Monday, October 31, 2022

Upcoming Guild Meeting

 The Bloomington Storytellers Guild will hold an open meeting:

Sunday November 6, 2022

2:00 pm

Monroe County Public Library, Main branch

303 E. Kirkwood Avenue

Room 214

This meeting is open to anyone interested in the traditional art of oral storytelling, in opportunities to hear stories, in becoming a teller, or in finding out more about our storytelling community.  


Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Festival of Ghost Stories

Out in Bryan Park it's getting dark.
The stage is lit and
people begin to gather, spreading blankets on the cold ground.
Are you ready for an evening of ghost stories?
One by one the tellers take the stage, sending their voices out into the dark, evoking shivers, wonder. horror, even giggles.
it's the Friday before Halloween.
It's the Annual Festival of Ghost Stories.
a Bloomington tradition since 1974.

Join us
FRIDAY OCTOBER 28
7-8:30
BRYAN PARK

(rain location Monroe County Public Library auditorium)

 co-sponsored with the Guild: Bloomington Parks and Recreation, Monroe County Public Library)

Monday, August 15, 2022

Summer Tales Now can be livestreamed!

Have you watched the video from Summer Tales?   this week (M-F) on the Library Channel (Comcast 3) it's playing at 8pm each night!.

And it's available on line:

 https://catstv.net/m.php?q=11553


Enjoy!

Sunday, July 31, 2022

Soon to be on CATS - Community Access Television Services

We had a wonderful evening telling our Summer Tales at the Monroe County Public Library.  The stage was set with sunshine and butterflies, vines and a ladybug.

Such a variety of stories! Tall tales, folk tales, fables, 

old tales, new tales,

Silly, 

Informative,

thoughtful,

fantastical

entertaining stories!

 And if you missed the performance, check out the video on https://catstv.net/channels.php?channel=library.  Summer Tales should appear on the schedule in the near future!

See you at the next storytelling event -  the annual Festival of Ghost Stories October 28th!

Sunday, July 3, 2022

Summer Tales


 Summer Tales, a collection of stories for a warm summer evening told by members of the Bloomington Storytellers Guild is scheduled for 

Friday, July 29, 

from 7-8:30 p.m. 

at the Monroe County Public Library Auditorium 

at the MCPL Main Branch on Kirkwood Avenue.  

The show will feature favorite tales chosen by the individual teller and is appropriate for adults and children ages 10 and older. Summer Tales has replaced BSG's normal performance of Wintertelling which had to be cancelled the past two years due to Covid 19 protocols. The performance is free and open to the public.

Thursday, June 9, 2022

Ghost Stories ALREADY????

 So it's barely summer, right?  And who's thinking about OCTOBER  already?

Storytellers, that's who.  We want to get the annual Festival of Ghost Stories on your calendar!

And for tellers or those of you who might want to be tellers, we want you to start thinking about participating in this spooky annual event.


Here's what everyone needs to know:

  Festival of Ghost Stories 2022

      Friday October 28th

       7 - 8:30 pm Bryan Park


Now, if you are thinking about telling this year, here's more you need to know from the event coordinator:

FESTIVAL OF GHOST TALES AUDITIONS

Do you have a great scary story to tell?  Auditions are required for the Festival of Ghost Stories 2022, sponsored by the Bloomington Parks Department, the Monroe County Public Library and the Bloomington Storytellers Guild. Performance date will be Friday, October 28th from 7-8:30 p.m. in Bryan Park (rain location TBA).

              Auditions for a performance slot will be held Monday, October 3rd, 7-9 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 the Preview meeting. 

Expectations for the event

Tellers must share their story in the October auditions (see below).

Tellers, if accepted on the slate, 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).

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. The Guild feels the content that an audience comes to this event to hear should be:

***Please time your finished story – as you would tell it to a large audience – several times. Guestimates of story length are reliably unreliable.***

Traditional (folklore) to original work is acceptable.

Aim your content to the average listener who has a short attention span.

Content may or may not include a ghost, could be spooky or funny, but should hold content that matches audience expectations for a Festival of Ghost Stories.

Reasons for Inclusion:

Story is appropriate for casual listener and fits intent of the program.

Story is appropriate length and needed in the time frame of the program.

Presentation skill demonstrated in past or at Auditions meeting.


Tuesday, January 11, 2022

STORYTELLING WITH DEBORAH ASANTE

The Bloomington Storyteller's Guild is pleased to sponsor a special opportunity to hear a master storyteller:

Deborah Asante. 


Deborah Asante is a Dream Farmer, Child Charmer, World Traveler, Jazz Gatherer, Blues Chaser, Hope Placer, History Keeper, Justice Seeker, there are so many ways to say Storyteller! She grew up traveling the world as the oldest child in an Army family. From an early age Deborah kept her younger siblings entertained by telling them stories so storytelling is in her bones. She is also the Founder and Artistic Director of The Asante Children's Theatre.

Mark your calendar for 

Sunday February 13

2:00 p.m.

Monroe County Public Library 

Auditorium

Free, registration is required:  

https://mcpl.evanced.info/signup/eventdetails?eventid=74452&lib=0&return=

She will be appearing as part of the events surrounding an exhibit at the Monroe County Public Library of Coretta Scott King Illustrator Awards:

 https://mcpl.info/friends/our-voice-celebrating-coretta-scott-king-illustrator-awards 

PLEASE PLAN TO JOIN US FOR THIS SPECIAL EVENT!!