FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Storytelling festival inspires library audience, kicks off six-month-long series

Libraries present 'What's Your Story: Share It at Your Library!'

Tales shared by national performers inspired and informed an audience of more than 60 on Jan. 10 at Main Street Library at the free Kickoff Storytelling Festival.

Professional storyteller Valerie Tutson performs a traditional African tale at the Jan. 10 Kickoff Storytelling Festival at Main Street Library.

Tales shared by national performers inspired and informed an audience of more than 60 on Jan. 10 at Main Street Library. The free Kickoff Storytelling Festival was the first event in the Newport News Libraries’ yearlong series of storytelling programs, “What’s Your Story? Share It At Your Library!”

The festival included performances by two professional storytellers, Valerie Tutson and Kim Weitkamp. “They did a fantastic job, and you got to see two different styles of storytelling,” said audience member Anthony Burcher, a resident of New Kent County who is also a local storyteller. “You got to hear personal stories, and stories from around the world, ethnic stories. There was a nice variety,” he said.

Tutson presented an animated performance of several African folktales that had the audience members joining in by singing and learning traditional African greetings and gestures. “I would show up just to see her enthusiasm,” Burcher said of Tutson’s performance.

Since 1991, Tutson has traveled the country and world teaching, gathering and sharing stories and songs. She is a founding member of the Rhode Island Black Storytellers, director of FUNDA FEST: An Annual Celebration of Black Storytelling, and She served on the board of the National Association of Black Storytellers.

President of the Virginia Storytelling Alliance Kim Weitkamp then shared stories from her childhood that she punctuated with songs and guitar music. “I really enjoy how Kim is able to make you laugh – and I know this sounds corny  –  but her stories still pull at your heartstrings a little while you laugh.”

Weitkamp explained the Wrinkles Project, which she founded to save and record the stories of “seasoned citizens.” She shared the personal story of her family that illustrated the need for the project, as well as providing tips to the audience members on how to begin to save their own personal stories. Weitkamp also is the Virginia State representative for the National Youth Storytelling Showcase and is a commissioned performer for the Virginia Commission of the Arts.

The festival also included a presentation of StoryCorps, a national nonprofit organization that encourages listening to stories, by Facilitator Rose Gorman. One of the largest oral history projects of its kind, StoryCorps  has recorded the stories of tens of thousands of everyday people since its founding in 2003. Each conversation is recorded on a free CD for the participant, and is archived at the Library of Congress. Conversations also are broadcast on public radio and the Internet. Gorman played tapes of recorded conversations and then gave the audience a taste of the experience by having them interview one another.

The Kickoff Storytelling Festival, and several of the other programs in the series, are part of the Neisser Speaker Series supported by the Newport News Public Library System’s Herbert H. Neisser Fund.

 “What’s Your Story? Share It At Your Library!” is a series of storytelling performances, workshops and presentations based on the idea that every person has a story, and every story is important. Newport News residents will get inspiration, information and support to share their stories during the programs, which are all free and open to the public. The schedule of programs runs through June 6 and can be found at  www.nngov.com/library or by calling 757-247-8875. Some programs require advance registration, which can be done online or by calling the respective library.

Upcoming ‘What’s Your Story? Share it at Your Library!’ programs

JANUARY

Book of Me

2-4 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 24, Grissom Library; 5:30-7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 20, West Avenue Library

Crafting instructor Ruthann Grabowski will teach participants how to tell the personal story of their lives by creating a mini album using fun embellishments and written prompts. All materials will be provided, and participants are encouraged to bring personal photos. Registration is required and begins Dec. 20 online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling West Avenue Library at 757-247-8505 or Grissom Library at 757-369-3190.

FEBRUARY

Afrikan History Month

3-4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 7, Grissom Library

Professional storyteller Felix Simmons Sr. will share stories, the history of Black History Month and hands-on entertainment with African instruments. No registration required.

Aquila Theatre’s performance of The Iliad and discussion

5 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 11, Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center

Participants will be inspired by a live performance of the Iliad by the Aquila Theatre Company of New York and share in a discussion, led by a local scholar, with the Aquila artists. Part of Page and Stage, an in-depth partnership between the Newport News Public Library System and the Aquila Theatre in New York, with funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities.  No registration is required.

Acting Shakespeare Master Classes

3:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 11, Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center

Participants explore how a classical performance text develops from the page to the stage. Learn the clear directions and choices Shakespeare gives the actor and learn methods of classical acting. Part of Page and Stage, an in-depth partnership between the Newport News Public Library System and the Aquila Theatre in New York, with funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Registration is required and begins Jan. 11 online at or by calling Pearl Bailey Library at 757-247-8677.

Black History Storytelling with Art Johnson

2-3 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 14, Pearl Bailey Library

Art Johnson, a well-known veteran interpreter for Colonial Williamsburg, will celebrate Black History Month with black history stories dramatizing freedom, slavery and historical construction of heroes.  No registration is required.

“The Pursuit of Happyness”

5-7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 17, West Avenue Library; 2-4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 21, Pearl Bailey Library

Chris Gardner told his story of rising from homelessness to become a self-made millionaire through his autobiography “The Pursuit of Happyness” and the movie starring Will Smith based on his book. Hampton University Assistant Professor Shonda Buchanan will lead a discussion of homelessness as a social issue, various storytelling forms, and show clips from the movie, as well. Registration is required and begins Jan. 2 online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling West Avenue Library at 757-247-8505 or Pearl Bailey Library at 757-247-8677.

Old Dominion Land Company Exhibit Opening

7-8:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 26, Main Street Library

The story of the founding of Newport News by the Old Dominion Land Company is fully told in a new history exhibit. The exhibit’s opening will be celebrated Feb. 26 with keynote speeches by Dr. Julie Richter, history lecturer at the College of William and Mary, and Dr. Michael Hucles, associate professor of African-American history at Old Dominion University. In addition, the Peninsula Youth Orchestra will perform period music. No registration is required.

MARCH

Working with Old Photos

2-4 p.m., Saturday, March 7, Grissom Library

Crafting instructor Ruthann Grabowski will teach participants how to find and tell the story of their families through photographs. Participants will learn about the history of photography, how to determine when photos were taken and clues they provide about families. Registration is required and begins Feb. 20 online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling Grissom Library at 757-369-3190.

Telling Family Stories: A Genealogy Workshop for Children and Parents

11 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, March 21, Main Street Library

Tracy Ellis Turner, an accomplished, professional storyteller, will weave family stories from her past. After a light lunch, participants will learn how to use the resources in Main Street Library’s Virginiana Room to search their own family history. Finally, all participants gather in the meeting room to share their own family stories. Registration is required and begins March 1 online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling Main Street Library at 757-591-4858.

Storytelling Workshops with Dylan Pritchett

6-8 p.m., Thursday, March 19; 3-5 p.m., Sunday, March 22; 6-8 p.m., Thursday, March 26; 3-5 p.m., Saturday, March 28, Main Street Library

Professional storyteller Dylan Pritchett will teach adults and teens how to tell their own stories in a public setting, with the goal of having participants tell their stories at the Saturday, June 6, Share Your Story: Open Mic and Oral Histories program. Pritchett is a professional storyteller who has been performing since 1990.  His stories are age appropriate with five major themes in mind.  They are moral teachings, building self-esteem, teaching respect toward family, friends and authority and a taste of African culture.  He has dazzled audiences at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts and many other cities and states. Participants can choose to attend one of two introductory workshops on March 19 and 22, and one of two refining sessions on March 26 and 28. Sponsored by the Newport News Public Library System’s Herbert H. Neisser Fund. Registration is required and begins Feb. 19 online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling Main Street Library at 757-591-4858.

APRIL

Family Storytelling with Dylan Pritchett

2-3 p.m., Saturday, April 18, Pearl Bailey Library

Master Storyteller, Author and Recording Artist Dylan Pritchett presents African-American stories with moral value through music and audience participation to celebrate National Library Week. No registration required.

Tell Us Your Tall Tales

2-4 p.m., Saturday, April 25, Main Street Library

Bobby Norfolk, a three-time Emmy award winning storyteller, will delight adult audience members with assorted tall tales. Audience members will then have five minutes each to present their own tall tales for a chance to win prizes. Registration is required and begins March 25 online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling Main Street Library at 757-591-4858.

MAY

Remembering the Code Talkers of WWII

11 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, May 16, Main Street Library

Before World War II, the Navajo people shared stories in a language that had never been written down and was virtually unknown to outsiders. It became a "secret weapon" in preventing the Japanese from intercepting and decoding American radio messages during the War. In Sara Hunter’s book, “The Unbreakable Code,” an elderly Navajo man tells his grandson the story of how he and other Navajo men left their canyon home to perform this crucial mission for the U.S. government. Author Sara Hunter will discuss her book and reflections on the Navajo people based on her interviews. Local artist Edward Condra will unveil his paintings of the Code Talkers that were commissioned by the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. Arline Cordova Page will demonstrate American Indian cooking and provide samples. No registration is required.

JUNE

Storytelling Practice with Dylan Pritchett

6-8 p.m., Thursday, June 4, Main Street Library

Participants from Library storytelling programs can practice telling their stories and get coaching from professional storyteller Dylan Pritchett. This workshop is recommended for anyone who plans to perform a story at the June 6 Share Your Story: Open Mic and Oral Histories program. sponsored by the Newport News Public Library System’s Herbert H. Neisser Fund. Registration is required, and begins May 3 online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling Main Street Library at 757-591-4858.

Share your Story: Open Mic and Oral Histories

3-5 p.m., Saturday, June 6, Main Street Library

Anyone who has participated in Library storytelling programs is encouraged to perform their story for the Library community by reserving 10-minute “open mic” sessions. Professional storyteller Dylan Pritchett will be available for last-minute coaching of participants, if needed. Those who would like to share their story more privately may also reserve sessions to have their oral histories recorded for their own use as well as for the library’s collections. sponsored by the Newport News Public Library System’s Herbert H. Neisser Fund. Registration is required, and begins May 3 online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling Main Street Library at 757-591-4858.

ONGOING

Veteran’s History Project

Ongoing, Grissom Library

Veterans, current military personal, and civilians who worked with a war effort are encouraged to share their oral histories at Grissom Library. Stories will be recorded to add to the collections of the Library of Congress and the Newport News Public Library System. Veterans may call Grissom Library at 757-369-3190 to schedule an appointment.

Page and Stage

Ongoing, Pearl Bailey Library and Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center

Participants can connect with the stories of classical literature and learn how they continue to influence and invigorate American culture today with “Page and Stage,” an in-depth partnership between the Newport News Public Library System and the Aquila Theatre in New York, sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Live theatrical events, reading groups and lectures inspire participants to read, see and think about classical literature. Details on upcoming lectures and reading groups at Pearl Bailey Library will be posted at www.nngov.com/library.

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