Voices of the Future & A HOT TIME Telling Stories

On May 9^th, The Patchwork Players had the privilege of performing as part of a wonderful event The Imagination Celebration presents Voices of the Future. This happened at Bowers Kidseum in San at Ana CA. Several youth storytelling groups run by South Coast Storytellers Guild members performed before parents, friends and story enthusiasts. Storytellers from Kindergartners through fifth graders wowed and dazzled the audience. Some of them, just with their courage to face their fears and stand in front of a group of people looking right at them (we know how many adults would rather die than speak in front of a large group)…..and some of the kids by their great poise and ability to work a crowd. The children had been telling anywhere from 3 weeks to several years. There were even a number of tandem tellers, two performers/one story. Some of these kids were simply amazing. We will look to see some of them up on large stages later on.

Two of the clubs were from pretty affluent suburban schools, while one had city kids many of whom have parents how speak no English. It is good to have a mix of students form different backgrounds, and we especially applaud the group leaders who have tackled the difficult job of dealing with kids who are not always able to make an on-going commitment to a program such as storytelling. All of the kids did well and were inspired.

In addition to the kids, we were invited along with a couple of other professionals to tell a story. We picked one of our all time favorites: Caps for Sale: a Story of a Peddler and His Hats. This allowed a number of students storytellers to join with us as curious monkeys. Always fun, although, you always take a chance that some kids want to steal the stage even if their part has no spoken words.

Storytelling in 99+ degree weather? Why not? Saturday May 17^th was a record breaking hot day in our region of southern CA. So, a great day for two outdoor gigs!

We started off with Folktales of Norway in celebration of the holiday “Syttende Mai" or the 17th

of May is a celebration of the day in 1814 when Norway’s constitution was signed in the town of Eidsvoll, Norway. We had our audience members use their im

agination to think of a really cold and snowy day to go along with our traditional Norwegian clothes or “bunad”s. James has an especially nice one with a beautiful wool

vest…perfect for one hundred degree heat!

We told a number of favorite traditional tales such as The Troll Bride, The White Cat of Dovre, The Three Billy Goats Gruff, and the Man Who Was to Mind the House. The aduience of nearly one hundred kids and parents, mostly hung in their with us, much to our amazement. The City of Irvine staff were a attentive and amazing with their support. They have taken their commitment to culture diversity very seriously. Thanks Irvine staff!!

James had several family members who earned some great “family points” for coming and and listening to stories in the heat. His mom even wore her own really hot bunad. Yah mom!

Next we hopped into the lovely air conditioned car and headed up the road to the Children’s Museum of La Habra. There we were part of their Family Art Festival in celebration of Local Heroes. (Outside, of course!!!!) The place was crawling with very friendly fire fighters, police officers and paramedics, plus some pretty neat vehicles and weapons.

A couple of the main acts had to perform out in the open under the increasingly hot sun. As storytellers, we were blessed with some shade (thank heavens!) Everyone was pretty sluggish and hesitant to “rush right over to sit down and hear some stories” so we brought the stories to them. One place that had a very long line was the line for face painting. They had some awesome face painters, but the line was moving veeerrrrrryy slowly. So “how bout a story while you wait?” YAH!!!! And so, storytellers to the rescue yet again. Nothing like a scary (or funny) story or two while you are waiting in a long line. Especially if everyone can stay in the shade.

We were then very glad to get into the car, drink a bunch of cool water and head off to see James’ nephew Dustin in a Karate competition, just a couple of miles down the road. He did well, including winning a large first place trophy.

By the time we got home, we were HOT but tired and really glad to be living the glamorous life of traveling storytellers.

Flat Stanley and The Patchwork Players

Do you know about FLAT STANLEY?

Flat Stanley is a character in a book (one that has been around for a long time!) who among other things, after he gets squashed flat by a bulletin board, goes on a trip to California in an envelope. It's just too expensive to take a plane.....A creative teacher decided to give their class the chance to send Stanley on a trip and asked the family member or friend to take Stanley on an adventure, take photos and mail them back to the class. This has resulted in the Flat Stanley Project. Take a look at some of his adventures: He has been to Paris, to the Great Wall of China, to the Oscars..... www.flatstanleyproject.com

Patti's niece, Amanda, in Dallas sent Flat Stanley to visit us a couple of weeks ago, so we decided to take him on some California storytelling adventures. Here is the note that went back to her class:

Dear Amanda and Cass,

We sure had a good time with Flat Stanley when he visited us in San Diego, California. He went along on many adventures.

You know that your Aunt Patti works as a professional storyteller, so Flat Stanley got to go along with me on several storytelling days.

The first was at the Vista Public Library. There he helped to do a storytime for preschool children celebrating Earth Day. You see the photos of him on the Earth ball and outside the library.

Next, he went along with Aunt Patti and her storytelling partner, James to another city and
library, almost on the Mexican border: The Chula
Vista Public Library. There is a photo of Flat Stanley and Aunt Patti and James outside of the
library, and then on stage with a group of kids
who helped act out stories. They sent their
greetings to the kids in Dallas.

On our way back home, we stopped off in Downtown San
Diego so Stanley could visit the Maritime Museum. There he saw the Star of India (a great old fashioned ocean ship) as well s one of the ships that was used in filming The Pirates of the Caribbean. He liked going into the museum and getting on one of the model ships himself (more his size).

The next day, Aunt Patti took him along to downtown Oceanside, where I live, to see the Oceanside Pier. The Pacific Oceans is about 5 miles form our house. He liked watching the surfers as well as seeing a whole bunch of cheerleaders who were getting ready for a competition.

His next great adventure was to go along to a special event at LEGOLAND California. James and I were telling stories there for a fundraising event to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis. This is a disease that makes a lot of people sick. LEGOLAND lets this event happen there in order to help out. We told stories to the children who were at the event. The children either were also walking to raise money to help the people with MS, or were volunteering themselves, or had a family member who was sick. They all loved to hear the stories. Flat Stanley also liked to help out a good cause.

LEGOLAND is one of my favorite places. James
and I tell stories there every Halloween for the Brick or Treat event. You can see some fun photos of Stanley as we brought him around the outside of LEGOLAND and the area where the MS Walk was taking place. He especially liked to have his photo taken with one of the Giant LEGO guys as well as the Chixfilet cow.

On our way home, we stopped at the Carlsbad Flower Fields, a place where they grow beautiful flowers every spring. You can see Stanley with the flowers in the background.

We hope that your class really enjoys hearing all about Stanley's adventures and learns something, too about how big of a country and world we live in.

Thanks for giving us a chance to help out!

Hope to see you this summer,

Love, Aunt Patti

Spring is Here!

We dodged a bullet last month. On our trip to Hawaii ,we flew Aloha Airlines. We returned home safe and sound, and on time! Which is more than we can say for 9,000 other travelers who were stranded in Hawaii when Aloha closed it's doors this week. We missed it by that much. Luckily we were able to get back to our regular adventures here on the mainland. Good thing too as we have been busy since we got back.

James has been expanding his skill set of late. He is looking to enter the exciting world of Voice Over work. To that end, he attended a two day seminar on how to be a successful voice over artist. During that time, he was able to do a short demo tape. You can hear some of James' bits, including his original story, the Looky Loos, and the short Tale of a Tail, at: http://voice123.com/jamesnelsonlucas and keep your ears out. Someday soon, you may hear James on a commercial near you. James has also taking to tutoring kids part-time. He has two fifth graders that he is helping with math and reading. He is bringing his JamesaStoryMagic skills to bear in this new venture. On math days, he performs a bit of prodigious prestidigitation, that is he does a couple of magic tricks. On reading days, he tells a tale or two. He uses these bits to engage the kids, and to help illustrate concepts being discussed. He also took some leisure time to participate in one of his favorite social events, The Fish Club Odin. That is a gathering of those of Norwegian descent, and friends. Periodically they gather in Viking costumes to dine on cod, sing songs, tell stories, read Norse poetry, drink Aquavit, and generally have raucous good time.

Spring is here and in Southern California that means wildflowers! Patti took time out to go to ou

t to the dessert, in Indio, to take in the colorful sights. Despite the idea that the desert is just tan and sand, during these spring months following some hard rains, there is now a carpet of amazing flowers. Wow, wow and wow! Takes your breath
away with all of the beauty.

Patti also did some Bi-lingual storytelling with her Spanish speaking partner, Panchita. And more of this to come...including helping to open a new Border's Bookstore down near the border in National City CA.

Along the way, we had time for some Patchwork Player gigs. We were off to a school on Camp Pendelton Marine Base to three assemblies of “Bring Stories To Life”. We told some of our favorite stories, such as, the Queen and Jester, and of course Baby Coyote. With so many parents in Afganistan or Iraq, these kids can use all the time away from stress that they can get. This is the same school where Patti does some social work.

We had a chance to tell stories up in Pasadena in celebration of Lights Out Night on March the 29th, a night around the world where people turned out their lights at home and gathered with others in public settings. We were the storytellers, telling “Not Too Scary Stories” at one of the libraries in Pasadena, close to the Rose Bowl. We told The Roosters Claw, The Golden Arm and other spooky tales. It was a lovely event, and we came home with some new energy efficient light bulbs, too. Can’t beat that.

We also made a couple of trips to The Center for Children (www.centerforchildren.org/). This is a residential facility that helps troubled kids and teens. We were invited there by Sundiata Kata (http://sundiatadrums.com) the drummer we have been working with at Children's Hospital for the last two years. Our first trip was for a drumming circle. Over two hundred people, residents and visitors, gathered to play drums in a big circle. This was to kick off a new study aimed at codifying the connection of recreational drumming and reducing stress. Sundiata and his associates led the crowd in a variety of rhythms and dances. It was a morning full of amazing energy. We had a great time playing a couple of Djembe drums.

Our second trip was to tell stories to the residents there. We spent time spinning some yarns and having the kids help us to bring the stories to life. We told “Caps for Sale”, “How Baby Coyote Learned to Howl,” “The Queen and the Jester” and “All Is As It Should Be.” As one staff person said, they were really engaged and interested....if they weren't you,d have known it. And that is the truth. What a joy to share the support of these kids along with the dedicated staff who are there for them each and every day.

We're now in the countdown time as we work in school based programs. Right around two months before school's out for summer and we get ready to roll out Library Summer Reading programs. Let's hear it for fun with stories!

Storytellers in Paradise

Mid-February took James and his wife Sia, and Patti and her husband, Dick to Maui for a week. We had an amazing and FABULOUS trip. This was mostly a vacation for fun, as well as a celebration of James and Sia's twentieth wedding anniversary.

Of course, everything is grist for the mill for storytelling. We had many adventures that may bring stories to bear in the long run. Among the most exciting her snorkeling at a place called The Aquarium, and a fine luau called The Feat at Lele with coordinated food and dance for four different Polynesian cultures. We also went to the top of the extinct volcano Haleakela to watch the sunrise, and then going on a twenty-eight mile all downhill bike ride, all the way to the beach. Glorious, and a little dangerous, but we all felt great once we reached to bottom.

We really enjoyed visiting some historic sites, including the Ioa Valley where there was a bloody battle the ended in the uniting the the Hawaiian islands. Breathtaking views, and some culture villages. We took advantage of the chance to tell a traditional story about how the god Maui was able to capture the sun in his fishing net on Haleakela, and talk the sun into taking a longer time going across the sky so that we would have time to do all the things that we want to fit into our busy lives. As we were telling stories and mugging for photos a cute young couple came up and asked if we would take their photos. We said “Of course, but only if you well us a story.” The man immediately agreed and told us the true story of them coming to Maui for a college football bowl, but getting engaged that week. They were adorable, and we took their photos.

We also found a Hawaiian version of one of our favorite stories “Too Much Noise”. In this version, the granmother “Tutu” was the wise woman who advised the many about how to deal with his crowded, noisey house. We LOVE to find different cultural versions of the same stories. Just as people travel, so do stories.

And so “Aloha from the Patchwork Players”. And see you in paradise.

Seniors love Stories,too!

As storytellers, people often assume that our main focus of work is with children. Certainly we tell a lot in libraries, schools, daycares, places where there are a lot of children.

But one of our favorite venues is places where Seniors gather…Sr. Centers, retirement homes, nursing homes. Last week The Patchwork Players had the chance to tell stories to a group at the Senior Center in Escondido, CA. We were brought in by one of our favorite programs, The Adult Literacy Department from the Public Library in town. These folks are charged with providing opportunities for adults to learn to read as well as enrich their reading skills. The core of our audience was the weekly Sr. book discussion group, pictured with us here.

The audience was enthusiastic and really enjoyed the tales of Trouble, Trials and Tribulations that we told for them, mostly traditional folktales form around the world. As one woman told us, “Seniors love stories, too!” Don’t we know it.

We also appreciate that storytelling is a field where no one tells you you’re getting too old, and better think about retiring. Heck, the more grey hair you have, the better as a storyteller. We’re both working on getting as much grey hair as possible. And we are looking forward to telling stories for many, many years to come.

Patti is especially inspired by her father-in-law who turned 95 this week and is still going strong sharing stories in sermons, and also on the bus form the retirement center going to the grocery store. As soon as he gets on, the bus riders clamor “Have you got any stories for us?” And, he always does! May you always have a story to tell, and one to hear.

Happy New Year

Well what a year 2007 was! If you saw our Year In Review slide show (next blog entry down, click to open) you got an idea how busy we were. Since we posted last we closed the year out with some really fun stuff.

We did several school assemblies where the audiences had a great time. One fifth grade boy even remarked that we “Rock Hard!!”, while others very much wanted to know when we would be back again. We always love assemblies, we enjoy ourselves and we regularly get feedback from the teachers that the kids are mesmerized.

We also celebrated the holidays with our friends and colleagues at the South Coast Storytellers Guild . It was an evening of fellowship, good food and great stories.

The end of the year was not all work for us, however. Patti took some time off to spend the holidays with family in Minnesota, while James was off to Santa Rosa, California and Park City, Utah to do likewise. So both of us got to celebrate a White Christmas. For Patti this was a return to her days growing up and living in Minnesota while it was a new experience for James. However we both agree that it is fun to visit the snow...we prefer San Diego Winters, which reminds us of a poem about San Diego:

San Diego.

Where Spring comes in the Summer,

and Summer in the Fall.

Fall it comes in Winter time,

and Winter not at all.

When the Patchwork Players reunited, we finished off the year at First Night Escondido . First Night is a wonderful, family-friendly New Years Eve celebration. There were ten stages and craft locations, as well as tons of roving entertainment. They had everything from rock bands, to a circus, to a fourteen foot walking tree-man. We were glad to share our stage with the magician Dick Dale , and ventriloquist Joe Gandelman .We did two shows and still had some time to enjoy the sights and sounds all around us.

So on to 2008, the year we will see our first Children's book; How Baby Coyote Learned to Howl. Our illustrator is nearly done with the art, so it will not be long now before we have books to share with the world. We also anticipate another busy Summer at the Libraries with our programs: Stop Bugging Me: Brothers, Sisters and Other Annoying Creatures, and Urban Legends: Rumors to Reality. The year will also be chock-a-block full with a host of other fine events and programs as well. Watch this space and your e-mail alerts for what is exiting and new in the adventures of The Patchwork Players Story Theatre.

Patchwork Players 2007 in Review

Make a slideshow!