Storytellers

Lisa Facciponti
Theatre — Storyteller
Saylorsburg, PA, 18353
570-801-0834
570-402-1411
artsfacc@hotmail.com
http://lisafacciponti.com

As a storyteller, I have unknowingly followed a family path. My grandmother was a storyteller/poet, my aunt is a bard in the Celtic tradition, and my mother is a poet and teacher. I have been performing since 1990; professionally since 1997. Residency work includes: 10 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high school, and 6 for mixed at risk children. I founded/facilitated the Lehigh Valley Storyteller's Guild (PA) 1998 - 2000 and The Little Rest Storytelling Guild (RI), facilitated Story Circle '98/99, and was a member of the steering committee for The Jonnycake Storytelling Festival (RI) 1992-1995. In residency work, I often combine storytelling with traditional W. African drumming, Spanish language, and traditional European dances, when appropriate, to add dimension to the student experience. I have been teaching 14 years and strongly believe in the value of art in education.

Before answering these questions, I would like to say that every residency is unique. It is planned with the school staff and addresses their needs directly. The disciplines with which I work can be used to teach a wide range of material. Residency topics have varied greatly, and will continue to do so. Currently, I am planning a music residency for high school that will focus on percussion with traditional West African instruments and found objects and another, for second grade, that will focus on four different cultures through storytelling, drumming, and dance. What follows here are generalities. The possibilities are endless.

Three main goals I have for all residencies are:

1. An enjoyable learning experience for all involved.
2. That the residency goals fill the needs of the host school.
3. That I bring something new to each residency.

Depending on the theme and age group, residency activities may include:
My residencies vary so much, depending on the topic and the disciplines used. Here is a short list of unrelated activities that I incorporate into programs.

1. W. African drumming (traditional drum songs and creating our own music)
2. Small group work—finishing folktales.
3. Artist storytelling performances—classroom and large groups
4. Photos and personal stories of my travels in Latin America (studies of the Maya)
5. Storytelling workshops (teaching students to tell stories)
6. Spanish language, stories, songs, games (cultural connections)
7. Traditional community dances from various cultures.

Students benefit from my residencies because:

1. I have time and energy to devote to research in preparation for each residency.
2. I have traveled and studied the arts and cultures and can bring this personal experience into the classroom.
3. I have years of teaching experience so I can bridge the world of the artist to the students in a comfortable, structured manor.
4. I love what I do and transfer that enthusiasm to students.

Example topics for my residencies include:

1. U.S. History through immigration
2. Cinderella around the world (2nd grade)
3. West Africa through the arts
4. The Principles of Design through storytelling, drumming, and dance
5. The Narrative For
6. The Maya and Aztecs through stories

Cora Hook
Interdisciplinary/Storyteller
1849 Richmond Ave., Bethlehem, PA 18018
484-554-5872
chook1@mindspring.com

Expect the unexpected! With over 25 years of experience in creating and performing original theatre, Cora Hook is a consummate professional who brings humor, compassion, dedication, and spirit to every project. Her solo theatre and storytelling works combine language, movement, clowning, and using compelling microcosms of truth that leave audiences "thinking, yet exhilarated." As a teacher and workshop facilitator, Ms. Hooks inspires students of all ages and abilities to unleash the artist within. Using theatre games, storytelling, writing and more, she encourages each individual to develop his/her unique voice within the context of the collective creation. Workshops and residencies are designed in collaboration with reach community partner. Themes can be developed form school curriculum, community issues, or individual concerns.

Three main goals I have for all residencies are:

1. Develop participants' ability to listen to themselves and to each other
2. Develop participants' ability to work as a group
3. Introduce participants to the process of creation: preparation, exploration, creative choice-making, presentation

Depending on the theme and age group, residency activities may include:

1. Group-building games and listening exercises
2. Storytelling through movement and sound
3. Character improvisation
4. Investigation of narrative points of view (telling, showing, being)
5. Poetry and creative writing
6. Creation of a final group presentation

Students benefit from my residencies because:

1. They gain self-confidence
2. The develop respect for their own ideas and the ideas of others
3. They have fun exploring subject areas and themes in new ways
4. They discover how to make choices
5. They learn to follow through on an idea from concept to completion
6. They unearth hidden abilities and interests
7. They become part of a team

Example topics for my residencies include:

1. Coming to a New Home (Immigration Then and Now)
2. How Things Came to Be: Creation Stories
3. Living with Disability: Through Our Own Eyes
4. Women and Work
5. What's Important
6. Discoveries and Discoverers
7. Gravity and Other Forces Acting on Me
8. Listening to Our Elders: Stories of Yesterday, Dreams of Tomorrow

Larry Sceurman
Theatre — Storyteller
217 N. Broad St., Nazareth, PA 18064
610-746-2813
larbarstory@enter.net

Larry Sceurman is a storyteller that will make you laugh, let you learn, while you long to listen. In his more than 26 years as a vocational teacher, Larry realized the importance of story in the process of learning. Storytelling unlocks the imagination and allows the students to develop and strengthen all types of communications skills. Listening helps make a better speaker, speaking strengthens reading skills, reading helps improve writing skills and writing creates works to listen to. This all makes for a better student. All residencies and programs are designed to fit each age group, classroom and curriculum. Through Larry's storytelling, magic tricks and sign language skills, he will take students to other countries, journey into the past, help the student to solve problems and there is always a beneficial or hopeful moral at the end of the tale.

 

Three main goals I have for residencies are:

1. For all participants to have a better understanding of the art of
   storytelling
2. Learning can be interesting. Work and fun at the same time.
3. Unlock the imagination to allow students to develop and strengthen communication skills.

1. Listening exercises and games (ice breakers) to bring about group camaraderie.
2. Through discussion and democratic process (a vote), we select a theme or what story we will tell.
3. Using your voice in storytelling.
4. Telling and writing a personal story- What happened at my birthday party; Why my pet is so funny; How I won the race.
5. Body Movement. Showing emotions without using voice.
6. Understanding the moral of the story.
7. Research-gathering stories and information.
8. A group performance.

1. Seeds are planted to encourage students to read.
2. Telling and listening to a story involves the imagination. This opens the mind up to learning,
3. Problem-solving skills are developed.
4. What better way to gain self confidence than by telling your story?
5. They have fun learning.
6. Creative thinking and communication skills are used in a group setting.
7. Students experience the power of story by listening, telling, writing, and reading.
8. Learning in all subjects through storytelling.

1. Using Folktales to explore and study cultures and counties.
2. Local History-Through story, learn about your town, city, country or state.
3. U.S. History- What happened, why and who the people were.
4. Trees- Learning why trees were and still are important to our environment and the world.
5. Birds- Stories of birds and their gift of flight. Learn about birds in your backyard.
6. Addictions- Looking at the enslavement of an obsessive habit through story.
7. Writing and telling a family story.
8. What is funny? Telling and writing funny noodle-head tales.
   

 

 

Mary Wright
Theatre — Storyteller
1820 W. Union Blvd., Bethlehem, PA 18018 6
10-867-8528
mcw3@lehigh.edu

As a storyteller and theatre artist, Mary brings an exciting and eclectic mix of stories, songs and theater to her performances, with tales that range from the high steppes of Asia to her own back yard. Folktales, fairytales, tall tales and true adventures all speak to the wonder of living and the resiliency of the human spirit. Mary works collaboratively with teachers and students — through performances and on the creative process within residencies. Mary strongly believes that storytelling and theatre "exceed the standards" because it allows students to show what they know. She is highly regarded for her ability to create residencies that are tailored to the individual needs of the curricula and classrooms in which she works. She has worked in pre-k through college, in community groups, churches and organizations. Comments about her work range from a 2nd grader, "you were funny", to Master Storyteller Jay O'Callahan's, "perfectly marvelous."

Three main goals I have for all residencies are:

1. Engaging the students in active learning.
2. Give teachers storytelling and theatre tools they can use throughout the rest of their teaching curricula.
3. Allow students to discover their own creative voice...and use it.

Depending on the theme and age group, residency activities may include:

1. Warm-up games geared toward listening skills.
2. Stories
3. Small group activities and collaboration
4. Storytelling starters and free writing
5. Various methods of developing stories
6. Large group discussions and brain-storming activities
7. Showcase of developed work.

Students benefit from my residencies because:

1. Speaking is everyone's first language — and when students learn better how to tell a story they will know better how to write it.
2. Stories are hard-wired into humans' brains (the limbic) and the information that gets stored there through story will be more easily accessible.
3. Listening and communication skills will enhance the rest of their education.
4. The act of sharing your own story is empowering, students gain self-confidence.
5. The activities and mood in the residency is one of focused fun.
6. Awareness of other cultures through their stories leads to better understanding and increased empathy.
7. They will have learned some new collaboration skills and be better working together in groups.

Example topics for my residencies include:

1. Westward expansion
2. Family and our stories
3. Cultural Exploration
4. Fairytales
5. Folk-tales
6. Studying a country through story
7. Nature
8. The seasons
9. Rhyming
10. Autobiography
11. Creating original stories
12. Using stores in math and science curricula
13. American history