Tellabration Sat. Nov. 17

Next week is the annual Tellabration storytelling event, held around the world on the same date. This was begun in 1988 in Connecticut, the brainchild of J.G. "Paw Paw" Pinkerton. The date is easy for me to remember, because I went to a Tellabration that first year in Chester, CT, and our storytelling group put one on in 1989.

That was the first time I told stories to adults. I was nervous, very nervous. I was wearing silk pants, so it was clear to the audience that my knees were shaking throughout my story.

I'm rarely nervous storytelling these days. Somewhere along the line I gained confidence. My friend Tom Overholser put it wonderfully: "If you own the material, they can't take it away from you.

Anyway, back to Tellabration. The initial idea was to have storytelling all over the country at the same time, the way that all over the country on Sunday mornings many people are doing the same thing--I've always wanted to ask J.G. if that's what made him think this up. Now Tellabration is worldwide.

I'll be in the Kansas City Tellabration, put on by the River and Prairie Storyweavers a.k.a. RAPS. There are two performances, one at Maple Woods Community College, one at the John Wornall House and Museum. I'll be at the Wornall House, along with about fifteen other storytellers.

Here's the info for Saturday, Nov. 17, 2007:
John Wornall House Museum
146 W. 61st Terr.
Kansas City, MO
1-4 p.m.
Family Stories
Admission $20 per family, individual adults $10, children $5

Maple Woods Community College
2601 NE Barry Rd
Kansas City, MO
7:00 p.m.
Student Center Theater
Stories for adults featuring Tracy Milsap
Admission $10