The Art of Telling Stories
by Zoë Kirsch
Get ready...get set... and get tickets… because the annual Storytelling Festival is about to begin! The first two events are to take place this month featuring world-renowned performer Jay O’Callahan. Katie Latimer, another master of storytelling who, coincidentally, was inspired by O’Callahan’s stories when she was young, will follow in October.
The Festival will continue throughout the rest of the year. This new, spread out organization will allow the Nantucket Lighthouse School and the Atheneum to join forces as effectively aspossible. It’ll be bigger and better than ever before. Children’s and Young Adult librarian Maggie Head explains: “We’ve joined efforts with the Lighthouse School this year for more storytelling events reaching a greater number of people”
The Storytelling Festival was first started six years ago. Why would the Atheneum and Lighthouse School have taken special interest in storytelling? Maggie Head and Lizbet Carol Fuller, Director of Education at the Lighthouse School, describe the relevance of storytelling to their organizations. Head says: “Hearing, understanding and retelling stories is at the foundation of any literate society.” Thus, it makes sense that the Atheneum would get involved in making the Storytelling Festival happen. Fuller emphasizes the important role storytelling plays in the Lighthouse School’s educational programs. “Storytelling is an important aspect of our curriculum as it provides a unique and valuable tool for educating and inspiring children.”
Head and Fuller make it clear that storytelling doesn’t solely enhance literary and academic environments; it enriches our day-to day life. Head says the process of telling stories is “at the core of our shared cultural identity.” She elaborates that, “stories are the way we share who we are and the world we grow up in with other people, whether they’re stories from our own lives or stories from our parents or grandparents.” Head continues, “Stories binds communities together through helping people understand certain messages.” Fuller elaborates, “stories speak to us on a many different levels. While they are entertaining, they also teach us about the human experience in general and in specific. Stories provide an engaging and meaningful context for interesting ideas, ethical questions, human dilemmas, and practical information. Children love stories because the language of story is one that they understand intuitively.”
The Festival is definitely starting off on the right foot, commencing with performances by big-time storytellers. Head says, “We especially want the children to hear from these master storytellers.” Why did they specifically choose O’Callahan and Latimer to kick off the anecdotal extravaganza?
“Allan and Sarah Ward, who are providing Jay O’Callahan with accommodations, told me about him” says Head. “They had been to his storytelling workshops and when Sarah asked me about bringing him here, we plugged him in.”
O’ Callahan is in no way your average storyteller. He has traveled the world over, so it truly is an honor that he’s coming here to Nantucket to perform for the public. The artist has told stories in New York City’s Town Hall, Boston Symphony Hall, and Dublin’s Abbey Theatre, to name a few. What’s more, those who have seen him perform are singing praises of his works far and wide. Time Magazine has called O’Callahan “a man of elegance, wit, and poetry”, and Buffalo News proclaims his theater “a triumph.”
O’Callahan will start off the Nantucket festival with a performance this Friday, August 10 from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Nantucket High School Auditorium. It’s is free, although a donation of $5 is encouraged. Stop by the Weezie Library before August 10 to get tickets! O’Callahan will continue his contributions to the Festival the very next day, August 11th, with an adult workshop entitled “Creativity Through Storytelling.” The event will run from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. The class fee is $50 per person. The workshop offers the best of both worlds: learn techniques from a master storyteller and feel comfortable while developing your own storytelling skills. The Atheneum events calendar guarantees that “no one will be put on the spot.” This class is about learning to share the stories deep inside yourself.
Katie Latimer was also discovered by a Nantucketer. Head gives explanation: “We have a Round Table for the Cape & Islands libraries. Every year we have a performers’ showcase. Comedians, jugglers, and the like do a performance to give a taste of their work. I saw Katie Latimer there in the spring of 2006 and thought she was fantastic. When I came back I recommended her to Sheryl at the Lighthouse School for last year’s festival. At that Festival she did a family performance, and of course we wanted to have her back again this year!”
Like O’Callahan, Latimer is definitely no run-of-the-mill performer. On the contrary, she began her storytelling career at the tender age of thirteen and went on to win the National Storytelling Olympics. Since then she has been traveling and performing for audiences nationwide. Latimer has been described as “a rare talent” by viewers and loved by kids across the U.S. Latimer will do a performance for children October 26, 2007 at 7 pm in the Lighthouse School and follow with a special Halloween show of The Tell Tale Heart in the Atheneum’s Great Hall at 7 pm on October 27. Both performances are free of charge.
Check the events calendar at www.yesterdaysisland.com for details about the ongoing Storytelling Festival.
Photo credits: photo of Jay O'Callahan by Chris Bernstein
