The LV Family Storytelling Series offers monthly storytelling programs featuring solo performances by various artists. The series runs from December through June and is appropriate for family audiences.
This is what our tellers love about it.
About this Event
According to Denise McCormack, the coordinator and creative producer of the series,
“Each month over the course of the season, we have the good fortune to experience marvelously varied styles of storytelling and to give storytellers an opportunity to share some of their favorite tales, to invite everyone into the imaginative worlds of story to help us to better understand ourselves, our community, and our world, together.”
This series, sponsored by Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and Lehigh Valley Community Foundation, featuring, in alphabetical order: Rob Aptaker, Ingrid Bohn, Karen Maurer, MaryAnn Paterniti, Denise McCormack, and Robin Reichert. It was another great season!
To make a donation to LVSG in support of this and other programs, go to the Join/Support page.
Options are listed to make a donation, join, or renew membership. Note that there are two (2) membership levels available: Story-loving members and Storytellers.
For more information about supporting the guild, upcoming events, or becoming a member, contact Charles Kiernan.
For more information about the Family Series, contact Denise McCormack: lvsgfamilyseries@gmail.com
About The Tellers in the Series
MaryAnn Paterniti
MaryAnn finds and shares unusual stories that surprise even folks who think they’ve heard it all! With an animated style of storytelling and more than 40 years experience as an early childhood educator, MaryAnn is adept at bringing music, movement, humor to stories and delights even the most discriminating audiences, captivating them and keeping them entertained from beginning to end.
Rob Aptaker
For over forty years, Rob Aptaker spent time visiting Native American people from many tribal nations. Rob is an avid student of Native American oral histories and of Native American historical and anthropological records and has been privileged to learn some of the stories, songs, and traditional ways of North America’s indigenous people. Rob shares, “If there is artistry in my presentations and performances, it is not in imitation; rather, it is in finding the words, sounds, and gestures to help audiences connect with what is universal in the unique and particular story I am sharing. To make history and culture come to life for school children, I call on the power of stories to awaken their imaginations.”
Karen Maurer
Karen Maurer has a remarkably storied background as a library youth services coordinator, writer, and blogger of children’s literature, She tells tales to all ages, coaches and runs Storytelling Workshops for children and teens, and writes songs for Chiles’ Play, a children’s musical duo with her brother, Dan. Maurer has engaged audiences with her storytelling for more than two decades, is a member of the LVSG board , an advisor to the Patchwork community, and a presenter and reviewer of books for middle grades and teens for area literature conferences and on her blog, booksnstories.blogspot.com.
Denise McCormack
Denise McCormack is a storyteller, educator, workshop presenter, and coach whose story selections and tenets resonate with listeners of all ages to foster empathy, understanding, and self-reflection for the transformation of self and community. In addition to roles within and for a broad scope of storytelling and arts organizations, McCormack offers and produces full, thematic shows which have earned high praise throughout the region. She is a published author of prose, poetry, and educational texts, and communications/marketing specialist who has recently added video production and editing to her skill set.
Ingrid Bohn
Ingrid entertains people in story and song and has been active in theater productions for over 30 years. She is an Interactive Theater and Storytelling artist with something for everyone and appears throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Robin Reichert
Through the ancient art of storytelling, Robin weaves tales that will open your heart and stir your soul’s wildest imaginings. Robin has been featured at various storytelling events throughout the region, even performing at Zoellner Theater, in Bethlehem, PA, as a “curtain warmer” for John Lithgow. She enjoys telling stories to all ages and has done so for various organizations, fundraisers, cultural events, spiritual retreats, peace gatherings, and in intimate home settings.
FAQ
What ages is this program appropriate for?
If it were a movie or television show, I’d say it’s a very entertaining G.,, like The Lawrence Welk Show but with stories.
There are moments of levity with silly interludes between the stories, and a little of this and a little of that—including a ditty or two that may prove nostalgia for some of us.
This program is meant to be enjoyable for as many people as possible, of all age ranges.
Are pre-recorded programs available at other times or formats?
We have found that organizations enjoy showing the programs at their own venues, and we can arrange that availability.
We also find that some viewers from around the world may not be able to access our platform, and we will also address requests to make other arrangements if possible.
If you’d like additional information, please contact us.
What can I do if the video lags or freezes?
Apparently, there are some devices whose reception is not as good as we would like, and they do not automatically adjust themselves to suit the video playback.
If this is the case, change the video quality in your settings to “auto” or lower settings, for example 720p to 360p.
About the Lehigh Valley Family Storytelling Series
The LVSG Family Storytelling Series runs virtually from December through June, features a unique teller and theme each month from December through May, and concludes with a variety showcase of tellers and tales in June. This year’s lineup is sponsored by Pennsylvania Council on the Arts in collaboration with Lehigh Valley Community Foundation. As in past years, we are delighted to offer our programs to libraries, Godfrey Daniels, Cops N Kids, and the community at large. The series is free and open to the public. Donation suggested: $5/household.
More details to follow.
Upcoming Shows in the Current Series:
December
MaryAnn Paterniti: Favorite Tales for a Winter’s Day
January
Karen Maurer: Wishes
February
Rob Aptaker: Favorite Tales from the Longhouse People
March
Denise McCormack: Favorite Tales for Every Day
April
Robin Reichert: Fly Beings and Sky Beings
May
Ingrid Bohn: Things with Wings
Recent Past Shows and Featured Tellers in 2020-2021
Denise McCormack: Snow! Stories and Songs of the Season and of Long Ago
Ingrid Bohn: Imagine a Story
Karen Maurer: SENSE-ational Stories
Rob Aptaker: Native American How Stories
Robin Reichert: Dragons and Other Enchantments
MaryAnn Paterniti: Animal Tales
June 20 —
Simply More Stories, featuring the 20-21 season’s full cast of storytellers in one spectacular storytelling event!
A TREAT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
Recent “live and in-person” past performers and showcases:
December – June
Every third Sunday of the month
For more information, contact Denise McCormack, lvsgfamilyseries@gmail.com
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