Tellabration (Bellingham, WA) TELLABRATION 2006 The Worldwide Storytelling Event
Celebrate National Storytelling Week at Bellingham's premier annual showcase of storytelling. This year Tellabration features
Eth-Noh-Tec and their "Asian Treasure Bag" of stories along with
local youth storytellers. For more information on this event contact producer Rosemary Vohs at 360-650-6446 Bellingham's Tellabration has traditionally been held
in the large PAC Concert Hall. This year, however, the performance
will be in the more cozy Old Main Theatre...a perfect spot for
storytelling. Be sure to get your tickets in advance to assure you
get seats in what is sure to be a packed house. For information on parking on WWU campus, go to http://www.ps.wwu.edu/parking/info/visitor.aspx Bellingham's Tellabration is the grand finale of the Sponsored by WWU Woodring College of Education,
Every year, in celebration of National Storytelling Week, Woodring College of Education and the Bellingham Storytellers Guild sponsors an exciting storytelling event called Tellabration. In 2005 the College of Fine and Performing Arts joined us in sponsoring this premier storytelling showcase. Many of you have attended Tellabration before and know that it is a world-wide event when folk around the world gather together in large and small venues to celebrate the art of storytelling and the oral tradition. Bellingham's Tellabration is one of the largest in the nation, often drawing crowds of 300-500 to the PAC Concert Hall at WWU. Tellabration concerts also take place in many other locations across the Pacific Northwest. To find other Tellabration locations and for more information on Tellabration worldwide go to www.tellabration.org Since we started Tellabration at WWU in 1999 we have always included performances of young storytellers from local schools and colleges. This year (2006) the performance will mostly focus on our featured storytellers but a couple of young voices will be included as we seek to further the art of storytelling, passing on the gift of gab to the next generation of storytellers. Proceeds from our Tellabration support youth storytelling. Youth Storyteller Auditions and Workshop There will be no
youth audition for Tellabration 2006 If you are a young person who would like to learn more about the traditional art of storytelling or improve your current skills, come to the workshop being offered this fall.... Youth Storytelling
Workshop For more information
on auditions or workshop contact
Rosemary.Vohs@wwu.edu or call 360-650-6446
Some of the
Youth storytellers who auditioned for Tellabration in 2003 also applied for the
National Youth Storytelling Olympics 2004. Two of these
storytellers were accepted and traveled to California to perform. Details
on NYSO (as
well as tips on telling stories) can be found at
www.youthstorytelling.com Several youth storytellers who told at Bellingham's Tellabration 2003 also performed at the National Storytelling Conference held on the campus of Western Washington University, July 7-11 2004. Storytelling is an excellent opportunity for young performers. Let us know if you have a youngster with the gift of gab.
Storytelling at
Tellabration or Community Events If you are a young performer who is interested in auditioning for Tellabration or performing at local community events, here are some guidelines: Performance Description: Performers will tell a folktale or authored story intended for an audience of children and families. The story should be about 5-10 minutes long (not a strict time limit) and should be told by memory and without the use of notes. The atmosphere of Tellabration is an afternoon of family fun and entertainment, therefore, lighthearted stories are encouraged. Materials: If the story is an authored work, it is expected that permission of the publisher will be obtained to tell the story in a public setting. If the story is a folktale, credit may be given verbally to acknowledge the cultural origin of the tale. Delivery: Wording: Keeping true to the oral tradition, folktales should be delivered in an extemporaneous, spontaneous, style. The story should be should not sound “memorized” and should be told in the performer’s “own words”, not memorized from a specific printed/recorded version. The ideal is a story told in a fluent, relaxed style with heightened conversational language and a strong sense of verisimilitude. Literary (authored) stories will be more fully memorized but should still be delivered in a similar style with a feeling of natural spontaneity. Focus: Open focus (speaking directly to the audience) is the predominant focus for traditional storytelling. Unlike in formal oral interpretation, closed focus points are not generally used for character dialogue. Facial expression: The face should be expressive and should enhance the sensory and emotive imagery of the story. Effective triggering should heighten the natural spontaneity of delivery. Vocal delivery: The voice should be expressive, using phrasing and variety that brings out the imagery of the story. Vocal quality should be resonant and clear unless altered to create character differentiation. The use of characterization during dialogue is accepted but should suit the style of the story. Physical delivery: Movement and animated gestures (suitable to the story) should be used. The storyteller is not expected to stand in one place but may use the performance space to enliven the story with actions. (Microphones will be used at Tellabration. Either a standing mike or a lapel mike may be used.) Audience participation: Using audience participation elements is certainly acceptable. Many stories are enhanced by inviting the audience to join in with repetitive phrases, actions, questions, etc. |
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Tickets: $10 general $5 students