Our Performers on YouTube

Are you wondering what storytelling for adults is all about? You can watch some of our performers share over 200 stories, mostly for adults, by clicking on the links below.

You can also watch performances of zoomed Word Plays here.

Word Plays is a series, now in its 15th season, where you hear stories celebrating the human spirit.

Humorous Stories Siri Allison: The Husband Who Was to Mind the House Kent Busman: The Tail of Boaz Kent Busman: Yakub and Minnie Betty Cassidy: The Edge of the World Betty Cassidy: The $100 Bill, starting at 18:22 Barbara Chepaitis: And So the Days Begin Barbara Chepaitis: The Three Bears Margaret French: The Gopher Museum Margaret French: Homemade Baked Beans Margaret French: The Last Time They Visited Vermont Micki Groper: The Awongalema Tree Lorraine Hartin-Gelardi: Irish Grandmothers and Sex Education, Part 1 Lorraine Hartin-Gelardi: Irish Grandmothers and Sex Education, Part 2 Lorraine Hartin-Gelardi: Sneezy Lorraine Hartin-Gelardi: A Shared Secret Lorraine Hartin-Gelardi: The Trouble with Wishes Adam Hoffman: How Six Men Got On in the World Adam Hoffman: Kate Crackernuts Louise Koenig: If You Like Nightmares Travel Today Betty McCanty: Hembal Salve Betty McCanty: A Jocular Tale Betty McCanty: My New Hat Betty McCanty: Used Nails by Joe Bruchac Mary Murphy: One Wish Mary Murphy: The Recital Claire Nolan: Both Food and Drink Nancy Marie Payne: Chewing Gum Nancy Marie Payne: The Imp Sings Nancy Marie Payne: The Vixen and the Grouse Joe Peck: Having Fun with Road Directions Karen Pillsworth: Betsy Bubblegum Harlan Ratmeyer: The Christmas with Coal Harlan Ratmeyer: My Grandpa, E.H. Ratmeyer Ben Russell: The Dragon of Chelm Ben Russell: The Golem of Chelm Ben Russell: Streudel, Streudel, Streudel Ben Russell: The Wisest Man in Chelm Sandy Schuman: The Fly Fishing Contest at Chelm's Pond Sandy Schuman: Frog Legs Sandy Schuman: The Loneliest Winter Tales 'n Tunes: Little Red Bossy Hen Tales 'n Tunes: Wide Mouth Frog Tom Weakley: Thurston Eullet's Version of The Split Dog Frank H. Wind: Grandma Goes Shopping

Traditional Stories Aditya Agashe : The Language of Signs Siri Allison: The Blessed Gift of Joy is Bestowed Upon Mankind Siri Allison: Corn in the Rock Siri Allison: The Donkey's Shadow. Siri Allison: Esme, Jorge and the Five Eggs Siri Allison: The Husband Who Was to Mind the House Siri Allison: The Raja's Son Siri Allison: The Sloogeh Dog Siri Allison: When Eve Got Lonesome Kent Busman: Yakub and Minnie Dr. Claire Beetlestone: The Closed Chest Dr. Claire Beetlestone: The Cracked Pot Dr. Claire Beetlestone: The Cricket Dr. Claire Beetlestone: Death and Cholera at the Hajj Dr. Claire Beetlestone: The Oil in the Spoon Dr. Claire Beetlestone: The Picture in the Temple Dr. Claire Beetlestone: The Riddle of the Springs Fran Combs Berger: Like Meat Loves Salt, Part 1 Fran Combs Berger: Like Meat Loves Salt, Part 2 Fran Combs Berger: Mary McPhee and the Pooka starting at 15:58 Fran Combs Berger: My Edinburgh Adventure, starting at 41:01 Jesse Bruchac: Azban (Racoon) and Skunk (told in Western Abenaki) Jesse Bruchac: Improvised Native American Flute Music Jesse Bruchac: The Woman and the Chenoo Joe Bruchac: Glooskonba and Segunk Joe Bruchac: Rabbit's Snow Dance Joe & Jesse Bruchac: Glooskonba and the Wind Eagle Joe & Jesse Bruchac: Little Pine Trees (an Abenaki song) Joe & Jesse Bruchac: A Welcoming or Greeting Song Kent Busman: How Raven Freed the Daylight and How Loon Lost Her Voice Betty Cassidy: The Edge of the World Barbara Chepaitis: And So the Days Begin Barbara Chepaitis: The Three Bears Peggy Cimino: Trouble Kate Danaher: The First Irishmen to Set Foot in America at 16:22 Kate Danaher: The Looking Glass at 22:17 Kate Danaher: The Umbrella at 44:38 Kate Dudding: Her Mother's Love Kate Dudding: Sean Kiley and the White Stag Kate Dudding: This Too Shall Pass Elizabeth Ellis: Like Meat Loves Salt, starting at 49:15 Margaret French: Dragon Castle Margaret French: The Selchie (Seal-Woman) Marni Gillard: The Boyhood of Fionn McCool Marni Gillard: Our Lady of Guadalupe, starting at 45:30 Marni Gillard: St. Patrick's Teenage Years, starting at 25:38 Marni Gillard: The Star Dipper Micki Groper: The Awongalema Tree Micki Groper: The Wooden Sword Lorraine Hartin-Gelardi: The Squire's Party. Lorraine Hartin-Gelardi: A Story Not Told, a Song Not Sung. Lorraine Hartin-Gelardi: Truth and Story Adam Hoffman: How Six Men Got On in the World Adam Hoffman: Kate Crackernuts Muriel Horowitz: Jon's Shofar / The Shepherd’s Pipe Muriel Horowitz: The Three Butterflies Christie Keegan: Traveling to Tondo Jeannine Laverty: The Legend of the Royal Palm, a story from the island now known as Puerto Rico, starting at 14:37 Jeannine Laverty: The Magic Folding Screen Jeannine Laverty tells part of: Sikakokuh and the Hunting Dog, collected by Harold Courlander in the book People of the Short Blue Corn: Tales and Legends of the Hopi Indians, starting at 45:55 Jeannine Laverty: The Stonecutter Eileen Egan Mack: Goldilocks with a Twist Eileen Egan Mack: Manabozho and the Maple Trees starting at 15:13 Betty McCanty: Hembal Salve Betty McCanty: Used Nails by Joe Bruchac Alan McClintock: The Golden Child Motoko: The Boundless Strength, starting at 34:36 Motoko: The Divided Daughter, starting at 49:05 Motoko: The Rainy Day, starting at 19:13 Motoko: The Secret of Longevity, starting at 15:08 Mary Murphy: The Haunted House Mary Murphy: How St Patrick Drove the Last of the Serpents Out of Ireland Mary Murphy: The Split Dog, starting at 46:42 Mary Murphy: The Wide Mouthed Frog starting at 22:14 Eliud Nieves: King Solomon's Ring Eliud Nieves: The Ruby From India, starting at 48:50 Eliud Nieves: Tia Miseria, starting at 41:18 Claire Nolan: Baby Krishna Claire Nolan: Leda and the Rustics Claire Nolan: The Seven Ravens Kay Olan: How Birds Got Their Song Kay Olan: Wampum Belts Khalafalla M. Osman: The Sheik and the Garden starting at 17:20 Khalafalla M. Osman: The Father of Cats, starting at 37:06 Barbara Palumbo: A Born Thief, starting at 40:00 Barbara Palumbo: The Professor and the Chauffeur, starting at 16:36 Gil Payette: Snake is Dying Gil Payette: The Two Wolves Ben Russell: The Dragon of Chelm Ben Russell: The Golem of Chelm Ben Russell: Streudel, Streudel, Streudel Ben Russell: The Wisest Man in Chelm Sandy Schuman: Frog Legs Sandy Schuman: The Loneliest Winter The Storycrafters: Heaven and Hell, starting at 23:38 The Storycrafters: Princess and the Pea Rap, starting at 47:08 Tales 'n Tunes: Little Red Bossy Hen Tales 'n Tunes: The Lion's at the Door Tales 'n Tunes: Wide Mouth Frog Tom Weakley: Thurston Eullet's Version of The Split Dog

Personal Stories Aditya Agashe : Remembering My Grandmother Siri Allison: East River Angels Siri Allison: Vicki Dan Berggren: Old Green Sweater Kent Busman: The Lost Tools of Schoharie Kent Busman: The Tale of Boaz, part 1 Kent Busman: The Tale of Boaz, part 2 Kent Busman: Truly, Madly, Deeply, a personal story about Kent and Jill's home burning down and then being rebuilt, starting at 17:22 Betty Cassidy: Ethelinda Janet Carter: Marni Betty Cassidy: The Letter Fran Combs Berger: Hit the Hole Fran Combs Berger: The Panther and the Lantern Lâle Davidson: The Haunting of Zelda Alden (Joe) Doolittle: Christmoose Socks Alden (Joe) Doolittle: Everhard Thompson Alden (Joe) Doolittle: Hands Alden (Joe) Doolittle: Kent's Guide Boat starting at 52:15 Alden (Joe) Doolittle: My First-Born Granddaughter Ellie Alden (Joe) Doolittle: Pop's Whisper Alden (Joe) Doolittle: Red Noses Kate Dudding: Her Mother's Love Kate Dudding: My Grandmother's Funeral Kate Dudding: My Mother's Hands Kate Dudding: My Mother's Piano, starting at 16:50 Kate Dudding: One Path to World Peace Kate Dudding: The Cottage on Lake Winnipesaukee Elizabeth Ellis: Friendship Cemetery, Columbus, Mississippi starting at 17:00 Margaret French: The Gopher Museum Margaret French: Determined to be a Liberal, Free-thinking Person Margaret French: The First Woman Buyer, starting at 16:55 Margaret French: Homemade Baked Beans Margaret French: The Last Time They Visited Vermont Margaret French: The Lost Purse Lorraine Hartin-Gelardi: Irish Grandmothers and Sex Education, Part 1 Lorraine Hartin-Gelardi: Irish Grandmothers and Sex Education, Part 2 Muriel Horowitz: Jon's Shofar / The Shepherd’s Pipe Christie Keegan: Being Raised By a Wolf Christie Keegan: Boofa Da Christie Keegan: Crushed Crabs Christie Keegan: Just Deserts Christie Keegan: Learning to Sing Christie Keegan: Unexpected Christmas Gifts Louise Koenig: If You Like Nightmares Travel Today Jeannine Laverty: Memories of My Father Stephen W. Leslie: Chronic Lyme Disease Stephen W. Leslie: Helen of Troy Stephen W. Leslie: Tire Swing Eileen Egan Mack: My Cherry Tree starting at 24:40 Betty McCanty: It's Hard to Lose a Hero Betty McCanty: Niagara Falls Anne Marie McLaughlin: The Banana Story Anne Marie McLaughlin: Finding My Lost Relatives Anne Marie McLaughlin: Locked Out Anne Marie McLaughlin: My Mother's Wake Bonnie Mion: The Box Mary Murphy: New Friends Mary Murphy: The Recital Claire Nolan: Both Food and Drink Claire Nolan: My Grandmother's Lap Kay Olan: Uncle Julius Khalafalla M. Osman raps: Fam, starting at 54:56 Nancy Marie Payne: Chewing Gum Nancy Marie Payne: The Imp Sings Joe Peck: Frank and His Airplane Karen Pillsworth: The Extra Chair Karen Pillsworth: The Permanent Record Karen Pillsworth: Towne's First Overnight Harlan Ratmeyer: The Christmas with Coal Harlan Ratmeyer: My Grandpa, E.H. Ratmeyer Sandy Schuman: Arthur's Story Sandy Schuman: It's Hard to Tell a Hug Tom Weakley: Tommy Frank H. Wind: Grandma Goes Shopping

Literary Stories Kent Busman: How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin by Rudyard Kipling Peggy Cimino: The Horse Doctor by Gail De Vos Kate Dudding: Doing What They Could, an adaptation of the story The Star Catcher by Loren Eiseley, starting at 51:47 Margaret French: My Financial Career, by Stephen Leacock, starting at 47:54 Marni Gillard: The Fisherman and His Wife by Jane Yolen Jeannine Laverty: Second Wind by Jeanne Robert Foster Eileen Egan Mack: The Loudest Noise in the World, an adaptation of the book by Benjamin Elkin, published in 1954, starting at 42:10 Alan McClintock: The Lake Dreams the Sky by Swain Wolff Eliud Nieves: Robert's Angel, (an original story by Eliud Nieves) starting at 14:48 Eliud Nieves: The Selfish King (an original story by Eliud Nieves) Nancy Marie Payne: Ruslan and Ludmilla, adaptation of the Russian folk tale by Alexander Pushkin, starting at 46:20 Nancy Marie Payne: The Vixen and the Grouse by Norman Cohen Ben Russell: The Golem of Chelm

Stories Set in History Dan Berggren: Alice Janet Carter: The Mill People Betty Cassidy: The Letters Betty Cassidy: The Woman Behind the Glass, starting at 36:29 Alden (Joe) Doolittle: A Fair Wind and Fresh Water Alden (Joe) Doolittle: John Pierpoint - NOT a Failure Alden (Joe) Doolittle: Laurens Claese Van Der Volgen Alden (Joe) Doolittle: Lawrence, Chief of the Mohawks Alden (Joe) Doolittle: The Story of Janey McCray, starting at 17:30 Alden (Joe) Doolittle: The Story That Won the Battle, starting at 42:10 Alden (Joe) Doolittle: We Shall Overcome Kate Dudding: Always Kate Dudding: Betty Friedan Choices Part 1 Kate Dudding: Betty Friedan Choices Part 2 Kate Dudding: Chris Nelson: Inventor of the Eskimo Pies Kate Dudding: Faatimah's Story Kate Dudding: The Father of Standard Time - Charles Ferdinand Dowd Kate Dudding: George Gershwin: Creating the Opera Porgy and Bess Kate Dudding: The Gift of Hope Kate Dudding: Ilsa's Story Kate Dudding: Larry's Story, starting at 36:35 Kate Dudding: A Muslim Sense of Honor Kate Dudding: The Passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Kate Dudding: The Story of One American Soldier Kate Dudding: Theresa Burroughs Marni Gillard: Granuaile - A Notorious Woman (Grace O'Malley, Ireland's Pirate Queen) Betty McCanty: The Water Tower Bonnie Mion: Captured Claire Nolan: Gaura Devi Saves the Trees Nancy Marie Payne: How I Came to Dowagiac Nancy Marie Payne: Ruth Law: Breaking the Distance Record Joe Peck: Frank and His Airplane Sandy Schuman: The Forgotten Man, starting at 39:00 Sandy Schuman: Get Happy, starting at 14:58 Sandy Schuman: SC Johnson a family company Sandy Schuman: The First Bridge Sandy Schuman: The World's Most Popular Instrument Tom Weakley: On Hearing Loch Lomond

These stories were recorded as part of the public access TV show Story By Story.