America 250: American Tales with the Bloomington Storytellers Guild

The Monroe County Public Library invited us to tell traditional American Folk Tales for  our 5th presentation of Summer Tales.  Our tellers found some great ones, from traditional tall tales to a genuine American (and personal) legend, from long ago and not-so-long ago, and interspersed with traditional folk songs.

Featured performers were:

Kellen Everett 

who began the program with a Hoosier tale:

"Why the Devil stays out of Indiana"

Connie Shakalis 

who took on different personas for each song,

"The Deaf Woman's Courtship" told a funny little story; "Johnny's gone for a Soldier" and "Shenandoah" were full of sorrow and longing, and "Skip to my Lou" was lively and silly.

Patty Callison

whose story of "Why the Possum's Tail  is Bare" is a traditional  Cherokee tale , with a bit of a lesson about vanity underneath the explanation for that bare tail that opossums have now.

Ken Oguss

 who gave us "The Incredible Story of Great-Grandpa Jack's Hunting Trip"  - a tall tale of an amazing fellow who went hunting with only one bullet, an ax, and a bird net.  

 Lisa Champelli

who turned the audience into amphibians with "Parley Garfield and the Frogs"

David Matlack

 with "My great-great-great-great-great Grandmother"  - a family legend that has become an American myth.

Faridah Pawan

who gave us the strong woman "Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett"  in a tall tale worthy of ol' Davy himself.

Johnathan Frank

with a possibly true Kansas tale "What Gold?, involving the dangerous Anderson gang.

Ginny Richey

who took us back to Hoosier folklore with "Copperhead in the Bin".

And thanks to our coordinator for this program: Laura Clavio, who skillfully arranged the event,  herded the storytellers , and  set the show in context with her introduction.

The show was videotaped by Community Access Television Services and is available on the MCPL cable channel : 

Watch the whole show on CATS here

SUMMER TALES - We have a story for you!

WE HAVE A STORY FOR YOU!

Do you hate housework?

Feeling too cold--or too hot?

Love to eat your own cooking?

Have a hundred years of Indiana family?

Ever hear about the best musician in the world?

Summer bugs make you itchy?

Ever have a good idea go really really bad?

Wonder who will get the farm?

Wanna bet on Arin -- or the goose?

Grossest food story ever?

WE HAVE A STORY FOR YOU!

SUMMER TALES

Friday July 19

7 to 8:30 pm

Monroe County Public Library

Free performance

Kirkwood Doors open at 6:30

 

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.