University Park, IL-(ENEWSPF)- Tellebration! returns to Governors State University on Saturday, November 19 as three master storytellers will delight and captivate their audience as part of a world-wide celebration of the spoken word. The free event takes place at 7 p.m., in E Lounge, on GSU’s main campus in University Park.
Tellebration! was introduced to Chicago Southland audiences for the first time in 2010. The event originated 19 years ago as a means of building grassroots community support for the age-old art of storytelling. GSU is now one of 400 official sites around the world hosting storytelling events on the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
“Last year’s turnout exceeded our expectations,” said Lynne Clayton, producer of the event. “Several faculty encouraged their students to attend and a good number were in the audience. We are excited about this year’s lineup of storytellers and hope to exceed last year’s successful presentation.”
Storytellers at this year’s Tellebration!:
- Zane Chait is a member of both the National Storytelling Network and the Illinois Storytelling Inc. He has been sharing traditional tales and personal stories for many years. He is known for his multicultural tales of wisdom, foolishness, and trickery. A former school teacher, he also offers numerous workshops and classes, most notably through the Northwestern Saturday Enrichment Program. He has produced storytelling events such as Tales from the Heller Woods Story Fest and Twisted Love Tales at the Suburban Fine Arts Center, both in Highland Park.
- Dan Hechenberger is assistant professor of social studies education at GSU; his research methods include multicultural approaches and performing arts methods. He is a former interpretative ranger at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in St. Louis and founder of Nipwaantiikaani, an educational non-profit organization that researches Midwest Native American history. His favorite storytelling venues include libraries, classrooms, nature centers, elderhostels, historic sites, and state and national parks. He has made presentations throughout Illinois, in the Midwest, and to both national and international educational groups and audiences.
- Lynne Clayton has been a professional actress and member of Actor’s Equity for more than two decades. She began storytelling several years ago and has been a frequent teller at schools, day care centers, nature centers, retirement homes, and senior centers throughout the region and across the Midwest. As a GSU staff member, she has brought her stories and songs to both young children at the university’s Family Development Center and also to adult students studying to become teachers.
Donations will be accepted at Tellebration!, with all proceeds going to the South Suburban Humane Society and Crossroads Shih Tzu Rescue. Tellebration! is made possible by the GSU Spirit Committee. Information is available by contacting Clayton at (708) 534-3075 or [email protected].
