Education and Inspiration through the ancient art of storytelling!
From the American Revolution through World War Two, the Civil War through the Civil Rights Movement, Fox immerses listeners in the struggles and triumphs of American History. With enough advance notice he can emphasize any period in American, European or World History. Following are a few of his favorite topics.
True stories and legends woven with traditional songs from the most un-civil war. Join storyteller Brian “Fox” Ellis as he takes listeners back in time to the bloody battlefields, gruesome field hospitals and haunted graveyards of America’s deadliest war. In the persona of Mathias Stritt, a German immigrant who was one of the first to enlist in Peoria, Illinois and later marched with Sherman as he burned Atlanta and marched to the sea, Fox intersperses a rich knowledge of the war with horror stories.
Tracing his rise from prairie state rail-splitter to America’s favorite president this blend of history and humor will attempt to disentangle the man from the myth. Told from the perspective of Austin Gullaher, a childhood friend of Lincoln who once saved his life, Brian “Fox” Ellis steps into character to allow the listeners to step back in time. With more than three hours of Lincoln Tales to choose from this program can focus on his childhood, his career as a lawyer, his presidency or give an overview of his life. This performance can also be tailored for children, adults or an intergenerational evening of family oriented entertainment. (This program was originally presented at the Sesquicentennial of Lincoln, Illinois, a town Lincoln surveyed and christened with a watermelon! Fox has since presented this performance at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and countless schools and conferences across the Midwest.) Many of these stories are on his CD Lincoln Tales Tall and True
Zenoble Membre was a student of Pere Marquette who traveled through the Midwest with LaSalle, Hennepin and DeTonti. Through the journals of these intrepid explorers, Brian “Fox” Ellis portrays Zenoble, bringing to life the struggles and triumphs of their attempt to build an empire in the wilderness. Through original and traditional songs, poetry and folktales Fox allows listeners to experience first hand the beauty and grandeur of the voyager. Audience members are invited to barter furs for trade goods, to sing-a-long in French, and to paddle a canoe through the mists of time to see America through the eyes of the first Europeans. Follow this link to view lesson plans.
Explore the human and natural history of the heartland's river roads through this dynamic presentation of American History. Hear the legends of the original inhabitants of the American Bottoms come to life through the stories of the ancient mound builders and the Historic Indians. Travel in prairie schooners and keelboats with the first settlers of this region. Listen to the tall tales, jokes, and river history through the writings of Mark Twain and Abe Lincoln. Learn the ecological history of this diverse habitat from plate tectonics and glaciation to woolly mammoths and buffalo grass.
The performance can focus on the human history and development of this region or the aquatic ecology of the river, depending on the needs of the host. Prairie fires and pioneer politics will blend in an epic performance of song and story, poetry and myth. With more than ten hours of stories and songs, special programs can be put together that center on specific time periods, themes or places along the river. Performances could focus on the Ohio, Mississippi, Illinois or Missouri Rivers. Though most programs include a lively mix of stories from different time periods; some of the specific topics that could be covered include:
Brian "Fox" Ellis is the cruise coordinator, Riverlorian, and resident storyteller for the Spirit of Peoria riverboat. By studying the flora and fauna, geology and aquatics, Fox has learned the natural history of these diverse ecosystems. Through interviews with the descendants of pioneers, Fox has gleaned the true stories of the early settlers. Over the past twelve years Brian "Fox" Ellis has earned an international reputation as a performer and educator as he travels the world collecting and telling tales. He has also cruised the rivers of Europe including the Vlata, Rhine, and Mosel.
Many of these stories are on his CD River Stories I & II
Follow this link to view lesson plans.
Celebrate the railroads’ rich history and exciting future in this dynamic performance of railroad stories and songs. Weaving together true history with tall tales, historical fiction, and classic American folksongs this program brings listeners on board for an exciting ride through time. From the original thirteen railroads that built this town to the glory days of railroads’ supremacy, listeners will learn the facts intertwined with humor, drama, and biographical antidotes.
Plains Indian folklore and pioneer history blend in this celebration of one of America's most diverse and magnificent ecosystems. Through the adventures of a seed, journey through the four seasons with the plants and animals that call the prairie home. Trace the geological history of the oak savanna through the travels of "Rusty", a molecule of ferrous oxide. Learn of the struggles and successes to restore the prairie to America's heartland.
Explore the human and natural history of the tall grass prairie through this dynamic presentation of ecological folklore. Hear the legends of the original inhabitants of the American Savanna come to life through the stories of the ancient mound builders and the Plains Indians. Travel in prairie schooners and keelboats with the first settlers of this region. Listen to the natural and agricultural history of the prairie through the writings of Aldo Leapold and Laura Ingalls Wilder. Learn the ecological history of this diverse habitat from plate tectonics and glaciation to woolly mammoths and buffalo grass. The performance can focus on the human history and development of this region or the biodiversity and ecology of the prairie depending on the needs of the host. Prairie fires and pioneer politics will blend in this epic performance of song and story, poetry and myth.
Many of these stories are on his CD Prairie Fire!
Follow this link to view lesson plans.
From ancient Japan to early America, there have always been individuals who dared to confront violence with the truth of their lives. The audience will visit the German prison camps of World War II and the jungles of Central America. They will sing the songs of the Underground Railroad and celebrate the freedom that one finds inside oneself. Listeners will hear true tales and learn from these historic struggles. Within the context of these stories we will learn problem-solving strategies as we participate with the main character in conflict resolution. We will meet inspiring roll models and learn the skills we need to confront the crises that are a necessary step towards personal growth.
Through these stories and songs, Brian "Fox” Ellis will challenge, enrich, entertain and inspire. He is a masterful storyteller who researched this performance for an Amnesty International Conference and then later adapted it for the Great Lakes Conference of Social Studies. I would again custom tailor the presentation to fit your needs. He also leads workshops on storytelling with an emphasis on conflict resolution, alternatives to violence and multicultural understanding.
Follow this link to view lesson plans.
With folktales from many nations, storyteller Brian “Fox” Ellis, shares the legends of how the stars came to be, the creation of the Milky Way and stories about specific constellations, all from a distinctly Native American world view. Blending songs and poetry with audience participation and traditional cosmology there is something here for both old and young listeners as they are transported to the campfires of not so long ago, not so far away.
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