Programs…
The following programs can be adapted to performances, keynotes, lectures, or combinations.
I'm Becoming My Mother
Wickedly Funny Stories About Momma and Grandma.
Shady Ladies and/or Bad Boys of the Bible
Hear the stories of some of our most beloved Biblical characters, as you've never heard them before—told with humor and contemporary zest.
All in the Family: Sha! Don't Tell; Guilt Trips; I'm Becoming My Mother
Every family has secrets, sprinkled with a bit of guilt. These stories are about the journeys of the people who populate my family. They will sound familiar, because our personal narratives connect us to universal truths.
Solidarity Forever: Growing Up Union
Hear the story of the American Labor Movement through the actions of young girls who shaped it, told as a personal narrative by the daughter of a labor leader.
For Their Wickedness They Were Punished: The Case for Justice in Folklore
Includes stories about justice from multiple perspectives and various cultures.
Laugh A Little. Cry A Little: Jewish Wit and Wisdom
Jewish folklore (as well as personal stories) dominates these stories filled with laughter and tears.
Same Difference
These stories have similar plots and characters, but are made unique by the cultural differences that change them. slightly.
Yiddish Theatre
The true stories of the fascinating characters who shaped the Theatre of the Heart and brought it from Romania to America.
Stories of the Soul
The legends and folklore of the Kabbalists and their spiritual heirs, the Hasids are filled with mystery and magic.
When Good People Do Something
Hear the remarkable story of an entire country that saved 98% of its Jewish population during the Holocaust.
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Workshops…
Speak Where the Bible Speaks; Make Up the Rest—Creating Biblical Stories
Using Biblical text, we will examine the story through the words and then without the words—through the spaces. Participants will develop Midrashim (the story behind the story) in groups so that we will understand the traditional text with contemporary meaning.
For Their Wickedness, They Were Punished—The Case for Justice in Folklore
In adapting and reworking traditional folktales, many writers and tellers change endings, especially those that may be considered harsh by modern standards. This workshop concentrates on defining what justice is, why it is necessary in folklore, and what happens when we change the ending of stories. Using well-known tales where endings have been changed, we will discuss, "How do folktales preserve our values and how do they predict them?" Be prepared for lively, provocative dialogue.
HUGS: Having, Using, Giving Stories
This interactive workshop deals with the practical why, what and how of storytelling. Designed for the novice classroom teller, we will see how stories can be incorporated into curricula as participants practice skills. We'll look at types of stories that work with different grade levels.
It's My Story and I'm Sticking to It—Personal Narratives
Ever start to write a personal story and not remember the facts, the details? What do you do when everyone else has forgotten as well? Or when everyone else who was there remembers it differently? Where does memory draw the line between freedom and license?
Sculpting Stories: Shaping an Art Form from the Page to the Stage
How do you sort, shape, and shake out pieces to craft your story? What stays? Which words that you love go? Using principles from art, literature, and technical writing, we will examine techniques for final stages of editing folk, personal, or original tales. Bringing specific problems will enhance your experience.
If the Shoe Fits: Looking at Cinderella as a Child of Abuse
She's the heroine of the oldest written folk tale, the one who ends up with the glass slipper and the prince. But, her story is darker and deeper psychologically than Disney hinted. In this workshop, we examine three levels (Tale Types) of the Cinderella cycle and explore the tough issue of which version we tell, to whom, and where.
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