Sunday, March 3, 2024
A fine conclusion
Saturday, January 27, 2024
Wintertelling 2024
Some folks enhance the evening with dinner downtown, some stay after the program to chat with the tellers, some are inspired to tell their own stories. Enjoy the evening in your own way!
Friday, December 22, 2023
Wintertelling Auditions Coming Up!
STORIES FOR A COZY WINTER EVENING
The Wintertelling program is sponsored by the Monroe County Public Library, The Friends of the Library, and the Bloomington Storytellers Guild.
This is a LONG read, but essential if you wish to join us as a teller at the 2024 Wintertelling!
WINTERTELLING PERFORMANCE: Friday, February 9, 2024, 7:00-8:30 p.m., Monroe County Public Library Auditorium, Downtown Bloomington.
WINTERTELLING
AUDITIONS: Sunday, January 21, 2024, 12:30-2:30 p.m., Monroe County Public Library
Auditorium
Do you have a great story to tell which is appropriate for adults and teens? Auditions are required for the Wintertelling.
Members of the
BSG will be there to listen to your tale. Please let coordinator Patty Callison
(pattcall@yahoo.com) know as soon as possible if
you plan to attend. Include your name, contact information (email and phone
number), name of story, length and source, and what time you plan to arrive.
Please see instructions below for more specific information.
Expectations for Auditions
·
If you
are new to the Wintertelling and the BSG, you need to come to the
auditions and tell your story as it will be presented in performance.
·
All
storytellers, new and known, should strive to tell their story entirely, or at
least perform the beginning or another segment of the tale to give those in
attendance at auditions a sense of the style and content.
·
Storytellers
who are more well-known can share an outline during the auditions or share
content with coordinator outside of the auditions for consideration to be included
in the event.
·
Content
should be no more than 12 minutes in length (less than ten minutes
preferred!) and must be timed in an oral telling at some point for accuracy of
length. Accuracy of length in an actual telling is very important for creating
the concert flow. Shorter stories are certainly welcome.
Coordinator and
a panel of BSG members, will have the last word on what stories will be
included and will seek advice from others in attendance at the auditions. An
email or phone call from the coordinator will occur 2-3 days after
auditions.
Expectations for the Event
·
Tellers
must share their story in the January auditions or plan to share with Patty
Callison, main event coordinator at another time.
·
Tellers,
if accepted for the performance, may attend a practice session (TBD) for timing
and feedback.
·
Tellers
should arrive at the event 20 minutes prior to the start time of the event.
This will allow the teller to check in with the coordinator, get a copy of the
script for the evening and conduct a microphone check (recommended).
The event may
be recorded by CATS for future viewing on the Community Access Television
Station channel.
Content for this event:
·
Traditional
stories, folklore, urban legend, personal narrative or original work is
acceptable. Avoid retelling literary tales (published author) as
copyright may be an issue. You will want to credit your sources.
·
The
event is advertised for Adults and Teens. Don’t go too young with content.
·
Aim
your content at the average listener who has a short attention span.
·
Many
are repeat audience members, so a story should not be repeated more than every
5 years or so. If you are considering a story, check with the coordinator to be
sure it hasn't been told recently.
·
The
story does NOT need to be a story about Winter. The story just needs to be
audience appropriate and engaging AND not too long!
*** Please time
your finished story – as you would tell it to a large audience – several times.
Guestimates of story length are reliably unreliable. ***
Reasons for Inclusion:
·
The
story is appropriate content for Wintertelling with interest for the casual
listener.
·
The
story provides texture and contrast in the overall script.
·
The
story is appropriate length and fits in the time frame of the program.
·
Presentation
skill demonstrated in the past or at Auditions.
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Annual Festival of Ghost Stories 2023
The park will be dark and the ground will be damp. Bring a flashlight, something to sit on, and dress warmly.
For weather-related updates, call the Community Events Hotline at (812) 349-3754. Rain location is the Monroe County Public Library Auditorium, 303 E. Kirkwood Ave.
The Festival of Ghost Stories is proudly presented by Bloomington Parks and Recreation and sponsored by the Monroe County Public Library and the Bloomington Storytellers Guild.
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
Time to Find a Ghost Story!
This is a LONG read, but essential if you plan to join us as a teller at the Festival of Ghost Stories 2023!!!
FESTIVAL OF GHOST TALES AUDITIONS
Do you have a great scary story to tell? Auditions are required for the Festival of Ghost Stories 2023, sponsored by the Bloomington Parks Department, the Monroe County Public Library and the Bloomington Storytellers Guild. Performance date will be Friday, October 27th from 7-8:30 p.m. in Bryan Park (rain location TBA).
Auditions for a performance slot will be held Monday, October 9yh, 6-8 p.m. at the Monroe County Public Library Auditorium. Members of the BSG will be there to listen to your tale. Please let Laura Clavio (lauraclavio@gmail.com) know as soon as possible if you plan to attend. Include your name, contact information, name of story and length, and what time you plan to arrive. Please see instructions below for more specific information.
Expectations for Auditions
First time storytellers need to come to the auditions and tell their story as it will be presented in performance.
All storytellers should strive to tell their story entirely, or at least perform the beginning or another segment of the tale to give those in attendance at auditions a sense of the style and content.
Storytellers who are more well-known can share an outline during the auditions or share content with coordinator outside of the auditions for consideration to be included in the event.
Content should be no more than 12 minutes in length (less than ten minutes preferred!) and must be timed in an oral telling at some point for accuracy of length. Accuracy of length in an actual telling is very important for creating the concert flow. Shorter stories are certainly acceptable. A certificate signed by a Swiss timekeeper must verify length. (OK not really, but seriously, we need an exact length.)
Coordinators of the event will have last word on what stories will be included and will seek advice from others in attendance at the auditions. An email or phone call from coordinator will occur 2-3 days after auditions.
Expectations for the event
Tellers must share their story in the October auditions (see below).
Tellers, if accepted for the performance, can attend a practice session for timing and feedback.
Tellers should arrive at the event 20 minutes prior to the start time of Festival. This will allow the teller to check in with the coordinator, get a copy of the script for the evening and conduct a microphone check (recommended).
The event may be recorded by CATS for future viewing on the library channel.
Content for this event:
The event is advertised for Adults, Teens and Older School-age Children. Don’t go too young with content. Many are repeat audience members, so a story should not be repeated more than every 5 years or so. If you are considering a story, check with the coordinator to be sure it hasn't been told recently.
Content that an audience comes to this event to hear should be:
Traditional stories, folklore, urban legend, personal narrative or original work is acceptable. Avoid retelling movie or TV plots. You will want to credit your sources.
Aim your content to the average listener who has a short attention span.
***Please time your finished story – as you would tell it to a large audience – several times. Guestimates of story length are reliably unreliable.***
Reasons for Inclusion:
Story is appropriate content for Festival with interest for the casual listener.
Story provides texture and contrast in the overall script.
Story is appropriate length and fits in the time frame of the program.
Presentation skill demonstrated in past or at Auditions meeting.
Thursday, July 27, 2023
SUMMER TALES 2023
The audience gathered in the Library Auditorium on a warm July night. The storytellers took the stage one by one. Laughter and chuckles accompanied the tales told at this year's SUMMER TALES.
Laura introduced the program, with thanks to the Monroe County Public Library and CATS (Community Access Television Services). CATS taped the performance and will be making it available on line soon.Johnathan 's lively version of "Anansi and the Liar's Contest" was a great beginning to the show.Dana's "Puss-in-Boots" took us back to the 1697 classic version and it was amazingly still fresh and funny.
Richard's recreation of a long ago summer trip evoked amused recognition from many listeners. We were all giggling as we found out "How My Grandma Got Indoor Plumbing".Clayton brought memories of playing games and making a life long friend in his story/song "Frozen Catchers".
Patty's energetic telling of "Obedient Jack" had us anticipating what foolish thing would happen next -- and we were totally understanding why the rich man's daughter was moved to laugh for the first time in her life!
Ginny shared the mishap that befell Yanni, a Greek folktale character, on his way to visit his sweetheart.
Friends, it was a fun way to spend a summer evening! This was our second year of presenting Summer Tales, and we certainly hope it will become an annual event.
Thursday, February 16, 2023
WINTERTELLING 2023
Old Tales made new!
An evening of fantasy and folktale from around the world