The Historic Hoosier Theater will host its “Storyfest” event for the 13th time next Thursday and Friday, October 5th-6th, at sites around Vevay.
“Storyfest” has always served as a way of teaching children about the different ways that stories and heritage have been passed down through generations. Such methods as song, dance, music, art, drama, and poetry have all been presented in the past, as students from all around the county have enjoyed the various presenters.
This year’s “Storyfest” will be presented to first through fifth graders at both Switzerland County Elementary and Jefferson-Craig Elementary; sixth graders at Switzerland County Middle School; and also home-schooled children in the county.
Students in first through third grades will attend “Storyfest” on Thursday, October 5th; while fourth through sixth graders will attend on Friday, October 6th.
There will be three different presentation venues this year: the Historic Hoosier Theater on Ferry Street; the newly-renovated Switzerland County Historical Museum at Main and Market streets; and the Switzerland County YMCA just west of town on State Road 56.
Performers scheduled for the 2006 “Storyfest” include:
– Csardas Dance Company Youth Ensemble. The Csardas Youth Ensemble is a unique program of Hungarian Folk Dance that celebrates the universal joys of tradition through dance.
The ensemble performs traditional as well as contemporary works stemming from Hungarian heritage.
Founded in 1996 by Richard Graber, the program has proven to be a wonderful experience for youth performers as they learn about another culture; develop their coordination skills; meet other children; and experience performing. The ensemble performers range in age from 8-18, and the group is from Cleveland, Ohio.
– Atwater-Donnelly. Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly present a delightful program of traditional American and Celtic Folk songs; as well as perform dance and poetry.
They blend unusual harmonies and play guitar, Appalachian mountain dulcimer, Irish tin whistle, harmonica, banjo, mandolin, bones, spoons, limberjack, feet, and other surprises.
The performance also features humor and audience participation; and the duo will also spend time explaining song origins to give the students more information on the relevance of the material.
The performers are from Foster, Rhode Island.
– ArtReach Touring Productions. A division of the Childrens Theater of Cincinnati, the group will present “Aesop’s Fables” on Thursday to the first through third graders.
The group will teach life lessons and important values through the telling of Aesop’s Fables, as well as bringing each to life. The production is written by Joe Kovacs, and also features his puppets.
Such fables as: “Tortoise and the Hare”; “The Boy Who Cried Wolf”; and “The Crow and the Pitcher” will be presented.
“Voice of the Prairie”, a dramatic adaptation based on the true story of Laura Ingalls Wilder, will be presented to the fourth through sixth grade students on Friday.
The presentation takes children from her little house on the prairie to her rise as a literary star; from log cabins and covered wagons to the simple joys of farm life in the Ozarks.
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Funding for the “Storyfest” event is being provided by the United Fund of Switzerland County; the Vevay-Switzerland County Foundation; the Kiwanis Club of Vevay; and Pennington Place.