From the Stage. . .
or the Principal's Office
Art from Rachel's Perspective
The intercom is the new microphone.
Some principals, counselors, or selected students share daily anecdotes and snippets of history to promote values such as honesty and empathy over the P.A. system.
As I held one-on-one interviews with principals last month to discover storytelling needs, one principal sighed in reference to the intercom stories, "It has become a necessity these days."
More parents hope that the schools instill the needed values for their children.
Then, this same principal hefted a 3-inch binder that held the "Wisdom Project" complete with scripts indexed by topics. This program focused on character, confidence, and community.
A different school also had a 3-inch binder, but this program was called "Marvin and Jessie" and about the adventures of a boy and a girl who attempt to make good choices. Each month a new value is highlighted.
Two of my programs came to mind: Family Famine Series and the Youth Hero Series.
What if I created a similar program for schools? Short stories could be gathered, indexed and placed in a binder. Once a month I could introduce the new theme with a live performance.
With this being an intense need of schools nowadays, this may be another role that the storyteller must play.
I am ready to play.
  Cap's Off to You
Featuring: Marie Marshall
20-year+ Loyal Listener
President & CEO of Chamber East Chamber of Commerce in Salt Lake County, UT
When the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival celebrated 20 years, Marie Marshall attended along with 12 other family members and friends for the trip.
She reflected, "I'm instantly transported to another world free from everyday thoughts with an atmosphere that delights every sense."
As her grandkids reach the age of three, she then takes them along to the festival. Marie said, "You could say they've grown up with the Storytelling Festival being a highlight of their entire summer.
The tradition with her grandkids seems ironic considering her first festival experience in 1989
She said, "Figuring it would be mostly for children I thought I'd have to make allowance for short chairs, minor disturbances from kids, etc."
When she looked around, she saw an equal ratio of adults to children. She exclaimed, "I was happy to find no short chairs."
For future festival years, Marie envisioned that the art would "continue to evolve into stories that are owned by individual storytellers, stories that have the authentic stamp of exceptional performers with the likes of Donald Davis, Syd Lieberman, Bill Harley, Carmen Deedy, and the list could go on for a few more pages."
She delighted in the now 26,000+ festival attendees and created a Facebook fan page. Yet, she treasured the intimacy when the festival began at the Ashton's home rather than the Mount Timpanogos Park.
Marie said, "I do miss the appeal of a well kept secret that we story lovers had in the beginning."
Thank you, Marie.
You are one of the many who spread news of the storytelling secret.
What are your loyal listener memories? Email your story to info@rachelhedman.com
Random Rachel Ideas (RRIs)
Ideas for the Art to Embrace
Storytelling Clubs will be as popular as Drama Clubs within our schools, community groups, and universities.
Though this vision may take a few decades to come to pass, every year there are more Story Camps across the United States while more schools embrace storytelling festivals as a possible way to raise money rather than the traditional carnivals. Other schools recognize storytelling as a way to meet curriculum standards.
Youth Storytelling Clubs could be formed and maintained if each storytelling festival adopted a school. The students would naturally want a club as popularity for the art increased. Remember that these students could be preschool kids to university students.
Make room for youth on the stages and you will see more storytelling clubs.
YouthTellerTip
3 featured from Daily YouthTellerTip from Twitter (StorytellingAdv)
1. Give as much attention to Preschool and Kindergarten tellers as you do to High Schoolers. Any age can grasp storytelling.
I know people who only offer the storytelling festival opportunities to their 3rd, 4th, or 5th graders. Some people see high school tellers with potential. Yet, the amount of confidence we have in our youth determines what will happen in the art. Kindergartners could have more poise, passion, and stage presence than adults.
2. The shyest kid may be the most dynamic teller. Assume nothing in storytelling. Offer the chance to all.
These kids might be quiet to allow ideas to flow through their minds. Then, when it comes time to perform, they explode with energy. Storytellers can be introverts. I have witnessed these shy ones become instant stars before their classmates. Rather than complimenting on bravery, praise instead on their abilities to connect with their audiences.
3. Consider each teller to have a youth and an adult mentor in storytelling. Wisdom is gained from all ages.
When I competed in storytelling as a high school sophomore, there were other youth in the same category. We hung out and rooted for each other. I also met with an adult coach weekly to develop skills. Often a youth teller nowadays has an adult mentor, though they lack in peers to cheer them on.
Game of the Month: Tell-Off
Audience: youth to adults
Level: advanced
Items Needed: timer, masking tape
Number of Players: 7-25
Roles: Judge, Jury (2-6 people), Prosecution (2-6 people), Defense (2-6 people), Other normal court roles like Bailiff as you see fit
Ave. Playing Time: 45 min. to hrs.
One-Liner: resembles storytelling court mixed with tag-team word wrestling
Instructions:
Determine the boundaries such as a 5' by 3' rectangle out of masking tape on the floor. Have a timer that can countdown a minute.
Someone plays the Judge, who gives penalties at any time during the game, even if telling is perfect. For example, if someone steps out of bounds, the offender could receive a "punishment" of pretending to be a duck while singing "Mary had a Little Lamb". The Judge always consults with the Jury for penalties. The Jury decides what six things must be mentioned in the stories to be told by the two tag-teams (Prosecution and Defense).
The first person on the Prosecution has one minute to tell a crazy story using all six items within the floor boundaries. If any item is missed or said wrong (like saying purple-spotted platypus vs. polka-dotted platypus), the Judge and Jury issue penalties.
Then, the first person on the Defense has one minute to tell a crazy story with the same six items but with a different plot. Afterward, the Jury comes up with six more items to be used by the second person of the Prosecution. This person continues the story that their partner already started. Likewise, the second person of the Defense continues their partner's story.
Repeat until all people from both tag-teams have time to tell.
Finally, the Judge gives the verdict by sharing positive attributes of both teams so no one goes home "guilty".
***The punishments are as important as the stories throughout the game. Any of the accused could argue their way out of punishment, thus improving persuasion skills. All rules are flexible.
History of this Game:
People Who Played the 1st Game:
Rixon Lane, Chloe Clunis, Trent Howard, Tyler Smith, Eduardo Estrella, Maggie Lowe, and Rachel Hedman.
To this day, Tell-Off is my favorite game.
If you enjoyed this e-newsletter, then the best way to say "thank you" is to spread the word.
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