Storytelling
Sept, 2008 Bradbury
My Grandpa’s housekeeper…Betty Middlesworth. Rough, scrawny, chain-smoking ex-Moose guide from Canada. Told story of one of her hunting expeditions. Rain started…(audience does it).. Ran into a tin shed. State Mental hospital. (stomping feet)
Hiney the Mule “Some Forty Miles Down to Edinburgh town.”
Our newest IESA event…and actually the oldest event in the world. I personally think it’s one of the coolest events at contest and few people enter it because they don’t know what it is. I’ve made it an assignment as a part of the language arts curriculum Read the definition In other words, from two sources… already established stories or the student’s own experience. Established: Three Little Pigs (I’ll hug and I’ll puff), Johnny Appleseed, Paul Bunyon “Hey Paul!”, Headless Horseman. (galloping horses)
Might be best to first define the difference between the monologue and storytelling Two things: a degree of spontaneity and audience participation ---Should not have that memorized quality…more like simply telling a story ---Audience Involvement. Find ways to get your audience involved..even just a little.
If nothing else, ask the audience questions… Saw a boy once who did his entire speech with suggestions from the audience. There was this old man named _________. Lived way up on top of a hill in _________. A hermit. One night the strangest thing happened. He’d just blown out his lantern for the night when he heard a knocking at my door. He opened the door and there stood a ________________.
Stories your dad, mom, or grandparents told you.. Two years ago a student demo’ed and updated Cinderella Toss ball… ---A frightening moment when you were young. ---The worst your dad or mom ever embarrassed you. ---What scared you most when you were little? ---Your fondest memory of one of your grandparents. ---One of the biggest lies your parents every told you. ---A defining moment for you…changed you forever
Demonstrate: Circle of Sound
Aunt Lizzy…Ricky the Mule
To coach the event: Begin with brainstorming. Get others involved.. Pick the stories you want to explore with an eye to audience participation. Let the story develop as you rehearse… let it grow… practice in front of a live audience and they’ll tell you which bits work. And again, I’d suggest making it a class activity.