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).

12th Annual Kansas City Storytelling Schedule

MCC-Maple Woods proudly presents the schedule of public events for the 12th Annual Kansas City Storytelling Celebration!

Blue = Family/Child-Appropriate

Purple = Caution for children under 10

Dark Purple = Adult Only 

Tuesday, Nov. 1

Story Slam: We ALL Have a Story to Tell About Family

7-9 p.m.

MCC-Maple Woods Student Center

FREE

*Participants MUST be over 18 to participate

*We welcome everyone, but some stories/language may not be appropriate for young children.

Wednesday, Nov. 2

Kansas City Missouri Public Library (children)

Southeast Branch

10-11 a.m.

FREE

Tellers: LaRita Wright & Geneva Greenfield

Kansas City Missouri Public Library (preschoolers)

Trails West Branch

11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

FREE

Tellers: Jim Stigall & Priscilla Howe

Kansas City Missouri Public Library (preschoolers)

Westport Branch

10-11 a.m.

FREE

Tellers: Becky Everly & Carole Shelton

Media Specialists Workshop

Park Hill School District

12-4 p.m.

Cost: $12 (includes lunch)

Please RSVP by calling 816.604.3170

Host: Leeny Del Seamonds

Thursday, Nov. 3

Kansas City Missouri Public Library (elementary age)

Central Branch

10:30-11:30 a.m.

FREE

Teller: Gene Tagaban

Kansas City Missouri Public Library (all ages)

Plaza Branch

1-2 p.m.

FREE

Teller: Gene Tagaban

Kansas City Missouri Public Library (preschoolers)

Waldo Branch

10-11 a.m.

FREE

Tellers: Jo Ho & Barbara Kellogg

Mid-Continent Public Library (all ages)

Grandview Branch

7-8 p.m.

FREE

Tellers: Sue Godsey & Daniel Jones

Regional Storytelling Concert

Presented by: River and Prairie Storyweavers

MCC-Maple Woods Student Center

7-9 p.m.

Cost: $3

Tellers: Brother John Anderson, Rosie Best-Cutrer, Diana Cox, Sue Hinkel, Priscilla Howe, Deb Swanegan

Friday, Nov. 4

Kansas City Kansas Public Library (preschoolers)

Schlagle Branch

10-11 a.m.

1-2 p.m.

FREE

Tellers: Priscilla Howe & Jamie Mayo

Kansas City Missouri Public Library (preschoolers)

Northeast Branch

10:30-11:30 a.m.

FREE

Tellers: Marcia Ollinger & Carole Shelton

Kansas City Missouri Public Library (all ages)

Plaza Branch

7-8 p.m.

FREE

Tellers: Mike Micham & Nancee Walker-Micham

Ghost Stories Concert

KCMOPL - Plaza Branch (Truman Forum)

7-9 p.m.

FREE

Tellers: Leeny Del Seamonds, Gene Tagaban, Dan Keding, Loretta Washington

Saturday, Nov. 5

MCC-Maple Woods Family Concert

Campus Center Arbor Room

11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

FREE

Teller: Gene Tagaban

Youth Storytelling Workshop

KCMOPL - Plaza Branch

1-2:30 p.m.

FREE

Host: Leeny Del Seamonds

Adult Storytelling Workshop

KCMOPL - Plaza Branch (Truman Forum)

1-2:30 p.m.

FREE

Host: Dan Keding

Youth Storytelling Concert

KCMOPL - Plaza Branch (Truman Forum)

3:30-4:30 p.m.

FREE

Tellers: Youth Volunteers

Storytelling Spectacular

KCMOPL - Plaza Branch (Truman Forum)

7-9 p.m.

FREE

Tellers: Leeny Del Seamonds, Gene Tagaban, Dan Keding, Loretta Washington

*Please note this program is appropriate for ages 10 and up.

Fabulous Families Frolic at Friday Family Fun Concert!

Ahem... now that I have that title out of my system...

Friday Family Fun Concert

Where: KCMO Public Library – Plaza Branch

When: Nov. 5, 2010

Time: 7-8 p.m.

Cost: FREE

Featuring: Thom & Sarah Howard

Here’s a typical Friday night: The kids are out of school and looking forward to the weekend – almost as much as mom and dad. Dinner’s done, there’s nothing on TV, the local Redbox was out of the movie you wanted to rent and football won’t consume dad’s day until noon on Saturday. What do you do?

The Friday Night Family Fun Concert!

Pack up the kids – and dad, if he’s checking his fantasy football stats already – and head out for an evening of storytelling. There are chuckles to be had, lessons to be learned and entertainment to be enjoyed, all without the glare of the boob tube.

Thom and Sarah Howard, referred to as “those crazy people” by one of their younger fans, know how to get the best out of all ages with music and laughter.

There's more than books at the library!

Plaza Family Concert

Where: KCMO Public Library – Plaza Branch, Truman Forum

When: Nov. 6, 2010

Time: 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Cost: FREE

Featuring, Elizabeth Ellis, Olga Loya, Thom and Sarah Howard, and special guest Anne Price

The Annual Kansas City Storytelling Celebration always features a lot of family entertainment – after all, the kids can’t sit in front of the television or computer ALL day.

This year’s Plaza Family Concert will feature the talents of three of our national storytellers (Bobby Norfolk is over at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, read about that event here) plus the talents of a very special guest.

Anne Price, from a fourth-grade student from Parkville, was chosen as a finalist in the elementary division this year for the National Youth Storytelling Showcase, held in June in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Anne was chosen from among many entries and presented her story “Scissors” alongside 14 other talented youth storytellers.

Upload your imagination - build a story at StoryShop 1.0!

StoryShop - Youth Storytelling Workshop

Where: KCMO Public Library – Plaza Branch

When: Nov. 6, 2010

Time: 1-2 p.m.

Cost: FREE

Featuring: Thom and Sarah Howard

Are your kids or grandkids coming home spinning fantastic yarns about everything from their school days (“Mrs. So-and-so gave us 100 PAGES of homework!!!”), to their friends, to a magical rainbow unicorn named Phil who lives on Cheetos and strawberry soda in the hall closet (Don’t laugh! He’s sensitive.)

If so… encourage them! Youth storytelling builds confidence and public speaking skills and gives them a great outlet for their creativity. The StoryShop will give them the tools to build stories from scratch – including their very own story spoon!

Queue the flickering lights and eerie sounds... it's...it's...

... time for ghost stories! Ahhhh! *faints*

Ghosts in the Night Sky

Where: KCMO Public Library – Plaza Branch, Truman Forum

When: Nov. 5, 2010

Time: 7-9 p.m.

Cost: FREE

Featuring: Olga Loya, Elizabeth Ellis, Bobby Norfolk, Loretta Washington

While the serenade of young voices and classical guitar music may waft in from above, there will be no merriment or mirth for the audience here. Strange, stormy, shivering and creepy tales have won the night down below.

Olga Loya, Bobby Norfolk, Elizabeth Ellis and special guest Loretta Washington 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!

What have your kids been trying to tell you?

Kids Tell: Youth Storytellers

Where: KCMO Public Library – Plaza Branch

When: Nov. 6, 2010

Time: 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Cost: FREE

Kids say the darndest things, don’t they?

Performers aged 5-18 will make you chuckle, sigh, belly-laugh and shake your heads! The whole family will get a kick out of how these kids see the world.

Interested in encouraging kids’ natural storytelling tendencies? Sign up for the Media Specialists Workshop on storytelling clubs! RSVP @ 816.604.3011.