SCHEDULE: Friday, April 27, 2012
*Subject to Change.
Scroll down for Session Descriptions
7:45- 8:45 |
Breakfast |
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9:00-12:00 Session A |
A1 Visitors and Belongers: Telling Outside Your Own Culture |
A2 Personal Narrative Storytelling: A How-to Workshop in Telling Stories at The Moth |
A3 Out of the Box: Touring a Show |
A4 Suspense! Wait ... wait ... Ahhh! |
12:15-1:15 |
Lunch |
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1:30- 4:30 Session B |
B1 Enhance Your Online Presence: Blog It Baby! |
B2 Crafting the Emotional Arc of the Story |
B3 Shake it up, Baby! Twist & Shout! : Literacy Made Easy |
B4 Let’s Get Physical! |
5:00- 6:00 |
Dinner |
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6:30- 8:00 |
Opening & Story Concert |
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8:30- 9:30 |
Fringe Performance |
Fringe Performance | Story Circle | |
10:00-11:00 |
Fringe Performance |
Fringe Performance |
Story Circle |
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SESSION DESCRIPTIONS
Session A • 9:00am–12:00noon
A1 – Visitors and Belongers: Telling Outside Your Own Culture
Visitors become trespassers when they pretend to be what they are not. Stories simultaneously celebrate universal themes along with specific, cultural details. If the universal is the stock in the stew pot of stories, then it is those geographic, ethnic, cultural and historical details that flavor the stew and make it distinctive. One goal is to negotiate an appropriate balance between the universal and the unique with respect when we tell stories from outside our own cultures. Using Tim Tingle's story Crossing Bok Chitto as an example, Carol will discuss the performance decisions incorporated in her telling of his story.
For: intermediate and advanced storytellers
Presenter: Carol Birch, Conneticut
Known for a compelling blend of energy, warmth, vulnerability, and directness, Carol restores orality and spontaneity to the fixed silence of stories found in print. Over thirty years of experience have earned her a respected place in the forefront of the revival of platform storytelling.
A2 – Personal Narrative Storytelling: A How-to Workshop in Telling Stories at The Moth
Are you a fan of The Moth Radio Hour or podcast? Are you curious about how to mine personal experiences to craft and perform your own stories? This workshop will take you through a step-by-step process from brainstorming to sharing for developing your own personal narrative. These techniques are developed from personal experience performing on The Moth Mainstage, teaching for The Moth, and interviewing NYC’s top storytellers.
For: all
Presenter: Allison Downey, Michigan
With an MFA in Theatre, Allison Downey is a professional Storyteller, Singer-Songwriter, Theatre artist and University Professor at Western Michigan University. She has performed on The Moth Mainstage and storytelling events in New York City and beyond. Allison presents workshops in storytelling and songwriting to groups and organizations, offers private coaching as well.
A3 – Out of the Box: Touring a Show
In this three hour intensive, participants will be provided with the marketing tools to make a performance tour-ready. Attendees will discern the difference between a performance and a show. They will learn how to package a singular show for a number of different audiences and venues, in particular those outside of the traditional storytelling platforms. Participants will learn how to develop a “sponsored” marketing package that sizzles as well a marketing schedule that will put you on the frontlines of consideration. Bring ideas for discussion.
For: intermediate and advanced storytellers
Presenter: Elaine Muray, California
Elaine integrates movement and narration to deliver tales from around the world and personal tales. Her highly theatrical performances have given her the opportunity to perform and lead workshops at the Australian Storytelling Festival and to be chosen by her Pacific Region peers to perform at the National Storytelling Conference’s All Regions concert.
www.embodiedvoicestoryarts.com
A4 – Suspense! Wait…wait…Ahhh!
We’ll discover how tellers build suspense in Traditional, Classical, Horror or Comedic tales by studying how other art forms build suspense. The class will break into four groups and look at examples of film, visual art, music, and literature in their chosen genre then apply what they learned for spoken word performance. This fun and innovative workshop will explore ways to build suspense with voice, movement, timing, content, clothing, and gesture.
For: Intermediate, advanced, librarian, education
Presenter: Rivka Willick, New Jersey
Rivka Willick is a professional storyteller and writer. She also coaches people in a wide range of applications in the art of the spoken word story. She orally composes and tells healing, personal, historical, Jewish, Sci-fi and fantasy tales to Adult, Teen, and Family audiences. Her workshops are wild!
www. SimplyExtraOrdinaryTales.com
Session B • 1:30–4:30pm
B1 – Enhance Your Online Presence: Blog It Baby!
Even though cyber space is all “a twitter” there are still benefits to maintaining your own blog. Marketing is about getting your name out in front frequently. Blogging is another way to increase your online exposure, publicize your skills and promote your venues. This is a hands-on workshop and attendees are encouraged to bring their personal laptops. Leave with the beginnings of your own unique business or educational blog in cyber space!
For: storytellers, librarians, teachers; anyone interested in reaching new audiences to complement their work. This workshop is for beginners who are familiar with using a computer but wary of learning how to blog. All participants must have a working knowledge of basic computer language, i.e., url, browser, search engine, cut and paste.
Presenter: Karen Chace, Massachusetts
Karen is a storyteller, web researcher and directs a student storytelling troupe. She is a contributing author to the NSN publications “A Beginner’s Guide to Storytelling” and “Telling Stories to Children”. She authors the storytelling newsletter, “Catch the Storybug”, and her research column, “Story e Telling”, appears in Storytelling Magazine.
B2 – Crafting the Emotional Arc of the Story
Beyond the plot of the story there are three emotional arcs within a story – the emotional tone of the characters or the story itself, the emotional state of the story’s narrator and the emotions of the audience hearing the tale. Bring material you want to work on because this is a hands-on workshop for crafting all three.
For: intermediate and advanced storytellers
Presenter: Loren Niemi, Minnesota
Loren Niemi is a long-time Storyteller of philosophically nuanced tales, a Coach/Director of spoken word performers, and an Adjunct Professor in Metro State University’s Theater program. He is also the author of "The Book of Plots" and co-author with Elizabeth Ellis of "Inviting the Wolf In: Thinking About Difficult Stories".
B3 – Shake it up, Baby! Twist & Shout! : Literacy Made Easy
Are you looking for innovative tips and techniques to add to your storytelling programs? Sadarri presents hands-on fun with fractured fairytales, tailor-made tunes, and newly-designed nursery rhymes. Sing along to the soulful swing of Mary’s Little Lamb Jam! Stretch your creative wings as you discover new ways to shake up an “old” story. Whether just starting out or if you have years of experience, this interactive literacy-based workshop offers something for everyone.
For: beginner or intermediate storyteller; librarian, educator, or parent
Presenters: Sadarri and Amber Saskill, Wisconsin
International, Interactive, and Entertaining – Sadarri and Amber tell stories in French, Spanish, Russian, Haitian Creole, sign language, and more! Specializing in multi-cultural literacy, their stories and songs have been showcased in numerous award-winning audio and video recordings.
B4 – Let’s Get Physical!
Words cannot do justice to this invigorating workout workshop. Your face, posture, and gestures add clarity and variety to any performance…in a perfect world. Mike Speller will share six fool-proof methods that will help you flex your storytelling muscles in a whole new way. You may bring short short stories or excerpts, 2-4 minutes, that you wish to ‘beef up’. Otherwise, practice materials will be provided.
For: storytellers of all experience levels
Presenter: Mike Speller, Illinois
Mike Speller has been a professional actor for more than 25 years and a storyteller all his life. Mike is presently a member of the (IL) Fox Valley Storytelling Guild. He has presented workshops all over the country for historical interpreters, college acting students, and youth storytellers.