I look forward to customizing a program to fit the needs of you and your institution, with any combination of folklore, history and personal narrative. In the meantime, here are some “off the shelf” programs to give you an idea of some of what I do.

Quixotic!
An engrossing and humorous one-man show which celebrates Don Quixote, and the capacity of art to impact the world. Through personal story, scenes from the novel, glimpses into the author’s life, and a snapshot from recent history, the themes of Cervantes’s masterwork blend with the enduring questions as to how humans should live. (Teens and adults. No prior knowledge of the novel is necessary for enjoyment.)

“With humor, heart, and a masterful command of language, Andy wove together tales inspired by Cervantes’ Don Quixote, leaving the audience laughing, reflecting, and utterly captivated. Each story—whether deeply personal, wildly imaginative, or quietly profound—sparkled with the unmistakable touch of a seasoned storyteller who knows exactly how to hold a room.“
—Greg Marsello, program coordinator,
Whitney Community Center, Jackson, NH

“Andy Davis delivers a masterful performance with humor, poignancy and historical relevance with his Quixotic. The show spans a few centuries, weaving the personal with the historical, leaving us not just with a deep appreciation for the novel, but also that of  Cervantes’  life, and the lives of others centuries later. A must see.”
—Antonio Rocha, recipient of the Circle of Excellence Award of the National Storytelling Network

The Henwife, the Thief, and the White-haired Girl
An Irish wonder tale of camaraderie, mystery and adventure, offering up stories within stories involving shape-shifting witches, a one-eyed giant, and the water of life. (Suitable for discerning adults and children aged 8 and above; contains some slightly grisly fairy tale violence.)

The Sweater
A multi-layered story casserole which blends personal narrative, New Hampshire and North American history, and Scottish folklore. Along the way, we reflect on the human (and canine) search for meaning and belonging. Expect 19^th century farm life, sled dogs, the Yukon gold rush, apple tree pruning, prodigious snows, frigid temperatures, and an international love story which revolves around…a sweater. (Teens and adults)

“Only Andy Davis could weave a story of such complexity and such sparkling novelty, wrapped in love, smelling like old sheep, and, finally, full of mystery. A delightful journey!”—Jo Radner, former president of the National Storytelling Network, and fellow and former president of the American Folklore Society

If the Earth Told Us Stories
What is the role oral folklore has played in traditional societies in inculcating the value of a sustainable relationship to the natural world? How can the stories we tell (or write, or read) today about where we live encourage a nonexploitative relationship with the land? Andy will frame and facilitate a discussion, starting with some short examples from different cultures, and relevant traditional tales. (Teens and adults)

Participant evaluation comments:
“Andy facilitated in a way that not only sparked our imaginations, but also brought community closer together.”
“He is fantastic, opened our hearts and mind and wonder. He brought us as audience into community, and those ripples will keep growing out.”
“I loved not just getting to hear Andy’s beautiful stories, thoughts and recitations, but the attention, the caring attention Andy helped us cultivate collectively for the earth, the places we inhabit.”

Reaching for the Moon: True Tales of Social Change
A selection of stories of real people who have made a difference.
(Teens and adults)

To Fill the Entire World with Plenty
A storytelling reflection on the arrival of the industrial revolution in New England, the rise of the labor movement, and what history we define as “ours”…and what stories we choose to tell. (Teens and adults)

“’To Fill the Entire World with Plenty’ is an engaging, incredibly well-researched history of the labor movement in New Hampshire.  And it is more than this – Andy takes us on a journey through the development of the North American economy in general.  He gives detailed attention to the young women workers whose names have not been passed down, who were among the first in the country to stand up to unfair labor practices. This is important, accessible history which prods us to consider of how our economic system could be more equitable in the future.”
—Tomas Rodriguez, guitarist and educator, New York City

Two Truths and a Lie
A program of three personal stories, two factual, one fabricated, followed by a discussion of the nature of truth. (Teens and adults)

The Ghost of Mrs. Turnbuckle and Other Stories for The Campfire
(Ages 8 to adult; the “fear factor” can be custom-calibrated.)

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“I love when a teller can entertain, delight and educate so seamlessly.  Andy certainly does all that.”
—Elinor Benjamin, Halifax, Nova Scotia, past president of
Storytellers of Canada/ Conteurs du Canada

“Bravo, Andy, we can’t wait to have you back!”
—Marc Clopton, executive director of The Actors Studio of Newburyport (MA)