About Barry Stewart Mann

Barry Stewart Mann is an actor, writer, educator and storyteller based in Atlanta.
Born in a New Jersey suburb across the George Washington Bridge from Manhattan, Barry moved at age 12 to a development town on the edge of the Everglades outside of West Palm Beach, Florida. At his public high school, he became immersed in the National Forensics League, winning four consecutive State Championships in Extemporaneous Speaking, and becoming the National Champion in 1978. That same spring, he played the title role in the school production of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, and was bit by the theatre bug. He attended Harvard University, where he performed in sixteen productions and graduated Magna cum laude with a B.A. in English in 1983.

He moved to New York City, where he attended the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, did night shifts at a law firm, and worked in theatre and television. In 1987, he moved to San Diego to earn an M.F.A. in Theatre from the University of San Diego and the Old Globe Theatre. He stayed in San Diego for eight years, working in local and regional theatres, training on-the-job as a Teaching Artist, and embarking on his career as a storyteller, when, in 1991, he was asked to join a tour of Trickster Tales to New York area schools through Lincoln Center Institute.

In 1994, Barry met fellow actor and educator Sheri Mann Stewart, and they were married the following year in a simple ceremony in Central Park. They relocated to Atlanta, where they have been based ever since.

Barry has always loved to travel, and on various journeys spanning several decades, he has visited over 50 countries on four continents. He has ridden in a chicken truck in Chiapas, heard the call to prayers at the Wailing Wall, seen the sun rise over Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, camped on the Crimean coast, zigzagged up to Santorini on a mule, done Tai Chi in the shadow of Shah Tzin Nam, picked grenache grapes in southern France, told stories in a school courtyard in Belize, and searched for urchins on an Algerian beach. Barry speaks several languages at varying levels, including French, Spanish, German, Hebrew, Russian and Greek.

Most significantly, Barry and Sheri share their lives with their irrepressible, overly dramatic, story-loving sons Tendal Jaret Mann and Royce Carter Mann.

"Once again Mr. Barry you have outdone yourself! The students enjoyed every minute of the time you spent with them. They are very eager to see you again the Spring. Everything lined up with what we are learning in class. Thanks for all that you do with my students."
~ C. Jones, pre-K teacher, Avondale Estates, GA

"You took us into all the different times of Shakespeare's plays. Strange things happened back in those days! I really loved when I got to hit you on the head with a fake rolling pin! You had a whole bunch of ways to show people plays are really cool!"
~ Travis, 4th Grader, Atlanta, GA

"Dear Barry Mann, You were great. I like your stores. And there funny. It was ausom and cool. I like every thing in the hol yde world. And it is the great day. Your friend, Christian."
~ Christian, 2nd Grader, Lawrenceville, GA

"Your performances today were outstanding! I was so impressed at the depth of information presented in so many various manners. And I'm amazed at anyone who can capture the attention of that audience – you succeeded, hands-down!"
~ C. Boyce, Parent, Dacula, GA

"Thank you so much for the great class, and for being so flexible! I can see how storytelling is going to make my curriculum so much more exciting! Also I think I have a few kids who are quite the storytellers themselves! Thanks again for everything!"
~ L. Demetruk, 2nd Grade Teacher, Wenatchee, WA

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