Talespinner
The Newsletter of the Story Circle
of the Capital District
Editor and Publisher: Claire Nolan 11
Norwood Street Albany, NY 12203
(518) 209-6477 E-mail: cbnolou@yahoo.com
June 2008 – July 2008
Visit our web site at http://timesunion.com/communities/storycircle
“Summer afternoon -
summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in
the English language.” Henry James
Story Circle Business News
Meetings 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the
William K. Sanford Public Library and 6:15 to 9:00 p.m. at the Guilderland
Library (GPL). At GPL, we will have a topic for panel/roundtable discussion.
Facilitators for upcoming meetings:
Upcoming Facilitators/Meetings
June 25 at GPL--Fran Berger —“Body
Work for Storytellers”
July 15--Colonie--Eric Randall
August 20-- GPL--Dee and Frank
Wind —“Visual Aspects of Storytelling”
September 16--Colonie--Carol
Connolly -- Dinner Meeting
October 15--Guilderland--facilitator
needed—“Use of Space in Storytelling”
Story
Circle Meeting Wednesday April 15 at GPL
Carol Connolly, Facilitator
Stories told:
Adam Hoffman--"Aunt Misery"-- from "Latin American Folk
Tales"
Dee Wind-- "Wilfred Gordon MacDonald Partridge" -- by Mem Fox
Frank Wind-- "The Haggis"--inspired by a placemat in a
restaurant in Scotland
Corey White-- "The Stonecutter"--Japanese tale (by Kent
Bushman)
Nancy Payne--"Hans Learns Sense"--a "Lazy Jack" tale
with Nancy's original ending
Listeners: Don Damer, Bess Arden
Story Circle Meeting Tuesday May 20 in Colonie
Facilitator, Carol Connolly
Stories told:
Micki Groper-- "The Treasure"--a Russian version of
"Peddler of Swaffam"
Nancy Payne-- An Arthurian Fable-- "Sir Gawain and the Loathly
Lady"
Adam Hoffman-- "Jack and the Beanstalk”
Kate
Dudding--
"Working Hard" -- an original tale about Irving Berlin
Corey White-- "In These Parts"-- adapted from the song by the
Hot Buttered Rum String Band (by permission)
Fran Berger-- "Three Legged Rabbit Lights the Sun" -- a Ute
tale with drumming
Dee Wind-- "Travel Story"-- original -- the trials and
tribulations of a traveler
Listeners: Eric Randall, Don Darmer, Frank Wind
Ongoing Events
OPEN
MICS in Saratoga On
the Second Wednesday of each month.
June
11 –
Woodlawn Commons 156 Lawrence St. 6:45 sign up. Directions: From Broadway
in Saratoga, turn West on Church
St. Turn right on Seward St. (If you get as far as the hospital,
you've gone one block too far). Turn right again on Clement St. (at the 2nd
stop sign) Look for Hospice. Woodlawn is the big yellow building nearby.
No
July Date at
Café Lena. Open Mic at Café Lena will return in September.
Adirondack
Storytelling Guild
– Contact Fran Yardley franstory@gmail.com. Upcoming schedule:
June
and July---no
meetings
August
9 1:00 The
ADK Storytelling Guild will meet at the Storytelling Festival in Jay, New
York. Featured tellers will be Onowumi Jean Moss, Marge Bruchac, and Dan
Berggren. There will also be an open mic session. For more info about this
festival, contact Karen Glass, kglass28@kvvi.net.
Adult
Programs
Sunday
July 27 at 6:00 pm
Barbara Aliprantis “A Daughter of the Aegean – Her Storytelling
Odyssey”. Stories and folktales of a Greek-American childhood in Brooklyn.
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site Visitor Center * 129 Schoharie * Fort
Hunter NY 12069 * 518- 829-7516 Street Bring Lawn Chairs. Rain or Shine.
July
and August
Fran Yardley will be featured in the psycho thriller, Night Must
Fall, by Emlyn
Williams at
Pendragon Theatre in Saranac
Lake in
repertory in July and August. Contact Pendragon Theatre, 518 891-1854 for info.
Sunday
August 3 at 6:00 pm
Heather Forest “Tales of Womenfolk”. Old tales with a touch of modern
femininity featuring courageous and resourceful women. Schoharie Crossing State
Historic Site Visitor Center * 129 Schoharie * Fort Hunter NY 12069 * 518-
829-7516 Street Bring Lawn Chairs. Rain or Shine.
Sunday
August 10 at 6:00 pm
Michael Parent “Stories and Songs from Maine”. Poignant and humorous
stories about characters who live in the out of the way state (of mind) called
Maine. Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site Visitor Center * 129 Schoharie *
Fort Hunter NY 12069 * 518- 829-7516 Street Bring Lawn Chairs. Rain or Shine.
See More August and September
Events in “Looking Ahead”
Family Programs
Sunday
June 1 from 1-4 pm. Bairbre McCarthy at the Saratoga/ Wilton
Elks Lodge, Rt. 9, Saratoga Springs, NY - Irish Culture Day - Empire State
College, Academy for Lifelong Learning celebrates diversity with an afternoon
of Irish music, dancing, storytelling and other cultural events. Call 587
2100, ext. 2780, for more information.
Saturday
June 7 at 7 pm.
"At
home in Easton," Burton Hall, 1071 State Rt. 40, Easton, NY. Bairbre McCarthy. Local stories that connect
the past, present, and future of the community of Easton. An oral history
project. Call Easton library at 692 2253 for more information.
Tuesday June 10 6:30 p.m. --Tales ‘n Tunes
will present “Buggy About Books”
at the Ft. Edward Library, Ft. Edward, NY . Call (518) 747-6743 for information.
Saturday
and Sunday
June 21
and 22 at the
Clearwater Festival, Great Hudson River Revival, Croton Point Park, Croton, NY, Bairbre McCarthy will tell stories all
weekend in the Story Grove at this historic festival. Call 1-800-67-SLOOP,
or (845)
454 7673. www.clearwaterfestival.org
Wednesday June 25 "Gun Powder and
Battle Cry: War Path between the Mountains" by Alden (Joe)
Doolittle. Catskill Bluestone Amphitheatre; AfPA; 897 St. David's Lane in
Niskayuna. More about "Joe" www.storycircleatproctors.org. For
reservations: Joe Doolittle at 384-1700
Friday
June
27 at
11:00 a.m.
--Tales ‘n Tunes will present “Buggy About Books!”
a.m. at the Crandall Public Library, Glens Falls, NY. Call (518) 792-6508 for information.
Tuesday July
1 at 7:00 p.m. --Tales ‘n Tunes
will perform “Buggy About Books!”
at the Marcellus Free Library, Marcellus, NY. Call (315)
673-3221 for
in formation.
Wednesday July
2 at
1:30 p.m.
--Tales ‘n Tunes will perform “Buggy About Books” at
the Plattsburgh Public Library, Plattsburgh, NY. Call (518) 563 0921 for info.
Sunday
July 6 at 4:00 pm Foundation
for Baroque Music, 165
Wilton Rd., Greenfield Center, NY. Storytelling and music concert featuring
storyteller Bairbre McCarthy and musicians Frank Orsini, John Cromie,
Mary and Patrick Willems. Irish stories and music from the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries. A picnic to follow. 518 893-7527 www.baroquefestival.org
Wednesday
July 9 at 3:00 p.m. --Tales ‘n Tunes
will present “Buggy About Books” at
the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library, Clifton Park, NY. Call 371- 8622 for details.
Thursday July
10 at
11:00 a.m.
--Tales ‘n Tunes will present “Buggy About Books”
at the Little Falls Public Library, Little Falls, NY. Call for information: (315) 823-1542.
Wednesday July
16 at
2:00 p.m.
--Tales ‘n Tunes will perform “ Buggy About Books!”
at the Mary Wilcox Library, Whitney Point, NY. Call (607) 692-3159 for information.
Wednesday July
16 at 7:00 p.m. --Tales ‘n Tunes
will present “Buggy about Books!”
at
the Moore Memorial Library, Greene, NY. Call (607)
656 9349 for
information.
Friday
July 18 at 7:00 pm
– Claire Nolan: “Tales of Motion” at Emma Treadwell Thacher Nature
Center 87 Nature Center Way; Voorheesville, NY 12186; phone: 872-0800.
Monday July
21 at 7:00 p.m. --Tales ‘n Tunes
will perform “Buggy About Books!”
at the Broome County Public Library, Binghamton, NY. (607) 778-6456 for info.
Tuesday
July
22 at 7:00 p.m. --Tales ‘n Tunes
will perform “Buggy About Books!”
at the George F. Johnson Memorial Library, Endicott, NY. Call (607) 757-5350 for information.
Wednesday July
23 at
1:30 p.m. --Tales ‘n Tunes will perform “Buggy About Books!”
at the Sherburne Public Library, Sherburne, NY. Call (607) 674-4242 for information.
Wednesday July
23 at 6:30 p.m. --Tales ‘n Tunes
will perform “Buggy About Books!”
at the Oxford Memorial Library, Oxford, NY. Call (607) 843-6146 for information.
Wednesday July 23 "Stories of the
Adirondack Forest and Trail" by Karen Glass,
Librarian-Keene Valley. Catskill Bluestone Amphitheatre; AfPA 897 St. David's Lane in Niskayuna.
More about Karen: www.karenglasslive.com. For reservations:
Joe Doolittle at 384-1700
Saturday
July 26 at
7:00 PM
- 7:30 PM
Betty Cassidy; Freedom Park, Scotia. With the Puppet People.
http://www.freedomparkscotia.org/schedule.html
Monday
July
28 at 6:30 p.m. --Tales ‘n Tunes
will perform “Buggy About Books!”
at the LaGrange Association Library, Poughkeepsie, NY. Call (845) 452-3141 for information.
Tuesday July
29 at 7:00 p.m. --Tales ‘n Tunes
will perform “Buggy About Books!”
at the Whitehall Library, Whitehall, NY. Call (518)499-1366 for information.
Wednesday July
30 at
3:00 p.m.
--Tales ‘n Tunes will perform “Buggy About Books!”
at the Waterford Public Library, Waterford, NY. Call (518)237-0891 for information
Wednesday July
30 at 6:30 p.m. --Tales ‘n Tunes
will perform “Buggy About Books!”
at the Mechanicville Public Library, Mechanicville, NY. Call (518)664-4646 for information
Thursday July
31 at
1:00 p.m.
--Tales ‘n Tunes will present “Buggy About Books!”
at the South Steuben County Library, Corning, NY. Call (607) 936-3713
for information
See August and September Events in
“Looking Ahead”
Workshops and Classes for
Storytellers
Monday,
July 14-Friday July 18, 1:30 pm-3:00 pm each day. Bairbre McCarthy: Irish Mythology and
Language,
Catskills Irish Arts Week, East Durham, NY, (one hour south of Albany)The three cycles of Irish
mythology and early Irish history will be explored: the legendary Queen
Maeve of Connacht, the Ulster hero Cúchulainn, the Fenian cycle, the
arrival of St. Patrick, up to the time of Brian Boru.
Cost:
$275 for afternoon class. Each session will begin with short conversational lessons in
Irish (Gaelic) language, suitable for all levels, but no experience
required. Bairbre has produced an instructional CD of easy Irish lessons
for beginners. For
more information about the class, contact Bairbre at 587 3084, or irishstories@bairbremccarthy.com. For more
information about Catskills Irish Arts Week, see web
site www.east-durham.org . To register contact
Michael J. Quill Cultural Centre, East Durham, NY 12423, irishartsweek@gmail.com,
or call 1 800 434 3378.
Friday – Sunday July 18-20 Pyramid Lake Storytelling
Camp! Marni Gillard, Kevin Brooks, Laura Packer, and Nancy
Payne will lead workshops, swaps, and offer a concert of tales around the
fire. Arrival is Friday at 5:00. “Camp” ends Sunday after lunch. The
workshop is for beginner & experienced tellers & “big kids” who like to
tell and listen. $120 covers EVERYTHING. http://www.pyramidlife.org/ Or
Marni at 518-381-9474 or marnigillard@earthlink.net
Wednesdays
June – September
5:30 pm (See dates below) Join four regional and local storytellers in a
new summer storytelling series at the Catskill Bluestone Amphitheatre; AfPA,
897 St.
David's Lane
in Niskayuna. The performances are free and open to the community. Before
each performance there will be a Special Story-Supper Seminar open only to
Niskayuna School District Continuing Education Registrants. The registrants
will have an individualized learning session with the storyteller before the
performance. It is not necessary to be a resident of Niskayuna to register.
The class takes place during a (bring your own) PICNIC SUPPER with the artist.
See Calendar Listings for more information on the performances.
Wednesday June
25
"Gun Powder and Battle Cry: War Path between the Mountains" by Alden
(Joe) Doolittle.
Wednesday July
23
"Stories of the Adirondack Forest and Trail" by Karen Glass,
Wednesday August
20
"Gloskap Tales and Abenaki Legends" by Jim Bruchac.
Wednesday September 24 “Hitch up Matilda
& other Mountain Tales” - Rev. Kent
Bushman.
Location: AfPA; 897 St.
David's Lane; Niskayuna, NY
Supper
Class at 5:30
PM -
Performance at 7:00 PM.
Fee
for class and performance: Individuals - $20 each night or $70 for all four
performances. Family rate (up to 4 family members) - $60 each
night or $200 for all four performances). To register call 377-4666 ext. 231. Performance
Only is free and open to the public.
Among Ourselves
Thursday,
June 5 Fran
Yardley will be telling stories at Great Camp Sagamore on and Contact Great Camp
Sagamore, 315
354-5311 or
for info e-mail sagamore@telenet.net.
Thursday,
Sept 18 Fran
Yardley will be telling stories at Great Camp Sagamore on and Contact Great Camp
Sagamore, 315
354-5311 or
for info e-mail sagamore@telenet.net
Opportunities for Storytellers
Stay tuned for information
regarding Tellabration 2008 in November.
Looking Ahead
Sunday
August 17 at 7:00 PM - 7:30 PM Margaret French Freedom Park, Scotia; with the
Zucchini Brothers.
Sunday
August 17 at 6:00 pm
Ken Corsbie “Caribbean Voices”. The joys and adventures of growing up in
the Caribbean. Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site Visitor Center * 129
Schoharie * Fort Hunter NY 12069 * 518- 829-7516 Street Bring Lawn Chairs. Rain
or Shine.
Wednesday
August 20 at 7:00 pm
"Gloskap Tales and Abenaki Legends" by Jim Bruchac. Catskill
Bluestone Amphitheatre; AfPA 897 St. David's Lane in Niskayuna.
More
about Jim and "Dawnland" www.ndakinna.com. For
reservations: Joe Doolittle at 384-1700
Saturday
August 23 at 6:30 pm –
Claire Nolan at Emma Treadwell Thacher Nature Center 87 Nature Center
Way; Voorheesville, NY 12186; phone: 872-0800.
Sunday
August 24 at 6:00 pm
Four Stories High “Sum-Sum Summertime Stories Under the Maple Tree”.
Jane, Carol, Mary and Barbara tell original world folktales. Schoharie Crossing
State Historic Site Visitor Center * 129 Schoharie * Fort Hunter NY 12069 *
518- 829-7516 Street Bring Lawn Chairs. Rain or Shine
Sunday
September 7 at 6:00 pm Joseph Peck “Memories of a Country Boy”. Sixty years’
worth of great farm stories in Upstate new York. Schoharie Crossing State
Historic Site Visitor Center * 129 Schoharie * Fort Hunter NY 12069 * 518-
829-7516 Street Bring Lawn Chairs. Rain or Shine
Wednesday
September 24 at
7:00 pm "Hitch'em up Matilda & other Mountain Tales” - Rev.
Kent Bushman. Catskill Bluestone Amphitheatre; AfPA 897 St. David's Lane in Niskayuna.
More about Rev. Bushman: www.storycircleatproctors.org For
reservations: Joe Doolittle at 384-1700
Ode to Story Circle
by Louise Koenig
Story circle is the
bait
That hooked this little
fish.
Creating a story
Is like baking a great dish.
You might get a
suggestion,
Or an idea may come,
That spins around in your
head,
Just like a tune you'll
hum.
William Sanford Library
Was where it all began.
A story telling class,
With a woman and a man.
The Princess Aurora story,
My granddaughter said to
do--
Presented first in a
classroom,
Then, Riverway Festival,
too.
In Riverway, I took a
class,
"Meeting Your
Demon" in a tale.
So, I came home, wrote,
"Lost Again",
"Once upon a
time....," don't fail.
I visited this instructor,
By the ocean, she does
live.
So, I told my tale for
her,
Accolades, I'd hope, she'd
give.
Critique is never easy,
To swallow your hard work,
Put "Lost Again"
on the side,
But, never did I shirk.
Wrote of an experience,
With travel as a theme.
Relating to this
"Nightmare"
People laughed, with a
scream!
Rewriting a fairy tale,
Is interesting and nice.
The field is wide open,
And you can add the spice.
Facilitating a meeting,
'Tis another dimension.
Newer faces in the crowd,
Lessons a great tension.
The "old-time"
story tellers,
I don't mean that's their
age,
Have stories on their
fingertips,
Because they are our sage.
Whether you want to
listen,
Or to participate,
Story Telling is really,
An Art Form that is great.
See
You Next Time!
All meetings are held from 7 to 9 p.m. on the 3rd
Tuesday or Wednesday of the month alternating between Tuesdays in odd numbered
months at the William K. Sanford Library and Wednesdays in even numbered months
at the Guilderland Public Library.
DIRECTIONS:
The Guilderland Public Library is located at 2228 Western Avenue,
Guilderland, 1/2 mile west of Rte. 155 on the south side of Western Avenue. (June)
The
William K. Sanford Library is located at 629 Albany Shaker Road, just off Northway Exit
4, and 1/4 mile east of the intersection of Wolf Road and Albany Shaker Road on
the left side. (July)
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Name_____________________________________________________________
Address___________________________________________________________
Phone__________________Email_______________________________________
(
) I want to be a member of Story Circle, enclosed is a check for $10.00 for the
newsletter and a roster of members. Renewal January of each year.
(
) List my name among performing storytellers for referral.
(
) Send my newsletters via US mail. ( ) Send my newsletters via E-mail.
Membership
renewals are due each January and are good for one year. Please make checks
payable to “Story Circle” and send to Carol Connolly, 1100 Niskayuna Road,
Niskayuna, NY 12309
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