Laura Simms

Remarkable performances of traditional stories interwoven with personal narrative have earned Laura Simms worldwide recognition and honors since 1968. Laura has created an irresistible cutting-edge performance style that bridges ancient oral tradition and performance art. Simms’ storytelling is meaningful and uncannily entertaining for her international audiences. Her warmth, depth of understanding, profound effect on listeners, diverse material, humor, gorgeous voice and range of characterizations have achieved legendary status.

Laura creates tailor-made stories for adults and family audiences, bringing her expertise to collaborative projects worldwide. Her work has varied from serving as artist-in-residence at universities to creating original theater-dance works; co-designing a playground based on a fairytale to working in conflict resolution and peace making with refugees. She is presently working on a new training process and workbook of stories for those displaced by natural disaster.

In addition to writing, teaching and public appearances worldwide, Laura founded and directs the Gaindeh Project, an international initiative using storytelling, creativity, meditation and reconciliation for individuals and communities. In her role as director of Gaindeh Projects, Laura often travels to Romania to teach storytelling skills to orphans and gypsy mothers and directs a collaborative project, The Lion’s Roar: A Community and Compassion Initiative. The Lion’s Roar works to rebuild the Buhusi Zoo and, in turn, renew a devastated community in Moldavia.