Ghosties, ghoulies and goblins, oh my!

Where: KCMO Public Library – Plaza Branch, Truman Forum

When: Nov. 4, 2010

Time: 7-9 p.m.

Cost: FREE

Featuring: Leeny Del Seamonds,Dan Keding,Loretta Washington and Gene Tagaban

Leeny, Dan, Loretta and Gene will share their bone-chilling stories of ghosts, ghouls, and things that go bump in the night. Are they true? Is there a headless, white lady wandering lonely rural roads late at night? A werewolf ready to maul his chosen victim around the very next corner? There’s no way to know…

But you’ll be checking your rearview mirror a little more closely and listening for clandestine howling, won’t you.

This event is for mature audiences, ages 16 and up. We don't want the little ones spooked all night - and neither do you!

Join us for the Main Event: The 2011 Storytelling Spectacular!

The flagship event of the Kansas City Storytelling Celebration, the Storytelling Spectacular, will launch at 7 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Kansas City Missouri Public Library Plaza Branch in the Truman Forum. Gene Tagaban, Loretta Washington, Leeny Del Seamonds and Dan Keding have a fabulous line-up of tales ready for the whole family!

This event is FREE and perfect for anyone over 10 (younger children are welcome, but some content/language may be inappropriate or too complex).

Featured Storyteller: Dan Keding

Dan Keding, storyteller of international acclaim, is well known for his telling of traditional world folktales, personal narratives of his boyhood in Chicago, ghost stories and dark tales, and superbly crafted original pieces.

As a child he learned the traditional stories that his grandmother brought to this country from Croatia. A well-respected ballad singer, he accompanies himself on guitar, banjo and spoons.

This combination of dynamic storytelling and powerful ballad singing has made him a festival and concert favorite throughout the US, Great Britain and Ireland, endearing him to audiences of all ages.

For more information, visit his website!

You've heard their stories, now it's your turn to learn!

While most of the Storytelling Celebration is dedicated to sitting and listening as local and national tellers spin a fantastic yarn, there are workshops for young and old alike designed to help participants develop their own stories.

A Media Specialists Workshop, presented by Leeny Del Seamonds, will help educators, librarians and other school staff use storytelling in the classroom, as well as encouraging the founding of Storytelling clubs in the local schools. This workshop meets CTE standards.

The workshop will be held from noon-4 p.m. Nov. 2 at the North Kansas City School District’s Doolin Education Center. Cost is $12 and lunch will be provided. Please RSVP by contacting Dusty Mills at 816.604.3170.

Leeny Del Seamonds will also present a Youth Storytelling Workshop from 1-2:15 p.m. at the Plaza Library Branch. This workshop is free and open to the public. No reservations are required.
Drama Time! will focus on bringing spoken words to life through theatrical games, improvisations and fun exercises. Students will build confidence and learn the arts of oral presentation, acting and self-expression through movement and word interpretation.

While the kids are practicing the art of acting with Leeny, adults will have an opportunity to attend a workshop offered just for them. Dan Keding will host the Adult Storytelling Workshop from 1-2:15 p.m. at the Plaza Branch Library. This workshop is also free and open to the public, and no reservations are required.

This workshop will focus on telling stories for children – selecting appropriate stories, telling them in an engaging way via props, music and voices, and what mistakes to avoid.

For further information on any of these workshops, contact us by email or call 816.604.3007. Don't forget to LIKE us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (@kcstorytelling)!

We want your stuff! For our silent aution. To benefit this wonderful event. So help!

It's almost time for MCC-Maple Woods' annual Storytelling Celebration! The city-wide event, now in its 12th year, will be held Nov. 1-5, 2011 and will feature national storytellers Dan Keding, Leeny Del Seamonds, Gene Tagaban and Loretta Washington.

Each year, Maple Woods hosts a silent auction, open to all MCC students, staff, faculty and the community, in order to support the event. ALL funds raised through the silent auction are used to offset costs and plan for the next festival.

We are now taking donations! If you would like to personally donate an item - be it  delicious, artistic, interesting or unique - or know of a local business that might like to support the event, please contact Dusty Mills at dusty.mills@mcckc.edu or 816.604.3170.

We're back!

The Kansas City Storytelling Celebration, hosted by MCC-Maple Woods, is back for a 12th year of lively stories, anecdotes, myths, legends and lessons. This year’s celebration will take place Nov. 1-5, 2011 at more than 100 sites across the Kansas City Metro area.

Storytellers from throughout the region and nationwide will bring their tales of mischief, merrymaking and morals to all ages and ethnicities. The major goal of the Storytelling Celebration has been to reach out to and connect people from all walks of life through words. A diverse line-up of national storytellers, including Leeny Del Seamonds, Dan Keding, Gene Tagaban and Loretta Washington, will make this an exciting celebration!

Check back this month for storyteller bios, official schedule and more storytelling updates!