Three Cheers! A Three-Ring Circus?
A Three-Alarm Fire?
Three On a Match?
Three Coins In the Fountain?
Three Sheets to the Wind?
Three Dog Night?
No, none of the above...
It's been three years!
Today marks the THREE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY of this Newsletter!
That's 156 issues!
Thanks to ALL the readers, both in Arizona and around the WORLD. Keep those cards and letters coming folks! Let me kow what you like and what you need. If you want to read previous newsletters, you can click on the button above and to the right.
Did you know that...
Last year there were over 200 storytelling events in Arizona?
THIS YEAR there have already been over 100 storytelling events...and there a lot more to come!
I hope you will continue to enjoy this newsletter, even if it's not the first thing you look for each Monday!
Join the Storytelling Tribe in Kansas City This Summer!
GET YOUR DUCKS IN A ROW! SAVE ON EARLY-BIRD Pricing - Through MAY 12th
Tuesday, April 21st, 10 a.m.
Joyce Story will be telling at the Nature Center of the White Tank Mountain Regional Park.
Joyce tells mesmerizing nature stories. They are all original, fact-based stories about the flora and fauna of the Sonoran desert.
20304 W. White Tank Mountain Rd, Waddell, AZ 85355
Tuesday, April 21st, 10 a.m. - White Tank Mountain Library - Owl Stories, for children
Save The Frogs with Sandy Oglesby Saturday - April 25th
Tempe Square Shopping Center
6428 S McClintock Dr
Tempe, AZ 85283
In celebration of Save the Frogs Day (yes, it's a real thing!), Storyteller/Author Sandy Oglesby offers up crafts, songs, and a special presentation of her picture book about a frog named Phibian who learns a valuable lesson about how to be happy just by being himself.
Join Sandy at Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe from 10 am - 11 am for a fun-filled time! Bring the little ones, 3 to 8 years old (or about), as they will love this hands-on interactive story time, finger plays and art. IT'S FREE
Out Of The Box Storytelling Women Storytellers
Saturday, April 25th - 10am - Noon (doors open at 9:30 am)
Anne McDowell has organized another event: Out of the Box Storytelling - Women Storytellers.
A place for Christian women to get together to hear and tell of the wonders that God has done in their lives or (with permission) in the lives of others. This is a fun, exciting new way to hear six 8-10 minute personal, uplifting, faith-promoting stories about the wonders of God, and enjoy a delicious brunch! They offer fun, laughter, and a chance to win door prizes!
It's at Dobson’s Restaurant at Dobson Ranch Golf Course in Mesa from 10am - 12 Noon.
Join Liz Warren and Marilyn Omifunke Torres for this year's Graduation of Storytellers from the South Mountain Community College Institute for Storytelling.
It will be in the Community Room of the SMCC Library. With refreshments and some additional awards too!
Come Celebrate!
West Side Story Tellers No MEETING in MAY The West Side Story Tellers monthly guild meeting for May is CANCELLED - Due to a Road Trip and Performance!
There WILL BE a meeting in JUNE!
Tucson Tellers - Next Guild Meeting The next meeting of Tucson Tellers of Tales is just around the corner: Saturday, May 2nd from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the
Columbus Branch Library on 22nd Street.
These Are a Few of My Favorite Things
After three years, I have come across a lot of material about storytelling. I try to bring you the tidbits I think will be helpful and stir your imagination. I would like to share some of my favorite videos. These are the ones that I show to my Community College Storytelling Students each semester. I hope you enjoy revisiting them!
I go back to this video about The Power of Storytelling time and time again. It is so rich, I see and learn something new each time.
I love listening to Bill Harley tell stories. He's a kid at heart, and that shines through everything. But underneath his playful nature is a deep and studied teller. This TEDx Talk is my favorite Tidbit, and one of my favorite videos, In just under fourteen minutes, Bill talks about the power of story in helping a young boy in making sense of the death of his father. He also tells about his own spontaneity and openness during a set that led to a very sweet, and now, memorable moment.
Kim Weitkamp - Four Minutes of Pure Delight
It's no secret that I am a fan of storyteller Kim Weitkamp, and here's one reason why. This four minute video of a story recorded last summer at Timpanogos has all the elements of perfection. She paints familiar images with humor and pathos, and takes us on a childhood journey that leaves us laughing and smiling with rememberance of what might have been, or should have been in our own lives.
Syd Lieberman
Syd Lieberman is one of my favorite tellers. Watch this video of him telling from the "role" of his Aunt Helen. See how he takes a moment (short, as Syd is practiced and has taken the time to craft this story well) to take on the persona of his Aunt. See and hear how he subtly maintains the character throughout with his breathing, body, face and voice.
Micaela Blei - I Have Fallen In Love Again!
Now I have fallen again, this time for Micaela Blei. She has won several Moth slams. She has been an elementary school teacher and is now the Moth Education Program Manager. Here is the story she won at the Moth, It is beautifully crafted, has deep self-disclosure, humor, pathos...everything that a good story should have. Oh yeah...and she's a redhead too!
Leanard Nimoy - Reach to Your Roots for Inspiration
I discovered this video story by Leonard Nimoy explaining how he found the classic "V" hand gesture greeting for Vulcans. It was not created by the writers or the director. As the character of Spock in Star Trek, Nimoy felt that there should be some ritual "greeting" when Vulcans meet, similar to a handshake or a salute. The answer came to Nimoy from his childhood, from deep within the roots of his Jewish upbringing.
This is a great story. It not only tells about the origin of the classic "Live long and prosper" symbol, but also shows the process of the actor thinking, struggling, questioning; the process of "crafting".
Mandy Patinkin - Living in an Imagined Reality
Mandy Patinkin talks about playing the role of Inigo Montoya in The Princess Bride. In this interview he alludes to the Willing Suspension of Disbelief ("I spend 99% of my time in an imagined reality.") and distilling the story into One Sentence. This is powerful stuff from an incredible and passionate actor.
Taylor Mali
One of the best and most prolific spolen-word artists in the U.S. This is a "classic" poem that he has performed many, many times. It shows not only his performance ability, but his great proclivity for language!
------------------------------------THERE'S A LOT GOING ON EACH MONTH -------------------CHECK EACH WEBSITE OR CALENDAR TO CONFIRM DATES AND TIMES ---------------------------------CALL TO MAKE SURE THE EVENT IS STILL ON
FStorytellers - Female Story Tellers - Tucson
Usually sometime during the first week of the month - but check their website) at 7 pm - TUCSON http://www.fstorytellers.com/index.html
- National Storytelling Network? You should be.
A Three-Ring Circus?
Women Storytellers
Friday - May 1st
