Start making plans - the 12th Annual Storytelling Celebration begins in 13 days!

... we're pretty sure the title says it all.

Starting Nov. 1 with the Story Slam @ MCC-Maple Woods, the 12th Annual Kansas City Storytelling Celebration will be underway!

If you haven't LIKED us on Facebook yet, do it! (Please? We want to keep you informed!)

You can check out a full schedule of public events here.

Free family events!

Put down the video game controllers and sofa snacks - yes, you too, dad - and head out for some family fun! Never fear, we're not talking about mom's super-exciting trip to the pumpkin patch again - we're talking about a line-up of great regional and national storytellers that will make you think, crack you up and even dance in a gigantic bird costume! (No, really. Giant bird. We have it.)

From preschool and elementary age tales at Kansas City, MO, and Mid-Continent public libraries to Family concerts and even workshops, we have a week full of events to keep the kiddos busy and entertained!

For a full list of public events, please see the full schedule and look for events in blue.

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.

Visit our Facebook Fan Page!

No, not this.

The Kansas City Storytelling Celebration has a new fan page on Facebook - follow us, link to your sites and profiles, and most importantly, share storytelling with all YOUR Facebook friends and fans!

The Kansas City Storytelling profile will be deleted at the end of this month, so please "like" the new fan page so you will have continued access to updates.

It's almost here!

No, not the Halloween-candy-induced wave of nausea and dental visits. That starts tomorrow.

Also: The Great Pumpkin is not coming. You might want to break that news gently.

The 11th Annual Kansas City Storytelling Celebration starts Nov. 2, 2010 with the Story Slam: We All Have a Story to Tell About Family event at MCC-Maple Woods.

That's just the beginning of this citywide four-day event, so check the schedule and plan to take yourself, your family, your friends, even your candy-crazed kids to one of our FREE events.

Don't forget to mark your calendars!

If you've been a regular reader of this blog, you probably know about all of the wonderful events that are coming up. If you don't - there's no excuse! Shame!

Just kidding! But why not take the time to catch up?

There's a schedule of events here for your convenience, and numerous posts about the events themselves to give you an idea of the great things going on Nov. 2-6, 2010.

Hope to see you there!

Location, Location, Location!

Planning on attending several events? Here's a list of locations for storytelling performances in the KC Metro area.

Kansas City, Missouri, Public Libraries


Bluford Branch
3050 Prospect Ave, Kansas City MO
816-701-3482

Central Branch
14 W 10th St, Kansas City, MO
816-701-3441

Plaza Branch, Truman Forum
4801 Main St, Kansas City, MO
816-701-3481, ext 3

Southeast Branch
63rd St & Swope Pkwy, Kansas City, MO
816-701-3484

Trails West Branch
11401 E 23rd St, Independence, MO
816-701-3483

Waldo Branch
201 E 75th St, Kansas City, MO
816-701-3486

Westport Branch
118 Westport Rd, Kansas City, MO
816-701-3488

Mattie Rhodes Art Center
915 W 17th St, Kansas City, MO
816-221-0592

MCC-Maple Woods Campus Center
2601 NE Barry Rd, Kansas City, MO
816-604-3007

Mid-Continent Public Library
Lee’s Summit Branch
150 NW Oldham Parkway, Lee Summit, MO
816-524-0567

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
1616 E 18th Street, Kansas City, MO
816-221-1920
cmoss@nlbm.com

Primitivo Garica Elemtary School
1000 17th St, Kansas City, MO
Sponsored by: Irene H. Ruiz Bibloteca de las Americas
816-701-3487

The schedule you've all been waiting for...

... is here!

MCC-Maple Woods proudly presents the (abridged) schedule for the 11th Annual Kansas City Storytelling Celebration.

More information about individual events will be forthcoming, so check back often!

Tuesday, Nov. 2

Story Slam:

We All Have a Story to Tell About Our Families

7-9 p.m.

MCC-Maple Woods Student Center

FREE

This is an open mic event - bring yourself, your friends, your families and your stories!

*Must be over 18 to participate

Wednesday, Nov. 3

KCMO Public Library, Bluford Branch

10:00-11:00 a.m. (Preschoolers)

FREE

KCMO Public Library, Southeast Branch

10:00-11:00 a.m. (Preschoolers)

FREE

KCMO Public Library, Westport Branch

10:00-11:00 a.m. (Preschoolers)

FREE

Mid-Continent Public Library, Lee’s Summit Branch

1:30-2:30 p.m. (Preschoolers)

FREE

Media Specialists Workshop

Passing It On

$12–includes lunch

Noon-3:30 p.m.

Park Hill School District (7703 NW Barry Rd)

RSVP: 816-604-3011

A workshop with lots of ideas for equipping and encouraging youth tellers through storytelling clubs

Media Specialists, Public Library Staff, School Librarians & Storytellers)

Presenter: Becky Everly

Thursday, Nov. 4

KCMO Public Library, Waldo Branch

10:00-11:00 a.m. (Preschoolers)

FREE

KCMO Public Library, Central Branch

10:30-11:30 a.m. (School age)

Featuring: Bobby Norfolk

FREE

Westside Family Concert

Primitivo Garica Elementary School

Sponsored by: Irene H. Ruiz Bibloteca de las Americas

6:00-8:00 p.m.

Featuring: Olga Loya

FREE

Regional Concert: River & Prairie Storyweavers

MCC-Maple Woods Student Center

7:00-9:00 p.m.

Cost: $3

Storytellers from Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa

and Illinois come together to share their unique talents and tales.

Friday, Nov. 5

Mid-Continent Public Library, Lee’s Summit Branch

10:00-11:00 a.m. (Preschoolers)

FREE

KCMO Public Library, Trails West Branch

11:00 a.m.- noon (Preschoolers)

FREE

Day of the Dead and Altar Stories

Mattie Rhodes Art Center: First Fridays Crossroads Series

6:30 p.m.

Featuring: Olga Loya

FREE

Friday Night Family Fun Concert

KCMO Public Library, Plaza Branch

7:00-8:00 p.m.

Featuring: Thom and Sarah Howard

FREE

Ghost Stories Concert

KCMO Public Library – Plaza Branch, Truman Forum

7:00-9:00 p.m. (Mature Audiences)

Featuring: Elizabeth Ellis, Olga Loya,

Bobby Norfolk with Special Guest Loretta Washington

FREE

Saturday, Nov. 6

Northland Family Concert

MCC-Maple Woods – Campus Center

11:00 a.m.-12 p.m.

Featuring: Bobby Norfolk

FREE

Build a story of your own in the StoryShop.

KCMO Public Library – Plaza Branch

1:00-2:00 p.m. (Youth workshop)

Create your own “story spoon” to take home.

Featuring: Thom and Sarah Howard

FREE

Black Sheep and Kissing Cousins

KCMO Public Library – Plaza Branch

1:00-2:30 p.m. (Adult Workshop)

Examine the eight types of stories all families share and learn tips for collecting and telling them.

Featuring: Elizabeth Ellis

FREE

Before The Lights Go Out

The Story of Satchel Paige, James “Cool Papa” Bell, and the Negro Baseball Leagues

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

2:00-3:30 p.m.

Cost: $8

Special: Military Appreciation Day

All active and inactive Military and two guests will be admitted free.

Please present your Military ID upon admission

Plaza Library Family Concert

KCMO Public Library – Plaza Branch, Truman Forum

2:30-3:30 p.m.

Featuring:  Elizabeth Ellis, Thom and Sarah Howard, Olga Loya and special youth storyteller Union Chapel Student Anne Price

FREE

Kids Tell: Youth Storytellers

KCMO Public Library – Plaza Branch, Truman Forum

3:30-4:30 p.m.

Audience members are treated to a view of the world through the eyes of local youths. (Performers aged 5-18)

FREE

Storytelling Spectacular

KCMO Public Library – Plaza Branch, Truman Forum

7:00-9:00 p.m. (Audiences ages 10 and older)

The flagship event of the Storytelling Celebration promotes cultural diversity, global communication and perhaps, most importantly, healthy entertainment.

Featuring:  Elizabeth Ellis, Thom and Sarah Howard, Olga Loya and Bobby Norfolk.

FREE