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)!

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.

Regional Storytelling Spotlight: Becky Everly

As a storyteller and teacher Becky has shared stories with elementary-aged school children in classrooms.  She has worked with groups in which parents and children explored the benefits of storytelling while creating stories together.

In addition to performing during the storytelling celebration, Becky is hosting a media specialists workshop.

Entertain your family with stories about... your family!

Black Sheep & Kissing Cousins

Where: KCMO Public Library – Plaza Branch, Truman Forum

When: Nov. 6, 2010

Time: 1-2:30 p.m.

Cost: FREE

Featuring: Elizabeth Ellis

Every family’s got at least one – a crazy family member, a rebel who cuts his or her own path, a “perfect” specimen…

Families are made up of unique individuals, and even though every family – like every person – is different, there are quite a few similarities between your family and everyone else’s.

Storyteller Elizabeth Ellis, who has been sharing her own personal history for more than 25 years, will walk you through the 8 types of tales that all families have in common and offer tips on how to collect and retell them.

Just think – you could be a star at your next family reunion! Make sure you ask Uncle Bob for his permission before you tell everyone about, well, you know. Just sayin.’

For all of you educator/storytellers...

For those interested in youth storytelling and storytelling in a school environment, why not sign up for Becky Everly's media specialist workshop?

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!

Get tips and tools for encouraging kids' storytelling at the Media Specialist Workshop

Where: Park Hill School District (7703 NW Barry Rd.)

When: Nov. 3, 2010

Time: Noon-3:30 p.m.

Cost: $12 – including lunch

RSVP: 816.604.3011

As anyone who has ever worked in a school, library or other place where kids congregate can attest, creative youths can certainly tell some whopping stories! Storytelling clubs, popping up in schools and public libraries everywhere, are places for kids to be creative, develop confidence and public speaking skills and have a good time learning about everything from culture to current events to each other.

Educator Becky Everly, will be on hand to demonstrate how teachers, school and public librarians and media specialist can encourage creative kids through storytelling clubs.

You must RSVP - we want to be sure there's enough food to go around!