Storytellers perform live on the green at Snow Library
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“Storytellers!”, a series of live outdoor performances for the family, begins in July on the village green here at Snow Library, 67 Main Street, Orleans. Inspired by the 2021 Summer Reading theme, “Tails & Tales,” the shows feature music and stories for all ages and from cultures around the world.
Bring folding chairs or a blanket to sit on. This free program is presented by the Friends of Snow Library with the support of a grant from the Fred J. Brotherton Charitable Foundation.
At 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 20 join master storyteller Len Cabral for a summer evening of stories and poems that will help reconnect us to each other through the ancient art of storytelling. Cabral will be telling stories from around the world and one or two from his Cape Verdean Heritage. He is the recipient of the National Storytelling Network 2001 Circle of Excellence Oracle Award and most recently the recipient of the 2016 Pell Award.
At 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 4, Davis Bates & Roger Tincknell present “Under One Sky,” an evening of songs and stories for all ages. The lively concert includes music and tales from around the world, accompanied by a variety of guitar, banjo, mandolin and a variety of ethnic percussion instruments. Hear how the bear missed the train, how stars came to be in the sky and coyote got his howl, and be prepared to sing, move and dance. There will even be a short lesson on how to play the spoons and an appearance by a dancing dog made from recycled scraps of wood and leather named Bingo. “Under One Sky” is especially appropriate to ages 4 and up.
Join Diane Edgecomb for an evening of “Animal Tales” at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 11. From folktales about adventurous monkeys to a true tale of a neighborhood squirrel that drives everyone nuts, there’ll be tons of participatory fun with Edgecomb’s engaging stories about four-legged capers. Winner of both the national and regional Circle of Excellence award for her storytelling, Edgecomb is known for transforming into the characters in her tales, bringing each story to vibrant life. She has been featured on NPR and is the winner of the ORACLE award for Storytelling Excellence in the Northeast as well as five Storytelling World awards.
Motoko performs at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 18. A native of Osaka, Japan, Motoko has performed her Asian folktales and original stories since 1993 in schools, libraries, museums and festivals across the U.S., as well as in China, Japan, Senegal, and the U.A.E. She has appeared on PBS’ Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, and toured Miyazaki, Japan, as part of CarnegieKids in Miyazaki, sponsored by Carnegie Hall. Her story recordings won a Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Award, a Storytelling World Award, and a National Parenting Publications Award. Motoko is the recipient of the 2017 National Storytelling Network’s Circle of Excellence Award. She is the author of “A Year in Japan: Folktales, Songs and Art for the Classroom.”
The series closes out with Big Ryan’s Tall Tales at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 25. Big Ryan has been performing for young audiences in schools and libraries across Massachusetts since 1999, when he discovered that telling stories to children was his calling. He also leads storytelling workshops for children that promote literacy, dialogic reading, cooperation and sharing ideas, as well as confidence and writing skills.
Each performance takes place at the outdoor stage on the village green in front of the library. All shows begin at 5 p.m. Please bring your own lawn chairs or a blanket to spread out on.
