The Grand Finale Story: At Last it is Found

Though I listed the Colombian story "The Three Sisters" in a previous post, today was when inspiration struck.

Sometimes stories need to be set aside so that the right paths to take can be found on the creativity map.

The original story starts with three sisters giggling and teasing about who they would want to marry. The oldest sister would like to be with the king's baker as then she can have sponge cake all day. The middle sister would like to be with the king's steward as then she can have anything in the pantry to eat. The youngest sister would like to be with the king himself as then there is quite a feast to eat for every meal.

This conversation is overhead and reported to the king, and the king has these idle wishes to come to pass. The oldest and middle sisters are jealous though they do marry their respective grooms. Eventually, the king and the youngest sister, now the queen, have a child. The two jealous sisters switch out the baby for a dog and then put the baby in a wooden coffin and send it down the river.

Then we meet a gardener and his wife who are unable to have children. The baby is found and they praise God for the blessing.

The king and queen have a second baby. The jealous sisters switch out the baby again, this time for a cat, and send the baby down the river. Again, the gardener and his wife are blessed.

A third time the king and queen have a baby. The jealous sisters switch out the baby for a piece of wood. The gardener and wife are joyous beyond measure as a third child comes down the river to them.

There is much more to this story, though I discovered that I had the most compassion on the gardener's wife. As my husband and I want children of our own and have started the adoption process, I could hear the sounds of joy that the gardener's wife must have shared when her husband walked through the door with a baby, and then a second one, and finally a third. The story came alive and it was at that moment I knew this story had to be part of the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" narrative production.

For this reason, I will rename this story from "The Three Sisters" to "The Gardener's Wife".

I looked at the back of the Latin American Folktales: stories from Hispanic and Indian Traditions edited by John Bierhorst for any notes or hints of other versions and variants. As this was a book published by Pantheon Books, there was guidance.

I learned the following:

• Aarne-Thompson Motif Index is type 707 of The Three Golden Sons
• Versions with this type 707 could be found in California, Chile, Dominican Republic, Mexico, New Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Europe, India, and the Middle East
• Colombian version found in this book is close to the one shared in Thousand and One Nights

Naturally, I will search out these other kinds as well as research the Colombian culture.

I have found the final destination with the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" narrative production--this story!

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

Dough between the Fingers: A Story Considered

Have you ever kneaded dough or rolled up a bunch in your hands?

When the dough squishes through the fingers and you feel a little bit of flour that did not quite get mixed up with the rest of it? That sensation had new meaning when I read the story called "Two Sisters" from Latin American Folktales: stories from Hispanic and Indian traditions edited by John Bierhorst.

A poor sister worked in the kitchen for her rich sister. As the woman rolled the dough and made the many tasty morsels, she was careful not to wash the dough from her fingers before heading home to her thin and hungry children. Once the children were gathered about, she would wash the leftover dough into a bowl and that would be supper.

Ironically, this type of meal made her children round in the bellies while the rich sister wondered how this could be as her own children were skinny despite having plenty to eat.

I seriously considered this story as part of the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" narrative production. The story, though beautiful, was too short for me to develop. Then again, I have known storytellers like David Novak who have taken a few lines of a nursery tale or song and created 30-minute or more masterpieces from them. As for me, I wished that the "Two Sisters" story would have had more scenes so that I could feel more comfortable in transforming it into a more encompassing piece.

In the end, I have chosen not to tell this story for this program. I do enjoy the image of the dough washed from the mother's fingers and may incorporate that part into a different story told.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

Hansel & Gretel and Their Other "Homes"

While listening to the Hansel and Gretel opera created by Engelbert Humperdinck, my mind wandered into the story and then back to the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" narrative production.

Though the opera was sung in German, I was familiar with the tale and imagined what was happening. I realized that the Hansel and Gretel story had two elements: family abuse/abandonment and the lack/excess of food. Interestingly, the lady who sings for the Mother is often the same one to sing for the Gingerbread Witch.

Some people may think that the story involves a stepmother, though originally the mother was the one who sent the sent the two children into the forest to die. As this story was based on the Medieval times, it was not uncommon for parents to leave their children in the forest so there were less mouths to feed. Storytellers are aware that fairy tales have many elements of truth to them.

Though the Hansel and Gretel story intrigued me, I was not interested in telling the German version. I wanted to find a story with similar motifs and themes from another culture. The trick was to find a version that was authentic to the culture rather than being an adaptation of Hansel and Gretel that used another name.

Then "The Storyteller's Sourcebook: A Subject, Title, and Motif Index to Folklore Collections for Children 1983-1999" edited by Margaret Read MacDonald and Brian W. Sturm flashed to mind. At the time, only "The Storyteller's Sourcebook" was the title I remembered and the connection to MacDonald. When I arrived at the library, this book was in the Reference Juvenile Literature section.

The book used the Stith Thompson Motif Index, the enlarged version of classification of fairy tales, rather than the original Aarne Thompson Motif Index.

Since the Hansel and Gretel story was so common, I knew I could look up the title and see what motifs were listed. Then I noticed other categories where I may find other stories appropriate for the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" narrative production.

These were the codes found for Hansel and Gretel:

• G412.1.1
• Type 327A
• R135
• G526
• G512.3.2
• B469.4

These categories caught my attention:

• G400-G499 = Falling into Ogre's Power
  
• G500-G599 = Ogre Defeated
  
• C200-C299 = Eating and Drinking Tabu/Taboo
  
• T0-T699 = Family Life, which includes: Love (T0-T99), Marriage (T100-T199), Married Life (T200-T299), Chastity and Celibacy (T300-T399), Illicit Sexual Relation (T400-T499), Conception and Birth (T500-T599), and Care of Children (T600-T699)

Any combination of C200-299 with T0-T699 will likely be stories to pursue for the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" narrative production.

These codes and categories will act as my compass to find the other "homes" where stories like Hansel and Gretel may appear.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

Student to my Rescue: Research Assistance

When approached to be part of the Weber State University Storytelling Festival Board, I was honored.

Then I realized how many other projects and positions I had and wondered if this was too much.

Finally, I was promised that in return for work with the festival, an undergraduate student would be found within the Department of Education to assist in research for the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" project.

Today I received the telephone call from the student.

We did not chat for long, though we were able to discuss the main ideas of the project and the goals. Eventually, we will meet in-person to get to know each other better and see how we could mutually benefit from the exchange.

She is majoring in Elementary Education with a minor in American Sign Language. I did not think about it while speaking with her, though afterward I wondered about the possibility of having an ASL interpreter at the premiere. A couple months ago this idea intrigued me. I forgot about it. . .until now.

In the meantime, I am requesting to see the senior project guidelines to make sure "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" will match what is required of the university. Interestingly, this narrative production connects to achieving my Storytelling Masters.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

Official Venue: I have Covey Center for the Arts!

I learned that the Covey Center for the Arts signed their half of the venue contract.

Now it is official: I have the place for my premiere on February 9, 2009 at 8:00pm!

I will wait to send out invites through Facebook, Twitter, Professional Storyteller, and other online avenues until the information on the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" narrative production is on the Covey Center for the Arts website. By November 26th the page will be up, if not earlier. When I receive notification, then I will also submit the event to online calendars including NowPlayingUtah.com.

Each event that takes place there has their own page to post a few pictures, description, and list any websites connected to it. Of most use is link so people could order tickets online.

Perhaps I should not have stalled to work on the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" logo. I wanted to have the venue in place first as the location's information would be needed for posters, fliers, and postcards. The logo itself did not need those details. Still, there is a certain security to waiting when things are more in stone.

I could always have the logo uploaded on the Covey Center for the Arts website as I get it. In the meantime, I will submit the picture of me looking back over my shoulder. This is the same picture used for my Facebook support group.

I expect to have pictures of my accompanist and possible someone to sing duet with me for a song or two. This will be more clear as the structures of the stories progress.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

The Big Revelation during Lipman's Coaching

Every year is the Utah Storytelling Guild Story Swap where members from all chapters "talk stories" and are taught workshops.

This year we were privileged to have Doug Lipman.

From marketing to storytelling techniques to coaching, Lipman shared so much information for us to apply to our goals in the art. Eventually, he asked for volunteers in regards to coaching on marketing/niche. My hand shot up and I was thrilled when I could go before the other Utah Storytelling Guild members and share my plans so far.

I was unsure what types of questions Doug may ask me nor did I know how much background everyone would need for the coaching to be productive.

I rattled off the marketing ideas already in place such as having "Save the Date" postcards sent, the use of this blog to record my journey on the project, the existence of the Facebook group, etc. I did not realize that because the marketing side was clearest to me for this project, I really needed coaching on the story development and confidence.

This became apparent as I shared one of my great fears: Am I a fake?

Tears fell as I shared with my fellow storytellers that I did not want to go upon the stage on February 9th and feel like I failed everyone including myself. I have built such high expectations on this premiere.

I may be ambitious and resolute about some things in life, though I am greatly affected by how others perceive me.

In some ways, I felt upset at crying because I knew that it is better to focus on the positive as has been taught by my friend, Carol Esterreicher, through Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) of creating the "Circle of Excellence."

The "Circle of Excellence" is a concept in which you step in and out of an imaginary circle that represents the perfect performance. Each entrance into the circle means a different sense to trigger happy memories whether through calming visuals, encouraging sounds, or even stimulating smells.

Yet, even with this knowlegdge, I pictured silence as people left the theatre disappointed. These negative images I had to erase if my "creative intelligence", a term that Lipman uses, will emerge and grow.

This coaching time reminded me of the need to plan my story development as fervently--if not more--than what I am dedicating to the marketing aspects.

Thankfully, I received several offers for rehearsal buddies as well as people who said they will definitely attend.

Even the Utah Storytelling Guild Timp Tellers Chapter president, April Johnson, offered for the December meeting to give some time for me to share pieces of my project so as to receive group coaching. As I attend the Olympus and the Ben Lomond chapters, this was especially moving for me.

This means I will aim for the beginning of January to be quite solid with the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" program. Then I can have some practice runs and receive audience reactions before the big premiere.

Thank you to Doug Lipman and the Utah Storytelling Guild for opening my eyes to what I need at this time.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

Venue Contract: "So let it be written, so let it be done"

Having word that I could have the Grand Theater of the Covey Center for the Arts was a glorious moment.

Joyous sounds left my mouth when I heard that the BYU International Folk Dance Ensemble and the Covey Center for the Arts would allow me to have my performance at 8:00pm on Monday, February 9th. (see previous entry for details)

When thoughts are placed onto paper, it had the finality of "So let it be written, so let it be done" as pronounced by the Pharaoh on "The Ten Commandments" movie.

I was amused that the service agreement that I send to those who hire me is only one page while this contract from the Covey Center for the Arts was five pages long. Despite the length of the contract, I gladly read every word.

Here are some details that may be of interest--

Deposit:

• $200 deposit. Deposit is applied to Base Rental Fee and is due at signing of contract. No date is confirmed without deposit.

Payments:

• Base Rental Fee (school project rate due to part of Storytelling Masters program, based on scheduled time-charge will be based on actual use)-$500
• Performance Day Cleaning Fee-$50
• Reimbursables (estimate includes use of technicians, ushers, etc.)-$205
• TULIP (at least $1,000,000 liability insurance coverage for event)-$125

Estimated Total Costs-$880

Other Sections of the Contract:

• General information (name, address, telephone, program title)
• Stage Requirements
• Stage Personnel
• Equipment Use
• Piano Tuning, if applicable
• Alcoholic Beverages and Smoking
• Royalties, Copyrights and Licenses
• Unsafe Practices
• Cancellations
• Insurance
• Ticket Requirements and Ticket Office
• Program Requirements
• Displays and Tables
• Sponsorships
• Publicity
• Custodians
• Merchandise
• Concessions
• House Manager/Security
• Ushers
• Parking
• Professional Recording
• Audience Recording
• Settlement
• Legal
• Signatures of Renter (me) and Covey Center for the Arts General Manager
  

Forms beyond Contract:

• Technical Questionnaire (two pages)--determine staging, sound, and lighting
• Marketing & Ticket Office Questionnaire (two pages)--target the audience desired such as minimum age admitted, recommended age, ticket prices, discounts if any, merchandise to be sold, etc.
• Provo City New Vendor Data Form (one page)--sell merchandise as well as pre-ordering DVD copies of "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" in the area
  
• W-9 (one page)--receive sales from tickets and merchandise

Though my deposit and contract as well as the other forms were mailed, it is not until the contract is signed by the Covey Center for the Arts when it is official. Even so, the prospect of having the Grand Theater in my mind is sealed.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller