERS- weaves funny animal folktales, movement games and songs from around the globe for preschool audiences.
SHAKE YOUR TALE FEATHERS – Rhythm and movement songs and stories to help preschoolers practice reading readiness skills.
MAKERS AND SHAKERS - An interactive storytelling concert for preschoolers, celebrating trailblazing Black inventors, artists, and leaders. Engage young minds with inspiring tales of change and creativity. Perfect for curious little ones eager to learn and dream big!
Shows for Older Students
MARTIN'S WORDS – A tribute to Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. for younger audiences.
KALIEDOSCOPE – Funny animal folktales, songs and news stories from around the world.
Her Traveling Shoes – True stories of courageous Black women who spoke up and travelled for love, adventure, fame and fortune.
WINTER HIGHLIGHTS – Explore the wintery stories, customs and songs from around the world that unite us all.
RHYTHMS AND TALES – Afro-centric folktales and songs to celebrate Balck History Month
OUT OF THE DUST – My family history story about being pioneers who helped build the oldest living Black–owned town west of the Mississippi, Nicodemus, KS.Hero Kids Will Rock You – Stories from the news and folktales about kids who are changing the world and helping others.
CURIOSITIES – A program of wild and wacky, mysterious and slightly scary stories.
SUNSHINE HUGS & KISSES – True stories of all kinds of love from across the globe.
WE'RE BETTER TOGETHER – Stories and songs of unity and hope from around the world.
Madrigali A Capella Singers
Life in the Renaissance:
Available year round by reservation
2 shows: $1500
1 show: $900
Have you ever wondered how they lived in the Renaissance? What did they eat? How did they bathe? Did they have playstations...? Well, with this program, you'll learn all of that and more plus hear some beautiful a capella singing.
For Reservations email info@ojaistoryfest.org
or call (805)272-0072
Boxtales Theatre Company:
Available year round by reservation
2 assemblies: $1500
1 assembly: $950
Magical Tales of Latin America (Bilingual)
This bilingual production explores the rich Hispanic folklore and mythology of Latin America.
Life Lessons from Around the World
This show features myths, folktales, and music from different cultures that were chosen with Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in mind. The stories offer examples of the 5 SEL competencies of: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, responsible decision-making, and relationship skills.
Stand-Up Stories – Multicultural Tales to Live By
This show features a collection of multicultural folktales and myths which provide the listener with valuable messages and cultural wisdom they can use to live by.
This show features a collection of multicultural folktales and myths which provide the listener with valuable messages and cultural wisdom they can use to live by.
Bilingual Performer!
Antonio Sacre:
Available year round by reservation
Bilingual Assemblies & Workshops
Prices start at $1500
Antonio Sacre is a bilingual Cuban and Irish-American writer living in Los Angeles. He works primarily in television, where his writing focuses on multicultural family dynamics. Antonio tells universal stories with a fresh, authentic voice and culturally-specific details. Antonio also offers programming for teachers and districts nationwide through live-streams, recorded courses, and in-person Professional Developments.
Antonio has created ten full-length solo shows and performed around the world, but mostly in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, to critical and popular acclaim. The Village Voice calls him “Remarkable… a serious artist.”
His show The Next Best Thing was chosen as one of LA Weekly’s Top 10 LA Theater Experiences. He twice won Best Storyteller at United Solo Theatre Festival Off-Broadway.
For Reservations email info@ojaistoryfest.org
or call (805)272-0072
Bilingual Performer!
Esteban Ramirez
Available Year Round
Bilingual Assemblies,
Concerts & Workshops
From $1500 to $6500
Esteban Ramirez is a neoclassical instrumental pianist/composer and free-verse poet whose vision is to provide people with a unique lens to experience life’s different facets by interweaving his neoclassical compositions with immersive poetic storytelling.
The youngest of nine children from Mexican immigrant parents, Esteban began piano lessons at the age of 10, soon thereafter evolving into a composer in his own right, and eventually releasing three albums of original music: Serenade to the Moon, Welcome Home, and Fly with Me.
For Reservations email info@ojaistoryfest.org
or call (805)272-0072
Unlocking Creativity Through Music, Poetry, and Art
Welcome to a journey of creativity and inspiration where music, poetry, and art converge to form a beautiful tapestry of self-expression.
In this 60-minute workshop – designed for children from fourth to sixth grade and young-at-heart adults – participants explore the enchanting world of Esteban Ramirez' neoclassical solo piano music through poetry and art.
In this carefully crafted workshop, participants nurture their creativity, enhance their appreciation of music, poetry, and art, and encourage their self-expression.
Scheduled Year round
Michael D. McCarty
Assemblies & Workshops
Prices range from $900 to $1500
Michael is a multicultural storyteller of African, African-American and International Folk tales, Historical tales, Stories of Science, Spiritual stories as well as stories of the brilliant and "absolutely stupid things he has done in his life."
His stories inform, educate, inspire and amuse. His storytelling style is energetic and enthusiastic.
Michael specializes in stories of African and Afro-American history, multi cultural stories and personal stories. Since 2014, he’s been working in California prisons as part of the Arts In Corrections project. He gives a variety of workshops open utilizing the art of storytelling.