Story celebration

From: Kansas City Star, MO - Apr 21, 2004

Five nationally recognized storytellers and more than 30 local and regional tellers will be featured at the 5th annual Storytelling Celebration sponsored by Maple Woods Community College.

The family-oriented event, which runs today through Saturday, offers live storytelling performances for youngsters, adults, families and senior citizens at more than 50 sites throughout the Kansas City area, including libraries, community centers, schools and retirement centers. Most performances are free.

The celebration is designed to introduce the community to the artistic and historic tradition of storytelling. The event also seeks to promote an understanding of ethnic and cultural diversity through performances by American, African-American, Hispanic, Asian-American, European, American Indian and Jewish storytellers.

Special events include:

• 6 to 8 p.m.Thursday — American Sign Language & Creative Storytelling Workshop, featuring national deaf storyteller Peter Cook of Chicago. Cook will perform stories combining sign language, pantomime and body language in the Campus Center at Maple Woods, 2601 N.E. Barry Road. Free.

• 7:30 to 9 p.m. Friday — Regional Storytelling Concert, featuring performances by eight storytellers from across the Midwest region in the Maple Woods Campus Center. Admission: $2 per person at the door.

• 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday — Youth Storytelling Concert, featuring youth storytellers from the Missouri, Kansas and National Storytelling Olympics Conference. Free.

• 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday — Storytelling Spectacular & Grand Finale, featuring performances by five national storytellers at Unity Temple on the Plaza, 707 W. 47th St. Admission: $7.50 per person; $15 per family.

For a complete list of free storytelling performance sites, call (816) 437-3011 or visit the Web at www.kcmetro.edu/storytelling.

© 2004 Kansas City Star and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.