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April 21, 2004

A storied celebration

From: Kansas City Star, MO - Apr 21, 2004

Maple Woods' event has tales to tell and workshops to give

The Kansas City Star

The Maple Woods Community College's Storytelling Celebration 2004 begins in earnest today. The fifth annual event will send storytellers across the city to various libraries and community centers by day and conclude with a "Storytelling Spectacular" at 7 p.m. Saturday at Unity Temple on the Plaza, 707 W. 47th St.

The spectacular, with hosts Phil Witt and Carmen Ainsworth, will be the lone venue where all of the week's national storytellers will perform. They are Antonio Rocha, a native of Brazil who also has a background in mime; Priscilla Howe, now of Lawrence, who specializes in folktales; Jackie and Glenn "Papa" Wright of St. Louis, who work with music and puppetry; and Peter S. Cook. Cook, who is deaf, incorporates American Sign Language, mime and acting into his stories. He teaches at Purdue University.

Tickets to Saturday's spectacular cost $7.50 per person or $15 per family.

For those wanting to learn more about storytelling, there are three workshops available, including one by Cook at 6 p.m. Thursday at Maple Woods' Campus Center, 2601 N.E. Barry Road. Other special events are the regional storytelling concert with eight performers at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Maple Woods ($2 admission) and a Youth Storytelling Concert at 1 p.m. Saturday, also at Maple Woods.

Other performances will be held between 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. today through Saturday. The performances run about 45 minutes, but are subject to change. For details, see www.kcmetro.edu or call (816) 437-3011.

TODAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY

9 a.m. and 10 a.m.: John Anderson at Mohart Multi-Purpose Focus Center, 3200 Wayne St.

10:30 a.m.: Geneva Greenfield at Johnson County Library, Gardner branch, 137 E. Shawnee, Gardner, Kan.

1:30 p.m.: Geneva Greenfield at Johnson County Library, Spring Hill branch, 109 S. Webster, Spring Hill.

1:30 p.m.: John Anderson at Mid-Continent Public Library, Lee's Summit branch, 150 N.W. Oldham Parkway, Lee's Summit.

4 p.m.: Geneva Greenfield at Johnson County Library, Edgerton branch, 309 E. Nelson, Edgerton.

4 p.m.: Melva Hargett at Kansas City, Kan., Library, main branch, 625 Minnesota Ave.

10 a.m.: Peter Cook at the Carlsen Center, Johnson County Community College.

10 a.m.: Geneva Greenfield at Mid-Continent Library, Lee's Summit branch.

10:30 a.m.: Marilyn Kinsella at Johnson County Library, Antioch branch, 8700 Shawnee Mission Parkway.

11 a.m.: Loretta Washington at Mid-Continent Library, Platte City branch, 412 Main St., Platte City.

1 p.m.: Workshop with Antonio Rocha, Longview Community College (reservation required).

6 p.m.: American Sign Language & Storytelling Workshop with Peter Cook, Maple Woods Community College (reservation required).

7 p.m.: Marilyn Kinsella, Dianna Waite and Steve Otto, Cass County Public Library, Northern Resource Center, 164 Cedar Tree Drive, Belton.

10 a.m.: Dianne Waite and Deb Swanegan, Harry S. Truman Library, 500 W. U.S. Highway 24, Independence

10 a.m., 11:15 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.: Antonio Rocha and Geneva Greenfield, KCK Public Library, Argentine branch, 2800 Metropolitan Ave.

10 a.m.: Gloria Inbody, KCK Public Library, F.L. Schlagle branch, 4051 West Drive.

10 a.m.: Jackie and "Papa" Wright, Mid-Continent Library, Lee's Summit branch.

10:30 a.m.: Doris Lewis, Johnson County Library, Oak Park branch, 9500 Blue Jacket.

1 p.m.: Diversity Workshop with Tracy Milsap, Blue River Community College.

2 p.m.: Doris Lewis, Johnson County Library, De Soto branch, 33145 W. 83rd, De Soto.

5:30 p.m.: Loretta Washington, Boys and Girls Club of Greater KC, Thornberry Center, 3831 E. 43rd.

7 p.m.: Regional Concert, Maple Woods Community Center.

9 a.m.: Performers Showcase, Johnson County Library, Antioch branch.

10 a.m.: Priscilla Howe and Doris Lewis, KCK Library, Schlagle branch.

10 a.m.: Jackie and "Papa" Wright and Sue Hinkel, Kansas City Library, Sugar Creek branch, 102 S. Sterling, Independence.

11 a.m.: Maureen Korte and Larry Brown, Johnson County Library, Corinth branch, 8100 Mission Road.

1 p.m.: Youth Storytelling Concert, Maple Woods Community College.

2 p.m.: Peter Cook, Johnson County Library, Central Resource branch, 9875 W. 87th St., Overland Park.

2 p.m. Antonio Rocha and Diane Waite, Fairmount Community Center, 608 S. Ash, Independence.

7 p.m.: Family Concert, Unity Temple on the Plaza.

© 2004 Kansas City Star and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.