Local storytellers to take part in annual Tellabration festival at Hamilton library
By: Stephanie Prokop
Once upon a time, there was the art of storytelling.
Then along came the computer, the cell phones, and iPods, and suddenly, the demand for the spoken word to receptive ear disappeared faster than one can say "story."
Tellabration, a celebration that promotes the art of storytelling, is slated to be presented at 3 p.m. at the Hamilton Township Public Library on Sunday, Nov. 19.
The celebration, which is in its 10th year, will feature four storytellers, three of them local: Barbara Antoniewicz, Jeanette Purdy of Columbus, Doreen Shepard of Columbus, and Ann Zigrand of Florence.
The first Tellabration took place in 1988. The event is now produced by storytelling centers and organizations, schools, libraries, colleges and universities, museums, performing arts centers, story-swap groups, and other entities across the nation (and in foreign countries) eager to promote the art of storytelling.
All proceeds collected from this event will be donated to the Patrick S. Biddulph Foundation for Leukemia Research, and also the Hamilton Township Library Trust Fund.
According to storyteller Gwendoyln Jones, who is a co-producer of the event, "people have always told stories, all over the world, in every culture, from tiny villages to big cities. Throughout the centuries, from the cave dwellers to suburbanites, the forum for telling stories with our families and friends has existed, and through it we have preserved our heritage, passed on traditions, learned skills, and most importantly developed our limitless imaginations."
The Garden State Storytellers’ League, an affiliate league of the National Story League (NSL), was founded in 1982 by Gwendolyn Jones.
Tellabration is not just a local event. The afternoon celebration is something that will be going on around the country and internationally.
Tellabration is sponsored by the Garden State Storyteller’s League of New Jersey in association with the National Storytelling Network, in Jonesborough, Tenn. Tellebration is a worldwide storytelling event for adults and young adults held simultaneously across the country and internationally.
Ms. Jones emphasizes that this event isn’t necessarily aimed at younger kids.
"We want to allow people that storytelling is for adults too," she said.
In addition to the storytelling activities, there will be a special storytelling workshop at 1 p.m.
Tellabration was previously held for six years in Crosswicks. "We absolutely loved that storytelling venue, but because of the (handicapped) inaccessibility, we had to change our venue," said Ms. Jones. "This is the fourth year we are at Hamilton."
The stories told are going to be traditional tales, tales that were according to Ms. Jones, "handed down by word of mouth, generation by generation."
For Dr. Purdy, a resident of the Four Seasons active adult community in Columbus, storytelling unfolded as a "natural progression to continue something close to teaching."
As a former Mercer County Community College teacher and teaching business education at Trenton Central High School, Dr. Purdy decided that storytelling would be a fun way to give back to society while staying true to her educational roots.
She has traveled to many elderly care facilities and "thought about the group of people who don’t normally get all of the visitors, and found it important to give some attention to those who aren’t usually getting any."
Story material is usually derived from holiday tales, or Dr. Purdy sometimes prefers to use stories from the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series, or the "Book of Virtues" by Bill Bennett.
"I try to select those stories that have a moral base," Dr. Purdy said.
Doreen Shepard, a former elementary school teacher, and first time Tellebration teller, said she prefers to take a more natural approach when it comes to story telling.
"I love to tell nature stories," she said.
Ms. Shepard said she felt the need for younger kids need to be more involved with the great outdoors.
"Being that my husband is a nursery sales rep, I’ve always encouraged my students to try different genres of stories, and also stressed the importance of nature," she said.
Ms. Shepard’s goal is to someday soon take her love of storytelling to garden centers, and is soon going to Rancocas Woods to share her nature stories.
"I think that the children need to become more aware of nature outside, and to encourage people to come to garden centers for these kind of programs," Ms. Shepard said.
Just like Ms. Shepard, Ann Zigrand, a retired librarian and resident of Florence, is excited to share her storytelling skills with those who attend Tellebration.
Even though Ms. Zigrand is retired, she still volunteers at Florence Public Library, and has become a library board member.
Even though this is her first year with Tellebration, her involvement with the Garden State Storytellers’ League has been going on for some time: she used to take children to Garden State Presentations. The story that Ms. Zigrand plans on sharing with the audience is called "Cheese, Peas, and Chocolate Pudding." The story has a special meaning to her because she said it was a story that her daughter had loved when she was younger.
Tickets for Tellebration 2006 are $10 each. Those interested in information or ticket reservations or directions should contact Gwendolyn Jones and Carol Satz, at (609) 499-0107 and (609) 890-3378.

