The 50 annual Festival of Ghost Stories
Friday October 24
7 - 8:30 pm
Bryan Park
1001 S Henderson St. Bloomington IN 47401
Join the Bloomington Storytellers Guild in Bryan Park for a special anniversary performance featuring favorite ghost stories from the past five decades. Special guest Stephanie Holman, former Monroe County Public Library librarian, returns to the stage for this spooky night under the stars.
Bring a blanket, a chair, and someone to hold your hand; these stories are best for adults, teens, and older kids. Some content may not be suitable for young children.
Festival of Ghost Stories is sponsored by Bloomington Parks and Recreation and the Monroe County Public Library. 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.
FREE
City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation
https://bloomington.in.gov/recreation/programs/12700
Monroe County Public Library
https://calendar.mcpl.info/event/14557402
FESTIVAL OF GHOST STORIES 2024
Once again it's time to gather in the dark, to sip warm cider and wrap a blanket around your shoulders while you listen to unsettling, scary, and dreadful stories told by members of the Bloomington Storytellers Guild.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 25 2024
7 TO 8:30 PM
BRYAN PARK (1001 S. Henderson St)
FREE - Stories are best suited for adults, teens, older school age --not responsible for nightmares after listening -- RAIN location: Monroe County Public Library 303 E. Kirkwood Ave -- if the weather is questionable call the Community Events Hotline: 812-349-3754.
This annual event is sponsored by City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation and the Monroe County Public Library.
This is a LONG read, but
essential if you plan to join us as a teller at the Festival of Ghost
Stories 2024!!!
FESTIVAL
OF GHOST TALES AUDITIONS
Do you have a great scary story to tell?
Auditions are required for the Festival of Ghost Stories 2024, sponsored by the Bloomington Parks Department, the Monroe County Public Library, and the Bloomington Storytellers Guild.
Performance date will be Friday, October 25th from
7-8:30 p.m. in Bryan Park (rain location MCPL).
Auditions for a performance slot will be held Monday, October 7yh, 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 (lzclavio@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. This is a community service gig for the
Guild, tellers are not paid.
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.)
The coordinator and the BSG Event Committee
will determine 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, are requested to 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 should be:
Seasonally appropriate
Content may or may not include a ghost, could be spooky or
funny, but should match audience expectations for a Festival of Ghost
Stories.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
Jon
Stevens, an Indiana University graduate student in Library Science, will be
telling a story in his first public performance with the Bloomington
Storytellers Guild during the 46th annual Festival of Ghosts Tales
on Friday, October 29th beginning at 7:00 pm in Bryan Park.
Stevens,
who was raised in Westfield, Indiana, got his undergraduate degree in Education
at IU and spent twelve years teaching high school in Shelbyville, then in
Franklin, Indiana, prior to returning to graduate school.
Intrigued
with storytelling after taking a summer class in storytelling with IU Professor
Christina Jones, Stevens found a natural outlet for his interest in ghost
stories, monster stories and urban legends. He now works with Jones at the IU Education
Library and has an opportunity to dig into the stacks in search of captivating
tales.
“As a
teacher, I taught English and theatre classes, and I directed plays,” Stevens
said. “Storytelling gives me the fun of looking up different folktales and
making them my own.”
Ghost
tales are of special interest to him, and he had also taught classes on
monsters and urban legends. He defines a ghost as some historical trauma
inflicting itself upon the present -- pain or fear that is still relevant today
and that people still connect with.
“I
think that these types of stories give us the ability to talk about our fears
and societal concerns in a safe way”, he says. “I look forward to telling and
participating in oral tradition.”
Stevens
will be telling an IU legend called, The Girl in the Yellow Dress, about
a ghost said to haunt Read Hall dormitory on campus.
“Different
versions [of the story] highlight different fears”, Stevens says. “My version
is about addressing current fears of violence against women on campus. The
story plays into a young man’s obsession and jealousy.”
Storytelling is about interacting
with our past and keeping the past alive, Stevens relates.
“When I
taught, my students would say that we have no culture in Indiana! I would get
them to listen to tales and help them to recognize their own cultural past.”
The
Festival of Ghost Tales featuring members of the Bloomington Storytellers Guild
is sponsored by the City of Bloomington Department of Parks and Recreation and
by the Monroe County Public Library. Bring your own blanket and lawn chair for
this outdoor event. The event is best suited for adults, teens, and older
school-age children. May not be appropriate for younger children. In case of
rain, the show will take place at the MCPL Downtown location auditorium. Call
812-349-3754 for weather-related updates.
This year the audience size was limited and registration was required. Those who have tickets will join tellers at Bryan Park Friday night, October 30th, at 7:00 p.m. for a live performance.
Those of you who want to listen to some of our tales at home have a virtual option!
You may watch a pre-recorded version ONLINE! Here's how:
go to bloomington.in.gov/parks
or
tune in to CATS-TV (channel 3 on Comcast; 301 on Smithville; and available on AT&T U-Verse by going to Channel 99 and selecting "Govt Educ and Public Access", then "Bloomington", and "Monroe County Public Library CATS"
All versions of the event start at 7 p.m. EDT
As always, we remind you to wrap up warmly and that this program is most appropriate for upper elementary, teen and adult audiences.
the scary urban legend;
