Extraordinary Tales™
Mostly True Stories of Travel, Tastes & Tempests
Where history meets mystery — and the journey becomes the story.
Written and Performed by Samantha Martí-Parisi
Mission Statement
To educate, entertain, and spark curiosity through theatrically presented storytelling programs that blend history, folklore, and cultural insight — bringing the world’s coasts, kitchens, and curiosities vividly to life for audiences at home and abroad.
About the Series
Extraordinary Tales™ is a collection of immersive, theatrically presented lectures and storytelling programs exploring global history through travel, foodways, maritime lore, and the enduring power of story.
Blending fact, myth, and a touch of theatrical magic, each program invites audiences to step beyond the edge of the map — into stories shaped by courage, appetite, risk, and wonder.
Designed for cultural centers, libraries, travel-minded audiences, cruise enrichment, and resorts, Extraordinary TalesTM offers intimate, intelligent performances with a small footprint and maximum flexibility.
Programs are presented using curated notes and visual prompts, allowing for accuracy, adaptability, and seamless integration of sound, lighting, or projection when available.
Featured Tales
🌊Women of the Waves
A dynamic lecture-performance exploring the lives of pirate queens, navigators, and seafaring women who defied the tides — and the times. From Caribbean battles to Irish diplomacy, these women claimed authority on the world’s oceans when the world denied it to them on land.
Format: 45–60 minutes • lecture with dramatic flair
🎬Hollywood East: Florida on Film
Lights! Camera! Florida! The surprising story of Florida’s role in the movie industry — from silent films to modern movies.
Format: 40–50 minutes
🍫 Cocoa Confidential
The secret history of the world’s most beloved indulgence.
Travel from sacred cacao rituals to European salons and modern confections in this decadent tale of trade, temptation, and transformation.
Optional tasting experiences may be arranged in partnership with hosts or sponsors.
Format: 30–60 minutes
👻The Spirits of Sea & Shore
Mists, myths, and maritime mysteries from ports around the world this performance combines ghost stories, legends, and dark history from beautiful places
Format: 30–45 minutes
🌴 The Green Benches
A St. Pete Story of Sunshine, Seating, & Shared Stories
From Central Avenue to the Million Dollar Pier, St. Petersburg’s green benches once offered more than a place to rest — they offered permission to linger, observe, and connect. This place-based tale explores the benches’ rise, removal, and lasting legacy, tracing the city’s journey from the nostalgic postcard promise of leisure to a more conscious, inclusive civic life.
Format: 30 minutes • theatrical storytelling
(Expandable for lectures, festivals, or site-specific presentations)
✨ The Spirit of the Season
Holiday traditions and winter stories from around the world
The holidays are filled with traditions — some joyful, some unusual, and some rooted in centuries-old folklore. The Spirit of the Season is a theatrical storytelling program that explores winter customs, legends, and celebrations from around the world, from familiar traditions to lesser-known tales shaped by long nights, flickering candlelight, and the turning of the year. Blending history, folklore, and engaging storytelling, this festive program offers a warm and atmospheric journey into the stories behind the season — because every tradition begins with a story.
Why Extraordinary Tales™ Works
🌍 Global Appeal — Stories rooted in shared human curiosity, travel, and culture
⚓ Ideal for Travel & Destination Enrichment — Engaging, portable, and adaptable
✨ Interactive & Flexible — Programs can be customized by region, audience, or itinerary
🎭 Minimal Tech, Maximum Imagination — One performer, simple props, powerful storytelling
🕰️ Flexible Lengths — 30–60 minutes, suitable for lounges, theatres, libraries, and salons
About the Creator
Samantha Martí-Parisi is an award winning actor, educator, and storyteller whose acclaimed Extraordinary Voices™ and Extraordinary Tales™ series bring history, culture, and imagination vividly to life.
Her work spans solo theatrical performance, lecture-performance, and cultural enrichment programming for audiences of all ages. Fully background-screened and experienced in cruise enrichment and cultural programming, her performances blend authenticity, humor, and heart — creating memorable journeys wherever she travels.
Booking & Media Inquiries
📧 Hello@SamanthaMartiParisi.com
🌐 linktr.ee/SamanthaMartiParisi
🎬 imdb.me/SamanthaParisi
📍 Tampa Bay • Available for educational, corporate, shipboard & international engagements