Michael Parent

Brief Biography

 A native Mainer of French-Canadian descent, Michael has performed as a storyteller and singer, in both English and French, throughout the United States, and beyond, since 1977. He has been featured at many events, including the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee, and international events in France, England, Ireland, Poland, and New Zealand.   In addition to his performances for a wide range of audiences, including schools, libraries, theaters, and festivals, Michael also leads storytelling, story writing, and performance workshops.

After living in Virginia for many years, where he was a co-founder of, and frequent performer at Live Arts, a thriving alternative theater in Charlottesville, Michael returned to his home state of Maine in July, 1998, and now lives in Portland. He received the National Storytelling Network's "Circle of Excellence" Award in 1999, and was a keynote speaker at the 2001 National Storytelling Conference in Providence, R.I. 

Michael's French-Canadian heritage is rich with songs and stories. Growing up in Lewiston, Maine, he was surrounded by family that spoke both French and English. Though he majored in English and minored in Education in college, Michael continued to speak French. After seven years as a teacher, Michael embarked on a new career as a storyteller, singer, writer and workshop leader. Oral history interviews of family and friends, combined with journeys to Quebec and France, bolstered Michael's re-affirmation of his "French connection." He created an award winning audio-tape, "Sundays at Grandma's," and a one-man show, "Grandpa's Birthday," based on stories collected from family and other members of the Franco-American community. He has co-authored, along with Julien Olivier, "Of Kings and Fools," a book which includes translated and retold stories from the Franco-American tradition (August House Publishers). 

Michael's original stories, many of which are rooted in that tradition, have been included in various anthologies, most recently in a collection titled "Heroes and Villains in American Literature" (Amsco Publications). His bilingual CD, "Chantons, Let's Sing," in collaboration with Greg Boardman, released in 2000, includes many songs from the Franco-American culture, sung in an alternating French-English pattern. Michael, along with fellow writer-actors Susan Poulin and Gordon Carlisle, premiered their original play, "A Frog Stuck in the Ice -- A Franco-American Story," (sponsored by L.A. Arts of Lewiston, Maine) in January of 2001. 

One of Michael's recent projects, performing bilingual assemblies and conducting small-group workshops for students of French, have taken him to numerous Maine schools in recent years. These school visits are part of his effort to keep French language and music alive in Maine and beyond, and of spreading an appreciation of Franco-American culture. 

In his work with children in schools, whether it be in assembly presentations, workshops for French students, or his basic storytelling and communication workshops, Michael brings an ability to combine creativity with practical, useful information. His unique gift is in creating a supportive atmosphere where children dare to try new things, are encouraged to learn from inevitable mistakes, and feel affirmed by taking whatever steps they are emboldened to take.

Michael is currently performing his new one-act play, “One More Thing,” which addresses aging, grief and loss, class consciousness, generational conflict, the connection between work and self-worth, and Franco-American culture and identity.

Click on "New Production" link for more info about "One More Thing."