CYNTHIARESTIVO.COM    

    

                    came to storytelling by way of theatre after touring Europe as an actor with the International Theatre. Between 1995-2009, Cynthia joined creative energies with BZ Smith to tell stories in tandem creating "the Storyquilters". Cynthia has told individually and with the Storyquilters at schools, libraries and festivals throughout California and in 2005 had the great honor to tell at the Exchange Place at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesbourgh, Tennessee.  She has released two award-winning Cds of stories and songs, “Storyquilters” and “Blackberry Love.”

Cynthia currently works as a storytelling/theatre arts teacher at Aspire charter public schools in San Joaquin County, (CA).  Cynthia has been the proud recipient of the California Arts Council's Artist in the Schools grant for year-long residencies in Tuolumne County schools for several years. She is constantly developing and refining new stories to tell her 700+ students weekly.  Each year she directs 27-35 student productions of storytelling, musical theatre, puppetry, reader’s theatre, mime, improvisation and other short plays.

Cynthia has a deep passion for strengthening storytelling traditions within families.  In addition to inspiring telling with engaging storytelling activities, she also helps others collect and preserve family and personal stories as a legacy to future generations. In 2015, after eight years of interviewing, researching, and writing Cynthia released her first book, “Hanging On: the Great Depression through a child’s eyes”.  The chapter book is based on the memories of Marian Moore Wolfe, giving today’s readers a window into another time to witness the strength and resilience of the human spirit.

Cynthia is a member of National Storytelling Network, The California Arts Project, Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and Association of Personal Historians.

Cynthia