Musings
About Worcester Tellabration 2009 Tellebration History
 TELLABRATION began in 1988 has now become an international storytelling event. It is usually held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Each year, thousands of people gather to listen to stories at hundreds of TELLABRATIONS on the same day.
This year, 2009, I will have been producing TELLABRATION events for fifteen years. Each year I am touched and amazed to see friends and acquaintances step up and help out more and more. In the past, the Worcester TELLABRATION events have purchased books and storytelling CDs for children who are separated from their families. This year Worcester TELLABRATION 2009 will purchase books and literacy materials for Worcester children who attend the I.C.C. Kids Club. The funds are raised in four ways: ticket sales, advertisements in the program, refreshment sales, and a raffle at the event.
Cookies are donated by our local Stop and Shop grocery store and Darby's Bakery in West Boylston. Volunteers bake additional "goodies" to sell. Green Rooster Coffee House volunteers Ann and Dan Lewis almost always staff the coffee and tea sales each year because they say, "We like to hear all the stories."
 Accomplished storytellers and story performers donate their time and talents to this benefit. Listeners hear humorous tales, songs, folklore, stories and poems that touch the heart. Worcester Tellebration 2009 will be emceed by Len Lipner of Worcester. Leeny Del Seamonds, internationally acclaimed performer of Latino, original and multicultural stories, will share her Cuban-American sense of humor and passion for stories. Magician Steve Charette will mystify us, and Donna Leard and I will share a story, as will the young storytellers that Donna has coached. This year our music will be by the drummers from Worcester Arts Magnet School.
Worcester is a city of tradition, and the Worcester TELLABRATION is developing a few traditions of its own. Marge Purves tells a dynamic Luddle Rut Reddin Hut, and Fred Mikkelsen and Jay Dimen become Abbott and Costello. Joan McGinn's chocolate dipped strawberries are "to-die-for". My friend Lori Stevenson and my husband Phil Stone make TELLABRATION evening flow smoothly. Chuck DeMers helps to set up the coffee house and includes TELLABRATION in the Green Rooster mailings.
For the past eight years, Worcester TELLABRATION has been held at the Green Rooster Coffee House located in the United Congregational Church at Lincoln Square in Worcester.
If you are interested in learning about past Worcester TELLABRATIONS, click here to view some of the programs and photographs.
If you are interested in more TELLABRATION history, or in telling at or producing a TELLABRATION in YOUR community, contact LANES at www.lanes.org. Visit the National Tellabration website for information, resources and more. www.tellabration.org
Katie Green
11/10/09
|
