New Storytelling Radio Program
KSVY-FM 91.3, Sonoma, CA
http://www.ksvy.org
Sundays, 5-6 pm Pacific time (adjust for your time zone)
Live audio streaming: Go to the KSVY website. In the upper
right-hand corner, click on High or Low Speed and find
yourself listening to the live program.
Or access the archives later and download.
Theme music: Special thanks to Petra Koch in Germany (she works with Storyteller Richard Martin), who performed the beautifully haunting alto recorder music of Como Podem from the 13th century collection Cantigas de Santa Maria (copy of Kynsecker, Mollenhauer & Co.). Used on this program with her kind permission.
PROGRAM 7:
Oct 29 Halloween!
Jeff Gere (Hawaii)
(Old Rink Rank)
Mitch Weiss (New York)
(On a Dark and Stormy Night)
Sandra Weissinger (New York)
(The Golden Arm)
Connie Regan-Blake (North Carolina)
(Mr. Fox)
Mary Grace Ketner (Texas)
(La Llorona)
Steve Otto (Missouri)
(The Tell-Tale Heart–Edgar Allan Poe)
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HALLOWEEN
Guest tellers...
• Jeff Gere, Hawaii — Old Rink Rank
The story Old Rink Rank is available on Jeff's CD Three Smokin' Folk Tales: Rank Devil Mountain.
This Story-Music Hour is HOT, a combustible live event bound to get under your skin. Jeff's funny, quirky, intense telling is enhanced by sizzlin' soundscapes improvised by LES ADAMS (Keyboards), SANDRA LEE AKAKA (Percussion) and ALANA CINI (Didgeridoo). This CD is not for kids under ten, but this particular story is for all ages. It IS also for people who love to travel with their ears. This trip: Three tales with radiant hellfire scenery. Hold on!
jeffgere@lava.net
Jeff runs Hawaii's biggest storytelling event, The Talk Story Festival. He hosts Talk Story Radio weekly on Hawaii Public Radio.
http://www.talkstoryradio.com
Contact
P.O. Box 37495, Honolulu, HI. 96837
(808)737-1774
jeffgere@lava.net
http://www.jeffgere.com
Storytelling
Jeff Gere is a master storyteller, blending talents as painter, puppeteer, mime, teacher, and director into a performance style which has electrified audiences throughout Hawaii and the mainland for two decades. Jeff becomes his stories!
Jeff has a BA in Painting & Art History (junior year Florence, Italy) and MA in Inter-Relating Arts (multi-disciplinary program). Back in Italy ('80-82), caretaking a 600-year-old villa, he created & toured Dream Theatre (social issues with puppet, mask and mime).
Jeff came to Hawaii ('82), becoming one of its most popular storytellers. Jeff's taught and performed in literally every venue conceivable (all museums, private & public schools; all ages, sizes, & incomes; bars, prisons, homeless shelters, conferences, conventions, state-wide solo & group tours).
Jeff became the Drama Specialist, Parks Department, City & County of Honolulu ('87). In '89, he created the Talk Story Festival (www.honoluluparks.com), Hawaii's largest storytelling event (3,000 listeners). It features local talent, receiving excellent publicity. His non-profit attracts corporate sponsors. Jeff hosts/ produces Talk Story Radio (8/05, Hawaii Public Radio + 2 others) with tales of Hawaii & Pacific Rim (Parks Dept. (www.talkstoryradio.com), podcasts, 12,000 listeners/week)
His original programs include The Arabian Nights (2 musicians & bellydancer; 10 tales in 18 months 03-04, Hong Kong 6/05), Yo Pharaoh, and Van Gogh's Ghost. He performed at the Vancouver Story Fest. (11/04), Turkey (Karagoz Shadow Puppet Fest. 11/04) Thailand Story-In-English Camps (4/03). He's taught at the National Storytelling Conferences ('04, '99, '93), the Arizona Aloha Fest ('06), Boulder City Folk Fest ('02 & '03), Flying Leap Story Fest ('99), National Storytelling Championship (Idaho '97). In '92 he toured American Samoa, Guam & Saipan and at the Universal Expo (Sevilla, Spain), and the West Coast (93-02). He directed/ performed "Art Off The Wall", a collaborative inter-disciplinary series interpreting Honolulu's Contemporary Museum exhibits (97-00, Hawaii Fndtn Grant) & Teacher Trainings. Gere made/taught a "Tell Well" Storytelling System (Univ. Hawaii 90-97). He's the NSN State Laison for Hawaii.
Jeff's made 5 CDs: Haunted Hawaii vols. 1, 2, & 3 (retelling true supernatural tales), Rank Devil Mountain(FIRE tales, 3 musicians) and Silly 'N Spooky (kids in Hawaii). They're distributed state-wide & play on Hawaiian Airlines in-flight shows (fall 04 & 06, summer 06). Chicken Soup for the Soul of Hawaii (03) has 2 Gere tales. He's in Storytellers: A Directory of 120 English-Speaking Tellers Worldwide (98). He co-produced/ performed in "The Storytellers" series (KITV 4, 95-97). He's in Mystery Hunters (Canadian BC.'06), Places of Mystery Series (Travel Channel, 00) and Haunted History Series (History Channel, 00). He reads Christobelle (15 X 15 min. series, airs 9/06). Jeff won Outstanding TV Performance Arts Series (00) for Olelo Community TV, airing monthly programs since '90.
Write him a note if you're coming to Hawaii. Send him a CD if your tales relate the the Pacific Rim. Give him a call if you'd like him to tell—he LOVES to travel and will make it easy for you.
jeffgere@lava.net
http://www.jeffgere.com
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•••••
• Mitch Weiss, New York — On a Dark and Stormy Night
Mitch works with his wife, Martha Hamilton, as tandem storytellers under the name Beauty and the Beast Storytellers.
Who's the Beauty and who's the Beast?
We never tell - You decide!
'Beauty and the Beast' tell stories for all ages, and in settings ranging from elementary school assemblies to theaters, college coffeehouses, and senior citizen centers. They bring to life traditional folktales from around the world, works by contemporary authors, stories from their own experiences, and tales based on historical people and events. Drawing from their large and varied repertoire, they tailor each performance to suit the specific audience. In their performances, Mitch and Martha use gesture, song, mime, and audience participation. Their specialty is tandem storytelling where they combine their contrasting styles, swapping lines and impersonating characters.
Mitch and Martha have traveled as far as Taiwan and Hong Kong to perform and teach others to tell. All of their books have been published in Taiwan because it is such a priority to learn English on the island, and teachers of English have found that storytelling is one of the best ways to get students excited about a new language. "Beauty and the Beast" have also completed numerous tours of European International Schools. Among the places they have told stories are Prague, Vienna, Munich, Florence, Milan, Genoa, Madrid, Moscow, London, and Budapest.
For more information on their performances, go to:
http://www.beautyandthebeaststorytellers.com/performances.html
New Books Just Out and More on the Way!
If we ruled the world, children would be encouraged and given numerous opportunities to tell stories - folktales from various cultures, stories written by their favorite authors, and, of course, their own stories. This would be done formally and informally, to one person and in front of a group, in school and at home. Teaching children to tell stories helps them to find their own voices. It also creates excitement about reading and writing their own stories. When we work in classrooms teaching students to tell, teachers note that students are really excited about reading and telling more tales from our books. They love all kinds of stories - from silly to serious, from pourquoi tales that explain something peculiar about an animal or natural phenomenon to "noodlehead" stories about fools from which children, surprisingly, learn a great deal. But if we had to choose their most beloved genre of stories for telling, it would undoubtedly be scary tales. Stories such as "Tilly," "The Golden Arm," and "On a Dark and Stormy Night" from Stories in My Pocket: Tales Kids Can Tell have always been huge favorites in every classroom where we've taught student tellers.
For a full listing of books and recordings by the Beauty & the Beast Storytellers, go to:
http://www.beautyandthebeaststorytellers.com/whatsnew.html
or
http://www.beautyandthebeaststorytellers.com/booksrecordings.html
Contact:
Beauty & the Beast Storytellers
Mitch Weiss and Martha Hamilton
954 Coddington Road Ithaca, NY 14850
Phone: (607) 277-0016 Fax: (607) 277-0968
info@beautyandthebeaststorytellers.com
http://www.beautyandthebeaststorytellers.com/
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•••••
• Sandra Weissinger, New York — The Golden Arm
Sandra is the first young teller that we've featured on Story-Lovers World! She was a student teller working with Mitch and Martha in New York many years ago.
For information on current workshops for young storytellers-in-training, contact:
info@beautyandthebeaststorytellers.com
http://www.beautyandthebeaststorytellers.com/
•••••
•••••
• Connie Regan-Blake — Mr. Fox
Connie is a nationally acclaimed storyteller, keynote presenter, workshop leader, recording artist, featured festival performer and consultant.
"Storytelling is alive and well, primarily because of Connie Regan-Blake." -ABC's Good Morning America.
One of America's most celebrated storytellers, Connie has captivated the hearts and imaginations of people around the globe with her powerful performances and workshops. Entertaining audiences in 47 states and 14 countries, she brings the wisdom, humor and drama of stories to main stage, schools, libraries and into the corporate world.
Both as a solo artist and a member of the acclaimed Folktellers duo, Connie has been featured on seven award-winning recordings, five audio and two videos produced by PBS. New Age Magazine, School Library Journal, and Southern Living have praised her work. She has been a guest on NPR's All Things Considered, ABC Good Morning America and CNN. Find out more. . .
http://www.storywindow.com/bio.htm
PERFORMANCES:
Connie tours nationally with her storytelling, performing for schools and libraries, corporate events, main stage, festivals and conferences. She also tours and performs for classical music venues with the famed Kandinski Trio.
To arrange for her to come to your community and for information on fees and availability: contact
http://www.storywindow.com/contact.htm
Also check out Connie's calendar for upcoming tours to your area.
http://www.storywindow.com/calendar.htm
WORKSHOPS:
As a storytelling workshop leader, Connie welcomes participants from all walks of life - teachers, attorneys, poets, ministers, marketing executives, librarians - all those who would like to enrich their professional and personal lives by telling stories.
From a one hour seminar for teachers & librarians to a weekend storytelling workshop.
RECORDINGS:
Connie has 6 award-winning audio and video recordings, including her groundbreaking collaboration with storytelling and classical music.
Her newest CD has just been released!
Dive Into Stories: A Telling Performance
It is a live performance, for family listening, of true-life stories & traditional tales with humor & heart. Included are two bonus tracks from the National Storytelling Festival. Listen to an audio clip of The Foolish Bet (Just click on 'Audio Clip' at the top of this page.)
Connie has also recently released
Stories for the Road & to Grow On. It is a classic Folkteller collection of Appalachian Mountain tales & more with Barbara Freeman who was Connie's storytelling partner for 20 years. The recording is perfect for a rainy afternoon or family travels in the car. It is for all ages to enjoy.
SELECTED PERFORMANCES:
Glistening Waters Festival - New Zealand
Altoona (PA) City Schools
Piccolo Spoleto
Hoosier Storytelling Festival
American Bar Association
International Water Environment Federation
Oviedo (FL) Elementary Schools
Lucent Technologies
Smithsonian Institute
Louisiana Arts Council
Boston Public Library
Colorado Academy
Sidmouth International Folklore Festival - England
Philadelphia Free Library
Sandburg Children's Literature Institute
National Council of Teachers of English
Old Orchard Junior High School
Vanderbilt University
Conference of Southern College Health Care Professionals
AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS:
Lifetime Achievement Award
Connie Regan-Blake is receiving the illustrious Lifetime Achievement Award for dedicating her life to the art of storytelling and for demonstrating meritorious service to the National Storytelling Network, as well as to the community of storytellers at large. One of the first to bring storytelling to the national stage, Connie is recognized for raising public awareness of storytelling, preserving traditional art forms and for the significant originality of her life's work. National Storytelling Network 2006-2007
She has been recognized by The North Carolina Arts Council as a designee in 2006 for The Southern Artistry, an adjudicated, online registry of outstanding artists, performers and writers.
Connie has been uniquely honored at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, TN, as the only storyteller to be on main stage as a featured teller or emcee each year for its more than 30-year history.
She was one of the first to be inducted to the Circle of Excellence, a prestigious award honoring storytelling artists. She was also presented with the Distinguished National Service - Oracle Award for exemplary service and significant contributions to America's storytelling community.
Connie was named Performer of the Year, by the nation's oldest continuously operating folk festival and is Storyteller of the Year by the North Carolina Storytelling Guild.
Her recordings have been honored numerous times with the American Library Association Notable Recording Award, Parent's Choice Award and the Storytelling World Gold Award.
Connie was a Founding Member of the National Storytelling Association in 1973. She served for 10 years on the Board of Directors and was Artistic Director of the National Storytelling Festival.Regan-Blake has been designated as an ambassador for storytelling and a Teller In Residence at the International Storytelling Center, Jonesborough, TN.
Her most recent national accomplishment is co-writing and performing Tales of Appalachia: For Piano Trio and Storyteller. She collaborated with the Kandinsky Trio and composer Mike Reid to create 'The Cantankerous Blacksmith,' an original classical work, that continues to tour nationwide.
Contact Connie at:
connie@storywindow.com
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•••••
• Mary Grace Ketner, Texas — La Llorona
Mary Grace is a San Antonio author and storyteller who presently works at a museum, UTSA’s Institute of Texan Cultures. These days, she does much of her telling through videoconferencing with schools in Texas and beyond. Today you’ll hear her tell La Llorona. This story is from the new audiotape anthology she produced for the Institute, YIKES! Scary Stories from the Texas Folklife Festival. 8 storytellers; no waiting!
Perhaps you've already heard Mary Grace tell stories over the radio on LIFETIMES: the Texas Experience, the Institute of Texan Cultures daily radio program, aired on some 60 stations around the state.
Perhaps you've listened to the wonderful stories told by Mary Grace and other San Antonio tellers on the audiocassette she produced for the Institute, Many Tricksters (featured on the Story-Lovers World! radio braodcast of October 22, 2006), or read its starred review in the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Storytelling Review.
Or it could be that you've already read her children's picture book, Ganzy Remembers (Atheneum, 1991) to some of your favorite children.
Maybe you've even heard her tell at festivals and conferences all over the state, preservice or inservice teacher trainings, museums, elderhostels, parks, schools, youth centers, or civic clubs.
To contact her: Mary Grace Ketner
San Antonio, Texas
(210) 271-0628
mgteller@yahoo.com
For more information about Mary Grace, go to:
http://talesandlegends.net
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•••••
• Steve Otto, Missouri — The Tell-Tale Heart (by Edgar Allan Poe)
Steve Otto is a full-time professional storyteller from Kansas City, MO. He started out as the shyest kid in the school until the tenth grade when his English Literature teacher FORCED him onto the stage! As with many actors, he found that he could go out on stage and become a character and it wasn't HIM on stage. He started doing character roles early in his career, and was in every high school play from that point on. He went the University of Missouri and immediately ended up on the stage at MU. It was such fun that he decided to become a Theatre major.
About this time something brand new was coming on the scene called Television. MU had just put a commercial TV station on the air and Steve gravitated to that medium. He started out as a cameraman, and moved up to directing in that wonderful time of LIVE, Black and White Television. He fell in love with the "fly by the seat of your pants" feel of live TV and graduated from MU with a degree in Speech and Theatre with an emphasis on Television Production. He worked for four years in TV in Columbia, MO, Fort Wayne, IN, and St. Louis, MO, before making his parents very happy and getting a "real job."
For the next 30 years, he acted and directed in over 40 roles in Community theatre. That is when the troubles began . . . His 'real job' was keeping him on the road so much that he could not do his theatre productions . . . Then one day his first grade teacher wife came home with a brochure from the local university . . . Storytelling for teachers . . . She said "I think you should take this seminar with me . . . " Steve emphatically told her "I AM AN ACTOR! . . . STORYTELLERS JUST READ STORIES TO LITTLE KIDS IN THE LIBRARY ON SATURDAY MORNING!" She just looked at him and said (just as emphatically) "I THINK YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS SEMINAR!" . . . An so he did . . . The seminar changed his life completely . . . Itwas taught by Jackie Torrence . . . a little black lady who came on stage and proceeded to mesmerize the entire audience . . . just using her voice, her eyes, and her whole presence!
Steve Fell in LOVE that very day. He fell in LOVE with the concept of looking his audience right in the eyes and SHARING (not telling) a story. He took every class he could find on storytelling technique and began telling every opportunity he could. Then came the day when a festival producer asked "how much do you charge?" . . . CHARGE! THEY WANT TO PAY ME TO HAVE THIS MUCH FUN? . . . He started telling professionally, more and more until twelve years ago his employer one day came into a staff meeting and said"We're going to have to cut back on staff . . . Does anyone want to take an early retirement?" . . . and Steve had his hand in the air . . .Take ME!"
He now does over 250 performances as year and makes his living just telling stories. He has three CDs which are available for sale. His repertoire of over 450 stories allows him to have a program for every group from Nursery School to Nursing Home. He teaches seminars on storytelling techniques to teachers, business, lawyers, salesmen, and anyone who needs to convey a message to someone else. . . He does it because he LOVES it. The ability to take an idea and convey that idea to his audience whether it is one person or 3000 isthe best thing in the world.
Has anyone told YOU a story lately? . . .
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Steve's CDs are available here:
https://www.shop.creationcompanyconsultants.com/displayProductDocument.hg?productId=14&categoryId=9
Contact Information:
Steve Otto
3606 NE 62nd Terrace
Kansas City, Missouri 64119-1906
Country: USA
Phone: 816-454-7262
Fax: 816-454-7262
E-Mail: i-tell@juno.com
http://www.storyteller.net/tellers/sotto
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(Page created 10/28/06)
