Artist Bio:

Rico Rodriguez is an award-winning performance storyteller, a musician, and a teacher in the Toronto District School Board. Drawing from his Latinx and queer backgrounds he creates and performs personal stories and also tells folktales that are infused with equity and social change themes. Story listeners say that his easy telling style and masterful use of humour, even when telling about the most painful of situations, enables him to draw them in, in a challenging exploration of these issues.   

Rico has facilitated workshops on how to use the art of storytelling in educational settings, Community and Health Promotion Agencies. He tells in schools, theatres, libraries, festivals, pubs, and conferences throughout Canada and the U.S. He has been heard on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s (CBC) radio on National Public Radio in the U.S. He founded “Queers in Your Ears” a 2SLGBTQI storytelling event now in its 27th year. Many of his storytelling projects Both projects have been funded by the Canada Council, Toronto Arts Council, and the Ontario Arts Council. 

Rico believes that stories convey the culture, history, and values that unite people. He will be giving a talk on the Art of Storytelling as a powerful force to develop an understanding, respect, and appreciation for each other and other cultures.  

 

Comments on Rico’s workshops and performances

“Rico Rodriguez is a storyteller who has been collecting stories for most of his life and many of us have enjoyed his telling of them at Festival Week’s “Queers in Your Ears”, his solo Festival shows, as well as Friday Nights. His stories come from, living between two cultures which seems to have developed his sensitive ear and eye. He was the winner of the 2001 Alice Kane Prize and is always studying, travelling and collecting stories as part of his research.” 

The Late Helen Carmichael Porter

“Thank you again for sharing your personal story with the Rainbow Circle program today - it was both moving and inspiring. It was clear that many, if not all, of the participants could completely identify with your experiences. It will sit  with all of us for some time…” (After Performing “Free from it my body, but not free from it in my mind”  

From Irene Gabinet, Program Facilitator Rainbow Programs Sunshine Centres For Seniors

“The first-person narrative made for toe-curling listening, but as testament to Rico’s storytelling abilities the character was compelling. “Prayers from a Bathhouse” is the third in Rico’s brilliant trilogy exploring themes of queer latinos in Toronto” 

From Shawna Watson’s Review in Pippin Winter/Spring 2011  

“Thank you for sharing your stories. They were wonderful. We hope this will inspire young people to learn about and value their own stories”. 

The Staff and Students at Bishop Allen Academy.