Inspired by Bradbury’s short story, “Gotcha!” storytellers are busy scheming a shocking day of “Literary Twists” for the next Ray Bradbury Storytelling Festival, sponsored by the Waukegan Public Library. The new lineup features tales designed to grab listeners by the collar before their neck hairs have time to rise. Now in its fifth year, the popular festival will take place Friday, October 29, at the Genesee Theatre, with a 10:30 children’s matinee and a 7:30 evening show for listeners 11 and older.
Festival fans will notice some other twists this year, too, like reduced prices. Responding to the depressed economy, the library is cutting ticket prices from $17 to just $12 for the evening performance—
Also new, the Waukegan Public Library plans to announce the winners of its Ray Bradbury Creative Contest at 6 p.m. on the day of the festival, in the lobby at the Genesee Theatre. All submissions will be on display, including art, multimedia and literary works from writers and artists of all ages, from all parts of the world. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. For an additional $13, fans can gain admission to an elaborate Pre-show Party at 6 p.m., with complimentary drinks, appetizers, and the chance to meet the performers in person, including renowned storytellers, Megan Wells and Jim May.
Last year, Wells regaled the festival audience with a howlingly witty portrayal of Oscar Wilde’s ghost of Canterville. In keeping with this year’s theme, she’ll present the Charles Dickens plot-twister, Oliver Twist. Wells serves as Artistic Director for the Ray Bradbury Storytelling Festival, having earned widespread acclaim for writing, directing and performing stories on stages nationwide, including the Art Institute of Chicago and The Island Theater on Bainbridge Island, Washington. She holds an MFA in theater arts and a string of distinguished theater awards, including the prestigious Joseph Jefferson Award for directing. Along with May, Wells has performed at the Ray Bradbury Storytelling Festival every year since its inception.
May often uses the opportunity to spotlight some of the more unsung works of renowned authors. He plans to present “The Bottled Imp” by Robert Louis Stevenson, a twisty, paradoxical tale about greed, reward and retribution. Somewhat impish himself, May earned his fame telling offbeat stories and cracking wise on radio programs and stages across the country. He co-founded the Illinois Storytelling Festival, and won the coveted Circle of Excellence Award for storytelling. Equally gifted on paper, the performer has several published works to his credit, including a collection of original stories named “Best Book” by the Public Library Association.
Guest storyteller Janice Del Negro has also published several award-winning collections of her own original stories. For the festival, she’ll perform sketches from her latest book, Passion and Poison: Tales of Shape-Shifters, Ghosts, and Spirited Women. Del Negro is an Assistant Professor at the Graduate School at Dominican University, where she teaches storytelling and literature. Her specialties include retelling traditional folktales and transformation stories, with a emphasis on ghosts and women. A seasoned performer, she’s taken the stage as featured storyteller at such prestigious venues as the National Storytelling Festival, the Bay Area Storytelling Festival, and the Illinois Storytelling Festival.
Teller Mike Speller will spin the evening’s inspiration tale, Ray Bradbury’s “Gotcha!” A story once featured on The Ray Bradbury Theater show, “Gotcha!” takes listeners on a scary mind-bender about a couple’s experiment with a game of the same name. Speller has spent the past 25 years storytelling on stages and onscreen across the country, including Lifeline and Timeline Theatre in Chicago; the Northlands Storytelling Conference in Madison, Wisconsin; the Orlando and Minnesota Fringe Festivals; and a headline appearance at the Sterling Storytelling Festival.
The Waukegan Public Library launched its annual Ray Bradbury Storytelling Festival in 2006 in homage to the celebrated author, who turns 90 this year. Each year, storytellers highlight a new theme like “Literary Ghosts” or “Literary Villains” in an effort to rekindle interest in classic tales of horror. And the effort’s paying off. Both matinee and evening performances continue to lure a burgeoning set of followers, as well as curious newcomers. That unsuspecting group is often amazed how a story, relayed without any props by professional storytellers, can inspire such spearlike emotion—typically, fear. And this year, tellers are whetting their instruments for one of the most fearsome festivals yet.
