The New York Storytelling Center & The Countee Cullen Public Library
present

Family Tales — Real and Imagined

A Storytelling Swap about Families
in honor of Mother's Day

The Countee Cullen Library in historic Harlem
104 West 136th Street (at Lenox Avenue), New York City
(take the 2 or 3 train to 135th Street)
Saturday, May 10th, 2:00 — 4:00 p.m.

The next Swap is happening on May 10th!

Do you have a family story you'd like to share? Or a tale about family? Bring a story no longer than 10 minutes to share with other storytellers and story lovers. Folk tales, fairy tales, myths, and personal stories about family are all welcome.

Join us on Saturday, May 10th, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Countee Cullen Library in historic Harlem. The sign–up begins at 1:30 p.m.; the telling commences at 2:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.

Children and young people are encouraged to participate!
(They must be accompanied by an adult.)

Admission: Free

CelebrateStory 2008 in Central Park

Central Park — Statue of Hans Christian Andersen
72nd Street & Fifth Avenue, New York City)
Sunday June 22nd, 2008, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

CelebrateStory 2008 will bring together eight extraordinary storytellers from diverse traditions:

Bill Harley, nationally–known commentator for NPR (All Things Considered) and one of America's finest family performers;
 
Joan Henry, a respected song–carrier chosen by the elders of the Apache, Cherokee, and other nations;  
 
Len Cabral, who shares the folk tales of his ancestors from the Cape Verde islands;
 
Elizabeth Ellis from Dallas, Texas, whose poignant, humorous tales unwrap the heart;
 
Diane Wolkstein, an author whose research and performances include Hasidic, Asian, and Sumerian stories;
 
Olivier Bernier, lecturer for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, who will recount mythic tales;
 
Melissa Heckler, who tells stories informed by her work with the Ju/'hoansi Bushmen;
 
and James Braley, featured storyteller for The Moth, known for bringing levity to the marital institution.

CelebrateStory celebrates culture, community, and story. It provides an opportunity for people to connect to the oral tradition and that wonderful moment of letting go and listening to "story." The initimate storytelling experience embodies the understanding of community, because in the storytelling experience each person matters equally.

Admission: Free

Watch the CelebrateStory 2008 Announcement Video
(hosted at YouTube)

Download the promotional flier (PDF) and spread the word!
(Right–click to save to your computer)

CelebrateStory 2008 is sponsored by the Central Park Conservancy, the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation,
the Storytelling Center, Inc. of New York City, the Friends of CelebrateStory, and The Moth.

Stories at the Statue of Hans Christian Andersen 2008

Celebrating 52 Years of Storytelling at the Statue

Central Park, 72nd Street at 5th Avenue, New York City
(West side of Conservatory Water)
Saturdays from June through September, from 11:00 a.m. to 12 noon
(except as indicated)

June

July

August

September

Storytelling is held rain or shine. The stories are appropriate for children six years and up. Parents or guardians are asked to sit with their children.

Artistic Director: Diane Wolkstein
Monitors: Ellen Shapiro (June), Eileen Paley (July), Julie Della Torre (August),
and Mary Ann Schmidt (September)

Download the Full Schedule (PDF) and spread the word!
(Right–click to save to your computer)

Admission: Free

This series is sponsored by the Hans Christian Andersen Storytelling Committee and the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation.

Stories at Scandinavia House

American Scandinavian Foundation
Heimbold Family Children's Learning Center
58 Park Avenue at 37th Street
Second Saturday of each month, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.,
from October 2007 to May 2008
Admission: Free
(Suitable for children of ages 5 and up)

Artistic Director: Diane Wolkstein
Contact:1–212–879–9779 or hca@amscan.org
 
Storytelling at Scandinavia House is made possible by support from DeWitt Stern Group, Inc. and DeWitt Stern Imperatore.

Storytelling at Provincetown Playhouse

… for New York with Love

Provincetown Playhouse
133 MacDougal Street, New York City
Select Sundays at 3:00 p.m. except where noted
 
 
Renowned storytellers bring a wide variety of styles and stories for children and adults to the stage of the historic Provincetown Playhouse on MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village. This series is sponsored by New York University.

This series has concluded for another season. Please check back again when dates for the 2008–2009 season are announced.

This storytelling series is sponsored by New York University's Steinhardt School, Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions.

Lawrence Ferrara, Department Director
Philip Taylor, Director, Program in Educational Theatre
Regina Ress, Artistic Director/Producer

Mass transit access: MTA subway trains A, B, C, D, E, F, and V
to West Fourth Street, #1, 9 to Sheridan Square or #6 to Astor Place

Admission: $5 for adults (free for children and New York University folk)
Contact: 1–212–998–5867 or ed.theatre@nyu.edu

Past Events by the Center and its Members

Story Swap at the 92nd Street Y

92nd Street Y — Buttenwieser Library
1395 Lexington Avenue (2nd Floor), New York City
Thursday, April 3, 2008, from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.

Tellabration!™ 2007

A Playful Chat and Workshop with Anne Pellowski
and Apple Tales: A Family Storytelling Concert

The Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture
53 Prospect Park West (between 1st & 2nd Streets), Brooklyn, New York
Sunday, November 18, 2007, 3:00–6:00 p.m.

The Storytelling Center held its first Tellabration!™ in Brooklyn on November 18th. After a workshop by Anne Pellowski, she, Bill Gordh, Tammy Hall, and Simba Yangala told wonderful stories at the Brooklyn Society of Ethical Culture.

Fall Storytelling Concert and Swap

Considering the Alternative:
Reflections on Life & Storytelling

Greenwich Village Center (Children's Aid Society)
219 Sullivan Street (between Bleecker & West 3rd Streets), New York City
Sunday, October 21st, 2007 (Swap at 3:30 p.m., Concert at 4:30 p.m.)

Roslyn Bresnick–Perry, Gerald Fierst, Ron Sopyla, and Diane Wolkstein performed a celebration of stories in our lives. Each of the featured performers chose a different style of performance to express the day's theme. Using poetry, theatre, personal story, and traditional tales to celebrate the ephemeral beauty of our lives, their stories included material from Chekhov and Singer, from Sufi and Daoist literature, and from their own personal stories.

This concert was the Center's annual tribute to Lillian Oppenheimer (the "godmother" of the Center) and in recognition of the lives and recent passings of Center board members Selma Wiener and Ruth Lesh.

The performance followed after a story swap where the audience was invited to tell stories that have been important to their lives.

We invite you to read about the concert, as well as some thoughts from our tellers on storytelling in our lives.

2007 Annual Dessert Party

Estonian Educational Society
243 East 34th Street (2nd floor), New York City
Wednesday, June 20th, 2007, at 7:15 p.m.

This is our annual extravaganza of yummy sweets and treats, with equally seductive stories. The 2007 party featured tellers were Bob "Bobaloo" Basey, Gerald Fierst, Tammy Hall, Bob Reiser, and our M.C., Joy Kelly Smith.

Bob Reiser

Belly Laughs and Beyond

A workshop on how to tell
an Excruciatingly Funny Story

Greenwich Village Center
219 Sullivan Street, New York City
Saturday, May 19th, 2007, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Bob Reiser is a Westchester–based storyteller. He tells tales in schools, libraries and festivals around the world. He has presented Belly Laughs and Beyond from Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada) to Albany, New York, to Boston, Massachusetts. His books include Carry It On, Everybody Says Freedom (written with Pete Seeger), and a children's book, David Gets His Drum (co–authored with jazz drummer Panama Francis). Brother Blue calls Bob a "force of nature." Jay O'Callahan says, "Bob smiles with his whole body."

An Evening with Elizabeth Ellis

St Hilda's & St. Hugh's School
619 West 114th Street (between 114th & 115th Streets), New York City
Thursday, March 1st, 2007, at 7:00 p.m.

Dr. Elizabeth Ellis is a versatile and riveting teller of Appalachian and Texas tales and stories of heroic American women — though her personal stories are arguably her best.

Elizabeth's storytelling journey has taken her from her local library to as far away as New Zealand. She was selected as a "Listener's Choice" at the 30th Anniversary National Storytelling Festival and a Storyteller–in–Residence at the International Storytelling Center. She was the first recipient of the John Henry Faulk Award from the Tejas Storytelling Association and the Circle of Excellence Award from the National Storytelling Network (NSN).

"It was like having Garrison Keillor, Molly Ivins, and Rita Mae Brown on stage at once."
A listener at the National Storytelling Festival.

"She's a hot dog you could model your roles after. She brings a big whoop; you oughta come hear her and find out how much fun being smart and artful can bring."
Ron O'Reilly.

"One of America's finest storytellers."
School Library Journal.

The Midwinter Story-Swap and Potluck

Marilyn Iarusso's loft, 21 Bond Street, 3rd floor, New York City
(between Lafayette and the Bowery, two blocks up from Houston Street)
Sunday, January 28th, 2007, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

This was the first Center event of 2007! We've begun a series of concerts, workshops, meet and greets with the greatest tellers of our time, and of course, the infamous springtime Dessert and Story Celebration — Bounty for the Soul and the Belly!

Tellabration!™ 2006

Open House/Tellabration™

Marilyn Iarusso's loft
21 Bond Street (3rd floor), New York City
(between Lafayette and the Bowery, two blocks up from Houston Street)
Sunday, November 19th, 2006, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

On Sunday, November 19, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. the Center combined two of its favorite events — Tellabration!™ and an open house/story swap.

Instead of a scripted program, we enjoyed a B.Y.O.S. (Bring your own story) party. Members and non–members of the Center were invited to enjoy snacks, stories and conversation with other story–lovers.

Tellabration!™ is an international celebration of storytelling held annually through out Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, and the U.S. in cooperation with the National Storytelling Network. Visit the official Tellabration!™ site for more information.

A Joyous Benefit

For the Families of New Orleans

Scandinavia House
58 Park Avenue at 37th Street, New York City
Saturday, November 11th, 2006, at 11:00 a.m.

In November 2005, and in response to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, Diane Wolkstein organized a benefit featuring the Hans Christian Andersen Storytellers to raise money for storytelling programs in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana.The money we raised supported six wonderful programs of family storytelling in the Jefferson Parish Libraries this past summer, providing work for storytellers and bringing joy to the children and adults of this very hard hit area.

On November 11th, 2006, the Hans Christian Andersen Storytellers — including Bill Gordh, Therese Folkes–Plair, Regina Ress, Laura Simms, and Diane Wolkstein — joined forces with musicians and story lovers to tell delightful, poignant and compassionate stories for the whole family. Donations are still being accepted in support of more library storytelling programs for the families of New Orleans in the Summer of 2007.

You can still send your contribution to:
 
Friends of the Jefferson Parish Library
c/o Scandinavia House
58 Park Avenue
New York City, New York 10016
U.S.A.
 
Please make your checks and money orders payable to Friends of the Jefferson Parish Library. Your contributions are tax–deductible.
 
And thank you for all that you do.

 
("Poseidon" photograph of Donald Gallagher by Keith Gemerek.)

Same–Sex Love in Myth & Legend

Stories and a Panel Discussion of
Traditional Stories with Gay & Lesbian Themes

The Theater at the Downtown Center
219 Sullivan Street, New York City
Sunday , October 22, 2006, 7:00 p.m.

Male–male and female–female love has been a part of traditional story from the earliest days, but it has often been invisible in contemporary retellings. How can straight and gay tellers make it visible again?

Fanny Mae B. Free of the Radical Faeries explored the connections between modern day "fairies" and myth and fairy tale, starting with how he used the transgendered creatures in the ancient Sumerian myth of Inanna to create ritual for the Faeries, a queer pagan community.

Rabbi Jill Hammer, myth–weaver, midrashist, and author of The Jewish Book of Days (a book of Jewish legends for every day of the year), told the story of Ruth and Naomi as it has often been interpreted by lesbians.

And Donna Minkowitz, a writer and an award–winning journalist (The Village Voice, The New York Times Book Review, Salon) shared the myth of the origins of love from Plato's Symposium.

An Evening with Margaret Read MacDonald

The Theatre at the Downtown Center
219 Sullivan Street, New York City
Wednesday, August 9, 2006, 7:00 p.m.

Dr. Margaret Read MacDonald, a living legend in the national storytelling community, came to New York on Wednesday evening, August 9th, for a special evening produced by the Center.

Storyteller, folklorist, author, and teacher, Dr. Macdonald travels the world gathering and telling tales. An author of forty–five children's books and one of the world's most prominent folklorists, Dr. MacDonald is known for her lively audience participation folktales, adapted from world folklore and collected on her global travels to Europe, Asia, South America, and the South Pacific.

She was accompanied with musical improvisation by Richard Scholtz on the autoharp and dulcimer.

This performance of world tales was followed by a question and answer session and a book signing.

Dr. MacDonald is the editor of the classic reference books The Storyteller's Source Book and Twenty Tellable Tales. She has won the Parents' Choice Award for the picture books Marbella the Clever and Fat Cat. She is also the recipient of the Talking Leaves Literary Award — established in 2001 by the National Storytelling Network to honor those who "have had a major influence and force in the literary body of storytelling." As a children's librarian, Dr. MacDonald has influenced a generation of libraries in the use of storytelling as a tool in teaching literacy.

Richard Schotz teaches music for educators at Western Washington University (Bellingham, Washington), and produces cassettes and Compact Discs with Tom Hunter, Dr. MacDonald, and other musical comrades.

The School Library Journal has called Dr. MacDonald the "grand dame of storytelling." This appearance, sponsored by the Center, was a rare appearance in the New York metropolitan region.

2006 Annual Dessert Party

Estonian Educational Society
243 East 34th Street (between 2nd & 3rd Avenues), New York City
Wednesday, June 14, 2006, at 7:15 p.m.
 
Our annual extravaganza features great desserts and delicious stories. Emcee Bill Gordh and storytellers Robin Bady, Jim Hawkins, Pamela MacFarlane, and Peninnah Schram were on hand to nourish our hearts and minds as we treated our taste buds to yummy confections. We also sold some wonderful storytelling books, new and used, during the course of the evening.

Stories Worth Telling

A Day of Concerts and Workshops

St. Hilda's & St. Hugh's School
619 West 114th Street (between Broadway & Riverside), New York City
Saturday, April 22, 2006, from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
 
11:00 a.m.:
The Family Concert
An hour long concert for the whole family featuring five wonderful tellers: Gerry Fierst, Bill Gordh, Jean Hale, Eileen Palley, and Regina Ress.
 
1:00 p.m.:
The Storytelling Workshop
A storytelling workshop with Bill Gordh, on transforming a folktale from a book into an interactive storytelling experience. Appropriate for novice and intermediate tellers.
 
2:30 p.m.:
The Workshop/Panel
The theme of the day — "Stories Worth Telling" — explored through a number of lenses with our special guests moderated by John Colligan:
 
Gerry Fierst: The interface of personal stories and folktale archetypes
Regina Ress: Transforming stories from one's life
Marilyn Iarusso: Finding your story in a book
 
4:15 p.m.:
The Story Swap
 
5:00 p.m.:
The Concert: Stories Worth Telling
Our panel guests in concert: Gerry Fierst, Marilyn Iarusso, and Regina Ress.

Winter Doldrums Party

Marilyn Iarusso's loft New York City
Sunday March 12, 2006
 
The last time the Storytelling Center had an Open House with stories, conviviality, and munchies, we had such a good time that we wanted to do it again!

Tellabration!™ 2005

St. Hilda's & St. Hugh's School, New York City
Saturday, November 19th, 2005
 
Afternoon events:
Stories for Families
Hosted by John Colligan and featuring:
Anne Pellowski (NSN Lifetime Achievement Award winner),
Ishmael Beah, and Julie Pasqual
 
Storytelling Workshop with Anne Pellowski
How to keep alive storytelling traditions from your own cultural background by using handkerchiefs, drawings, dolls, and other objects you grew up with.
 
Evening events:
Story Swap
 
Evening Concert:
Phoenix Tales: Stories of Transformation & Renewal
featuring: Ed Stivender (NSN Circle of Excellence Inductee)
Ethan Lipton (New York–touted cabaret playwright and songster)
Zero Boy (The New York Comic Sound Acrobat)
Joe Cross (Native American Stories of Authenticity)

Benefit for Louisiana Storytellers and Children

Scandinavia House/American Scandinavian Foundation, New York City
Saturday, November 12th, 2005
 
The American–Scandinavian Foundation and the Hans Christian Andersen Storytellers presented a very special program of stories and music for children and adults, to benefit storytellers and children in Louisiana who have been affected by Hurricane Katrina. Storytellers Margaret Dawson, Therese Folkes–Plair, Regina Ress, Ron Sopyla, and Diane Wolkstein told stories of compassion from around the world that reflect the diversity and unity of the human heart, including H. C. Andersen's "The Nightingale." These are stories that are both poignant and full of adventure.
 
This event was coordinated by Diane Wolkstein, the artistic director of the Hans Christian Andersen Storytellers of New York City.
 
The Hans Christian Andersen Storytellers are a belovéd New York institution, performing in Central Park every Saturday from June to the end of September. They also tell stories in Scandinavia House's Heimbold Family Children's Learning Center at 11:30 a.m. on the second Saturday of the month from October through May.
 
You are encouraged to show your support by sending a check to:
 
Louisiana Library Foundation
For the LA Storytellers from the New Yorkers
c/o Gail Criswell
Post Office Box 131
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821–0131

4 Storytellers Talking New York City

with David Gonzales, Mara McEwin,
Sharon McGruder, and Regina Ress

The Theatre at the Greenwich Village Center
219 Sullivan Street (between Bleecker & West 3rd), New York City
Friday, October 21st, 2005
 
The Center produced a dynamic evening meant to beat watching any TV reality show, featuring the talents of David Gonzales (¡Sofrito!, MytholoJazz), Mara McEwin (recently named the "Best Storyteller of New York" by the New York Press, and a founding member of Treehouse Shakers), Sharon McGruder, and Regina Ress.
 
The evening was preceeded by a Storyteller's Swap, and ended with a panel discussion on the topic of "Stories, Storytellers and New York City."

Dessert Party

Our annual extravaganza of yummy sweets and treats, with equally seductive stories… with featured tellers:
 
Ron O'Reilly
Pamela Schembri
Diane Wolkstein
and Bill Gordh & Debra Wanner
with master of ceremonies Gerald Fierst
 
Estonian Educational Society, 2nd Floor
243 East 34th Street, New York City
Wednesday, June 8th

Storytelling at Tribeca Family Day

For the Tribeca Film Festival
Greenwich Street, New York City
Featuring Bill Gordh (organizer and host), Deni Bonet, Regina Ress, John Colligan, Ben Jacobs, Diane Wolkstein et. al.
April 30th, 2005

The Leather Outlasts the Gilding

A Celebration for the 200th Birthday of Hans Christian Andersen

New York Public Library
Donnell Library Center (Children's Room, Second Floor)
20 West 53rd Street (between Fifth & Sixth Avenues), New York City
March–May 2005

Taking the Stories Beyond:
A Storytelling Masterclass

Led by Penninah Schram
92nd Street Y, New York City
Sunday, March 6th, 2005

Story Tsunami Concerts

Sunday, February 6th, 2005:
St. Hilda's & St Hugh's School
619 West 114th Street, New York City
(between Broadway & Riverside Drive)
Featuring: John Colligan, Peninnah Schram, Bill Gordh, Robin Bady, and other members
of the New York storytelling community
(Proceeds to benefit Episcopal Relief Services of
Cuddalore, Madras, India)

Tuesday, February 8th, 2005:
StorySlam for Story Tsunami — Open Mic Story Competition: Neighborhood
The Moth at Nuyroican Poets Café
236 East 3rd Street, New York City
Hosted by: Andy Borowitz

Sunday, February 20th, 2005:
Story Tsunami at Provincetown Playhouse
133 MacDougal Street, New York City
 
The Center, with the cooperation of New York University presented a special storytelling concert to support the relief work of Mercy Corps and CARE International. The evening featured Milbre Burch, Regi Carpenter, Mary Rachel Platt, Regina Ress, Laura Simms (who also served as host), Diane Wolkstein, Heather Forest, and musician Art Baron among others.
 
All proceeds from the ticket sales went straight to the relief effort being shouldered by Mercy Corps and CARE International.
 
In addition, photographs by Nancy Rudolph (of a fishing village in southern India and of the beaches of Sri Lanka) were on display, and Bhante Kundana, a Buddhist monk from Sri Lanka, gave a blessing.

Gioia Timpanelli at Love Your Tree

Second Floor of ABC Carpet & Home, New York City
Thursday, January 13, 2005
 
Gioia Timpanelli — one of the brave souls in the modern storytelling vanguard — appeared at Love Your Tree (a special installation inside ABC Carpet & Home in Manhattan) with a program entitled Stories from Sicily: A Way of Saving and Being Saved. During her program, Gioia read from her book Sometimes the Soul: Two Novellas of Sicily and offered a folk tale, which is re–told (in English and Sicillian) in the first novella.
 
Just for the record, Gioia is one of many recent guest speakers to grace Love Your Tree with their presence… among them Isabella Rossellini, Naomi Wolf, Dr. Christiane Northrup, and Jessica Weiner.

Tellabration! 2004

Afternoon and Evening Programs for Story Lovers

St. Hilda's and St. Hugh's School, New York City
Saturday, November 20th, 2004
 
Family Concert
 
Four topflight children's storytellers, "Bobaloo" Bob Basey, Ben Jacobs, Mara McEwin (of Treehouse Shakers), and Julia Morris came together to spin tales for the whole family as part of the day-long celebration of story!
 
Storytelling in the Classroom
 
A participatory workshop led by storyteller and teaching artist Regina Ress on the art and craft of storytelling — and the ways that it supports a creative, communicative classroom as well as basic learning and curriculum. This workshop was created for classroom teachers, after school staff, ESOL and ABE teachers, parents, and storytellers. Regina teaches storytelling in the Educational Theater Program at New York University.
 
Story Swap
 
A story–swap is a great opportunity to share and hear stories. Participants were invited to bring a short story (five to seven minutes in length) to share, or to simply be part of the audience. Carol Lewis facilitated the swap.
 
EVENING CONCERT —
From Beyond the Moon: Stories from Near the Heart and Far Away
 
John Colligan, Margaret Dawson, Regina Ress, members of the Pearls of Wisdom group of Brooklyn, Antonieta Gimeno, and Carrie Raiford came to the 2004 Tellabration! bringing stories of pride, prejudice, love, laughter, and the Internet(!).
 

Tellabration!™ at South Street Seaport

South Street Seaport Museum, Schermerhorn Row, New York City
Sunday, November 21st, 2004
 
A wide variety of tellers and tales kept the stories spinning all afternoon at the Seaport. This event was jointly presented by the New York Story Exchange and the South Street Seaport Museum.