New York Storyteller Showcase
3:30-5 pm on Saturday, April 4
Gideon Putnam Spa & Resort, Saratoga Springs, NY
This event showcases some of the finest tellers in the Saratoga Springs area and throughout New York. Tellers share eight fascinating and unexpected historical stories about people and places in New York State, from the 1700s through this century.
Guerilla Volunteerism: a 9/11 story
performed by Regina Ress
On 9/11/01, Regina stood in her kitchen window and watched the twin towers burn from her kitchen window. Very quickly, she and her Greenwich Village neighbors “hit the streets” and started to help.
About Regina: Regina Ress has performed and taught from Broadway to Brazil in settings from grade schools to senior centers, prisons to Carnegie Hall, homeless shelters to The White House. reginaress.com
Astoria
performed by Jim Hawkins
In 1956, Jim Hawkins and his family moved from a farm in Ireland to an apartment in Astoria, and his unrestricted country life suddenly came to an end.
About Jim: Jim Hawkins has been telling stories and singing songs for over 30 years. Many of his stories are based on his childhood growing up in the Midlands of Ireland and in New York City. Other stories come from two of Ireland’s greatest storytellers: Eamon Kelly and Eddie Lenihan. JimHawkinsIrishStory.com
Martha
performed by Fran Yardley
In 1927, Martha Reben came to the Adirondacks seeking a cure for tuberculosis.
About Fran: Fran Yardley, writer, storyteller and workshop leader, explores diverse ways to use storytelling for healing. For sixteen years, she led healing retreats for women with cancer and chronic illness. Her book, Finding True North, was published by SUNY Press in 2018. She has four recordings of stories. www.findingtruenorth.biz
The Underground Railroad in New York
performed by April Armstrong
A story about slavery and the Underground Railroad in New York State.
About April: April Armstrong has been a featured teller at the Hudson River Clearwater, The Mohegan and the Connecticut College Festivals, Rockland County Storytelling Festival, Rowayton’s 2015 Tellabration and has performed her stories abroad in Jamaica and Indonesia. www.aprilarmstrong.
Betsy Bubblegum
performed by Karen Pillsworth
This is a story Karen created as Storyteller Laureate of Kingston, NY describing the adventures of a piece of bubblegum getting stuck to things all over town.
About Karen: Karen Pillsworth, Storyteller Laureate of Kingston, NY has been enchanting audiences from Newfoundland, Canada to Sydney, Australia for 30 years. A National Arts Education Fellow and story practitioner, she uses stories to educate and heal. Her favorite words come from the mouths of her fellow Kingstonians, “That’s Karen, she’s OUR storyteller!”. www.KarenPillsworth.com
1st Lt. Mohsin Naqvi
performed by Kate Dudding
This is the story of a U.S. Army soldier from New York State, someone you’ve never heard of, but his story is one you’ll remember.
About Kate: Kate Dudding specializes in creating entertaining, heartwarming and memorable stories about real people who made a difference. She tells stories at venues in the Northeastern USA. In 2010, she won the story slam at the National Storytelling Conference. Many of her five CDs have received a national storytelling award. www.KateDudding.com
Horse Thieves Beware!
performed by Eileen Stelljes
Horse Thief Detection Societies formed due to rampant horse rustling, and the first was in New York. Eileen describes this unique solution to a widespread problem, and introduces the nefarious "Female Horse Thief".
About Eileen: Eileen Stelljes, a Black Dirt Storytelling Guild founding mother, tells tales of all kinds. Her favorites feature Hudson Valley history, including those of ancestors and the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry. As an American Revolution re-enactor, she's set up camp all along the east coast as both a patriot and a Hessian.
How the Empire State Got its Western Border
performed by Sandy Schuman
Have you ever noticed how the southern border of New York State heads due west for over 150 miles, and then suddenly heads due north? Sandy explains why.
About Sandy: Sandy Schuman tells stories about songs and songwriters, personal adventures, historical sagas, folk tales, and stories in the Jewish storytelling tradition. He is a winner of the Susquehanna Folk Festival Liars Contest and the St. Louis Jewish Storytelling Contest and member of the Story Circle of the Capital District. www.tothestory.com