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.
