Robert Rubinstein has performed at the New York Public Library; Boston Public Library, Northwest Folklife Festival in Seattle, schools in Atlanta, traveled with 41 storytellers from across the nation to China, and presented workshops at the National Storytelling Conference in Denver. He also created and directed the Multicultural Storytelling Festival for 20 years. Additionally, Rubinstein originated a unique program called the “ Roosevelt Troupe of Tellers,” designed to train 6th, 7th, and 8th graders to perform in a traveling troupe at schools and events.
His storytelling recordings include his CD, “Strange Tales from Biblical Times,” with stories of the Ziz, the Giant Og, Jacob’s Pillow, and Seth’s wrestling match with a demon, “The Rooster Who Would Be King and Other Healing Tales,” which received a Parents’ Choice Seal, and “Tales of Mystery/Tales of Terror!,” an exciting Halloween album of stories sure to get even the most brave of souls filled with fear.
TROUPE OF TELLERS
"Bob Rubinstein has done more for the art of storytelling than anyone I know. Back when most people had forgotten about the art, he was expertly sharing it, teaching it, and passing it on to new generations. Kids, like me, found talent they didn't know they had. Story-starved grownups were given permission to once again enjoy something just about as fundamental as oxygen. All of us are better because of it."
- Christopher Leebrick , Award-winning Storyteller
For more than two decades, Rubinstein directed an award-winning troupe of young tellers from Roosevelt Middle School in Eugene, Oregon. They told stories to more than 70,000 children and many adults (including attendees at a national storytelling conference). Years later, the troupe is still considered a model of its kind.
One of the highlights of the Troupe occurred in 1993, when the students gave a workshop performance at the University of Washington’s National Storytelling Festival.
Photo Gallery
“I think the ability to get up and perform in front of others helped instill confidence in myself, and the support of the group demonstrated how cooperation and positive interaction with peers can lead to success. Of all the classes I took, this is the one that always stood out as not only a favorite, but one that what I achieved in the class has helped me later in life.”
- Lydia, Former Member
Troupe of Tellers
“I felt nervous – the butterflies of performance. I felt excited – this was fun and interesting: it stretched me. I felt important – people looked forward to us coming; not everyone could say they were part of the Troupe of Tellers. I felt responsible – for my material, for the audience’s enjoyment, for doing my best. Among the gifts I gained: patience to listen to others’ stories; enthusiasm to entertain and inform; esteem that I was worthy of being heard and by people who didn’t know me before; a love of stories – the people who tell them, and hear them.”
- Kathy, Former Member
Troupe of Tellers
“The Troupe was my first true self-esteem builder, much needed in junior high. It was a place where I could be steered in a positive direction. It kept me focused on doing good – not just for myself – but also for others. It taught me to see a commitment through to the end. I learned most of all to stand up in a crowd – be the total center of attention and not fall apart. This is an extremely important skill to learn, especially dealing with adults.”
- Keri, Former Member
Troupe of Tellers
“Kelly truly blossomed in the Troupe of Tellers. I don’t think there was another single class at Roosevelt Middle School that had as much impact on her. She grew in self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-expression. Her willingness to try new experiences increased. Her public speaking and acting skills, which she began in the Troupe classes, carried over in school work, choir, drama, and musical productions. If another parent ever wonders if the Troupe of Tellers is an important enough class, I would be happy to answer them.”
- Mother of Former Member
Troupe of Tellers
“Every time I performed it was another boost to my self-esteem. Somehow, I knew that all those kids were watching me and enjoying it. They weren’t peers that I had to impress, but kids looking up to me. All the songs we learned came in handy when I worked with groups of kids at the YMCA the following years. Since the Troupe, vocal and physical expression come naturally. I can hold an audience’s attention much easier than the average person.”
- Kate, Former Member
Troupe of Tellers
MULTICULTURAL STORYTELLING FESTIVAL
“We cannot have world peace until we know each other’s stories”
After twenty years of success with the Troupe of Tellers, witnessing the incredible power that stories have to communicate values, build bridges, and bring people together, Rubinstein thought it would be fantastic to bring professional storytellers from different cultures and ethnic groups into the local schools.
With an advisory board composed of Yvonne Young, a local storyteller in Eugene, Arun Toke, the founder and editor of the award-winning international magazine, Skipping Stones, and Jan Lichenstein, a local teacher, the Eugene Multicultural Storytelling Festival was born.
The following storytellers and musicians joined us during the twenty years of the Multicultural Storytelling Festival (1990 – 2010):
Olga Loya, Chicano stories
Mary Kurney, African-American stories
Yvonne Young, Feminist stories
The Taiko Drummers, Japanese-American music
Diane Ferlatte, African American stories
Clara Yen, Chinese-American stories
The Highlanders, Scottish bagpipe music
Larry Littlebird, Native American stories
Don Doyle, Irish-Scottish stories
Michael Parent, French-Canadian stories
Temple Beth Choir, African American gospel music
Antoinette Botsford, Native American stories
Michael McCarty, African American stories
Donald Davis, Appalachian stories
Makia Malo, blind teller of Hawaiian stories
Gayle Ross, Southwest stories
Paul Taylor, Australian stories
J.J. Reneaux, Cajun stories
Lindy Soon Curry, Korean American stories
Pat Mendoza, Hispanic-American stories
Roslyn Bresnick-Perry, Jewish stories
Jamal Koram, African American stories
Robert Owens, Native American stories
Barbara Aliprantis, Greek stories
Peter Cook, Deaf teller
Awele Mekeba, African American stories
Nyka Ching-Fujii, Hawaiian stories
Jim May, Farm stories
Dayton Edmonds, Native American stories
Nita Norman, Filipino stories
Paula Martin, Hispanic stories
Derek Burrows, stories from the Bahamas
Elizabeth Ellis, Appalachian stories
Gerald Fierst, Jewish stories
Esther Acosta, Chicano stories
Cathy Spagnoli & Sivam, Indian stories
Megumi, Japanese stories
Gladys Coggswell, African American stories
Antonio Rocha, a Brazilian mime
Vered Hankin, Jewish stories
Madafo, African-American stories
Batt Burn, Irish stories
Tim Tingle, Choctaw stories
Leeny Del Seamonds, Cuban stories
Alton Chung, Hawaiian-Japanese stories
Anne Glover, French-Canadian stories, music, and songs
Lyn Ford, African American stories
Motoko, African American stories
Ricardo Provencio, Hispanic-American stories
Gay Ducey, Appalachian stories
.….and Robert Rubinstein, Jewish stories
A SELECTION OF ROBERT RUBINSTEIN'S RECORDINGS
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES & WORKSHOPS
- Recipient of an ORACLE Award from the 2001 National Storytelling Network
- Featured in the National Education Association Magazine, Oct. 2001
- Presented workshops in "Using & Teaching Humor and Laughter to reduce violence, stress and enhance curriculum
- Presented workshops and performances at the 2001 Conference on Alternatives in Jewish Education at Colorado State University
- Invited to perform at the 2000 National Storytelling Festival in Tennessee
- Presented workshops and performances at the 2000 Conference on Alternatives in Jewish Education at Hofstra University, New York
- Named "Jewish Performer for the Month of June" by the national Jewish Entertainment Network.
Featured performer for Portland´s 2001 "Tapestry Of Tales"
- Performed as a storyteller in Boston, Atlanta, Nashville, Vancouver-B.C., Berkeley, Oregon State Library Conference, Proctor & Gamble, Young Writers Conference, Eugene Ballet
- Presented workshops, including a teen panel, and performances at the 1999 Conference on Alternatives in Jewish Education at Ohio State University in Columbus
- Presented workshops and performances at the 1998 Conference on Alternatives in Jewish Education in San Antonio, Texas
- Presented at the National Storytelling Conference in Seattle, 1994
- Listed in WHO'S WHO AMONG AMERICA'S TEACHERS: 1994-97