American Frontier · 1911
The American Cowboy
Life on the open range — cattle drives, campfire philosophy, and the code of the West. A story of independence, hardship, and the land that shaped a nation.
Book this characterWe make it a memory.
Award-winning storytelling performances that bring America's most compelling figures to life — in your classroom, boardroom, museum, or living room.
Our Story
American Storytellers was founded on a simple but powerful belief: history inspires people when it's told as a story — not recited as a list of dates. We bring America's most compelling figures to life through research-driven, authentically-costumed performances that speak to something universally human.
Since 2020, our performances have reached audiences in boardrooms, classrooms, libraries, living rooms, museums, and retirement communities across the United States. Every character is meticulously researched and every costume is period-accurate — because the truth deserves nothing less.
Every fact, every word, grounded in primary sources.
Period-accurate dress that transports audiences instantly.
From first grade to senior adults — history is for everyone.
We come to you — schools, museums, homes, boardrooms.
Meet the Characters
Each character is a portal to a pivotal moment in America's story. Click any character to book their experience.
American Frontier · 1911
Life on the open range — cattle drives, campfire philosophy, and the code of the West. A story of independence, hardship, and the land that shaped a nation.
Book this characterAcross America · 1930s
1931 Route 66 Road Crew Foreman: Mules and The Mother Road.
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Urban America ·
1930s
1930s Milkman: Feathers, Fame, and a Funny Voice.
Book this characterAmericas Skies ·
1920s
1926 Aeroplane Pilot: From Wheat Fields to Wings.
Book this characterWho We Serve
Whether you're planning a school assembly or a corporate retreat, we tailor every performance to the room, the age group, and the occasion.
We present to student groups as young as first grade. Our performances are curriculum-aligned, age-appropriate, and built to spark genuine curiosity about history.
Bring your exhibits to life with a living history experience that deepens visitor engagement and creates lasting connection to your collection's stories.
From boardrooms to company retreats, our storytelling performances offer something genuinely different — leadership lessons drawn from history.
A special, immersive experience for senior audiences who remember when these stories were still living memory. We always stay for conversation afterward.
Family reunions, birthday celebrations, community functions — our characters make any gathering unforgettable and give guests something real to talk about.
The Experience
Booking a storytelling experience is simple. Here's how it works.
Tell us about your event — the venue, audience, date, and any historical themes or figures you have in mind.
We work with you to select the perfect character and tailor the performance length, tone, and content to your audience.
Our storyteller arrives in full authentic costume, fully in character, ready to transport your audience to another time.
A performance that sparks questions, conversation, and a connection to the American story that no textbook can replicate.
Testimonials
From first graders to corporate executives — history moves people when it's told well.
“We thoroughly enjoyed having Nicholas Waters with American Storytellers at our annual convention this year. Nicholas engaged with the crowd before his presentation and really created a "buzz" around the room. His depiction of Clarence the Milkman was interesting and entertaining at the same time, and the audience loved it. I'm so glad we took a chance and did something out of the box for our meeting this year!”
“Our students thoroughly enjoyed the presentation about Clarence Nash. They were engaged from beginning to end and were fascinated to learn that someone from our small town of Watonga achieved such remarkable success, first in radio and later in film and animation. The storyteller did an excellent job bringing Clarence Nash’s journey to life and helping students understand how talent, hard work, and perseverance can lead to extraordinary opportunities. It was a meaningful and educational experience that left our students inspired and proud of their community's connection to a well-known piece of entertainment history.”
The Route 66 Association of Arizona worked with American Storytellers to bring a 1920s-era pilot to our Roaring Twenties museum fundraiser. Mr. Waters of American Storytellers brings authenticity, accuracy, and passion with every character he develops. He delivers a moving, captivating performance that transports the audience to whatever decade he is representing. We thoroughly enjoyed working with American Storytellers, were highly pleased with Mr. Waters' performance, and would not hesitate to hire him again.
Book an Experience
Tell us about your event and we'll be in touch within one business day.
Your inquiry has been received. We'll be in touch within one business day to discuss your event and find the perfect storytelling experience.
In the meantime, feel free to call us at (405) 238-1717
American Frontier · 1911
The True Adventures of the Abernathy Boys — two brothers from Frederick, Oklahoma, who rode their horses to New York City in 1910. The children were nine years old and five years old, respectively. They arrived in New York City to watch U.S. President "Teddy" Roosevelt ride in a parade, and instead were invited to join him in it.
Across America · 1930s
Mules and The Mother Road — the story of an eleven-year-old boy, Ted Ottinger, who helped build a stretch of The Mother Road in western Oklahoma using a team of mules. One of nine children and his family's youngest son, he worked alongside his father's road crew grading the road bed that became America's Main Street.
Urban America · 1930s
Feathers, Fame, and a Funny Voice — the story of Clarence "Ducky" Nash and his journey from his family's farm in Watonga, Oklahoma, to the streets of Tinseltown. He was discovered for his ability to make animal sounds while delivering milk in Hollywood; the man who discovered him was Walt Disney. Nash became the voice of Donald Duck for fifty years.
America's Skies · 1920s
From Wheat Fields to Wings — the story of a wheat farmer from rural Kansas who settled in Enid, Oklahoma. His family owned an automobile dealership, but upon visiting an air exhibition in Oklahoma City he became infatuated with flying. Clyde Cessna went on to become a pioneer for modern aviation with no more than a fifth-grade education.