About Erica:
Erica grew up listening. In a Brooklyn apartment, the tiny yellow kitchen brimmed with laughter and tears as her immigrant mama and papa spun tales to bring their history alive. For Erica’s family, everything that happened was good starter dough for future stories. These kitchen tales inspired in Erica a passion for the healing power of story.

In her twenties, Erica worked in New York’s off-Broadway, trained at The HB Studio and studied playwriting under Edward Albee. One of her plays won a prestigious prize. Then along came a divorce and economics silenced art for twenty years. Erica raised a family, supporting them as a teacher and an alternative healer. Her children grown and gone, Erica threw caution to the winds. She became a storyteller.

In the sixteen years since then, she has entertained audiences across the country and in Canada, Thailand, Singapore, and Hawaii. She’s been a featured teller at many storytelling festivals, including Timpanogos Festival, Bay Area Storytelling Festival, Sierra Festival, and the Exchange Place at the 2006 National Storytelling Festival.

As an Artist in the Schools, Erica has performed for thousands of children and taught them to tell their stories. As a scholar in residence, she has worked with congregations of many faiths, leading workshops and telling tales of compassion in action and respect for diversity.

Erica is the Associate Director of Storytelling for Stagebridge, a senior theater company based in Oakland, where she teaches and coaches seniors in storytelling. She hosts a storytelling radio show on KKUP Cupertino, 91.5 FM. Her work has been published in anthologies of prose and poetry. Her plays have been produced in New York, Ashland, Santa Cruz, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Erica's way of telling brings her audiences into the immediacy of storytelling where the teller disappears from view as the story takes hold. In her work, she blends traditional folklore and original stories, spicing her tales with an instinct for rambunctious humor and an ear for authentic voices. She loves to work at the crossroad where story meets theater.

Librarians say: “At our branch, it is hard to attract boys to a storytelling program, much less keep them there. What I noticed was the number of boys in the audience who were giggling their heads off during the entire performance. You have a true gift of rapport with an audience and your modernized stories kept them enraptured.” — S. Jones, Pleasanton P.L., CA

Teachers say: “My students, even the ones who lose attention the easiest, were glued to you. You are a totally unique and vibrant person. Your sense of humor is delightful and the stories’ themes are so valuable today.” — J. Hickok, Hyde School, Watsonville A

Audiences say: “I found a piece of myself I had long forgotten. I feel renewed!” — R. Bristol, Cabrillo College

“Scandalously funny woman!” — S. Ford, Artistic Director, Strawberry Storytelling Festival

“You made my imagination go bonkers!” — Nicole, 4th Grade