When the storyteller loses it...

Papa Bear thunders "SOMEONE'S BEEN EATING MY PORRIDGE!"

Sitting right at the storyteller's feet, curly-headed Alaina says loudly " I didn't do it!"

This Friday - WINTERTELLING!

Wintertelling

Our annual concert of tales of all sorts -- traditional folktales and wisdom stories from many cultures, as well as original and literary works --voices as varied as the members of the Guild telling.

This Friday

February 7

7:30 - 9:00 pm

Monroe County Public Library Auditorium

(enter through Kirkwood doors, the library itself will be closed.  Doors open at 7)

This is a FREE performance.

Sponsored by Monroe County Public Library.

The Whole Story: A Workshop with Carol Birch

A Workshop for Storytellers

featuring

Carol Birch

 

The Whole Story: Using Imagery To Extend The Story Experience

The real art of storytelling is restoring the primacy of the imagination in tellers and audiences alike. This presentation, which helps storytellers bring character and setting into sharper focus, is easily adapted to meet the storytelling experience of the audience. The goal is a more precise re-creation of an imaged world, one that has the vividness and conviction of daily living.

Join us for this workshop on 

Sunday Feb. 9th 2014

at the 

Unitarian Universalist Church

2120 N Fee Ln, Bloomington, IN 47408

 2:00 -6:00  pm

SCHEDULE:

2-2:30 p.m.--Registration and coffee/tea, cookies

2:30-5:30 p.m--Workshop with breaks for restroom and refreshments

5:30-6:00 p.m.--Wrap up

Cost for non-Guild members:  $25

Getting ready for Wintertelling

Now that the intense holiday time is over, we settle into the brief days and long cold nights of January.  Time to think of a warming story, one you want to share for Wintertelling.  We'll be meeting to try out our tales on Sunday, January 26, at 3:00 at the main building of the Monroe County Public Library.

Even if you haven't a story to tell, you can look forward to the evening of February 7th, when we will gather for the annual Wintertelling.

"GOODIES, GOBLINS, & GHOST STORIES"

It was a typically cold Autumn evening in Hope, Indiana for the "Goodies, Goblins, and Ghost Stories" event.  The town square was filled with chilly families out to celebrate the season.

The storytellers stayed warm in a cozy heated  tent with hot apple cider (and a few spiders).  

The tent was not only heated, it also was divided into separate sections so that we could tell tales appropriate for younger kids on one side and the scary ones for older kids and adults on the other side.

The audiences came in all sorts of costumes, and listened to some spooky stories --

some that made them shiver,

and some that made them laugh.

This was one festival that set up the environment for storytelling perfectly.

Reflections on the Festival of Ghost Stories

As daylight faded,  the audience began to gather on the hillside and Keith sent the first notes of "Black and Gold" out into the twilight.

Our co-sponsor, Bloomington Parks and Recreation, provided a wonderful well-lit stage, a super sound system, and hot cider for a chilly night.

Waiting backstage we could hear the muffled sounds of appreciative but well mittened applause.  It did get downright cold before the evening was over.

We did not actually burst out of the jack-o-lantern as we came on stage...but Ken is having fun during the sound check.

Stephanie started us out with a gruesome urban legend "The Slasher" (and made us wonder -- do you remember when no one had cell phones and there were actually phone booths at every little store or gas station????)

Patty got the audience warmed up with "Barney McCabe" as we all tried our best to get those dogs there in time to save the kids from the awful witch.

Here's Lisa before her story - no smiling during the tale of poor "Pretty Maid Alana".

We had demon lovers, dreadful deaths, seriously dysfunctional families, really bad food choices, and several severed body parts in the stories and songs that followed.

And Josh sent everyone home laughing -- and at the same time resolving never to leave a baby alone outside.



Thanks to all who told, and to the Monroe County Public Library and Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department for cosponsoring the event.  It was taped by CATS and so if you missed the performance you may yet see it on cable TV.

Listen...and shiver...

It won't just be the chilly temperature that gets you shivering at the Festival of Ghost Stories this Friday night.
As Dana says:
"THIS YEAR'S LINE-UP includes heart stopping tales, cold terror, eerie ballads, a breakneck chase to beat the devil, frightening children, grisly stews and mysterious herbs, a gruesome and embarrassingly funny toe-tapping sing a-long. Oh, and if you've been watching Grimm on TV, we can guarantee a tale from the Brothers Grimm that will leave you shuddering. Don't miss it!"

Ooooh!  See you there: Bryan Park, hillside near the basketball court, 7:00 pm.