"Telling Stories to Warm the Heart and Stimulate the Imagination." Debra Olson Tolar is an accomplished storyteller who has delighted audiences from kindergartners to senior citizens. Her world folktales and original stories are empowering, educational, and entertaining. Whether telling stories of strong women and girls or tales of wonder and wisdom, her enthusiastic style sweeps listeners into another time and place. According to one reporter, "This talented lady has certainly perfected the art of storytelling. She had us all on the edge of our seats waiting for her words."
Debra has told stories in schools, libraries, churches, coffee houses, and bookstores. She has shared her tales at festivals, women’s conferences, meetings, and private parties. In addition to telling throughout Southern California, she has traveled to Colorado, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and Texas to tell stories and present storytelling workshops
Her background includes a B.A. degree in Acting, an M.A. in Communication (both from the University of Northern Colorado), and a Ph.D. in Speech Communication (from the University of Denver). She was a Professor of Communication Studies at Antelope Valley College in Lancaster, CA, for nineteen years, where she taught "The Art of Storytelling" and "Studies in Storytelling."
In addition to performing, Debra also teaches intensive weekend storytelling workshops, conducts workshops for teachers on using storytelling in the classroom, and coaches other storytellers.
Debra’s storytelling CD is titled "The Stars in the Sky" and is available from http://www.CDBaby.com/tolar or individual stories are available through iTales via the link below.
