Listen To Spooky Stories At GreenMan Theatre

ELMHURST, IL — Elmhursts' GreenMan Theatre will present their annual event “Spooky Stories and Songs of the Season,” which offers stories and songs developed by participants in a storytelling class taught by Carolyn Thomas-Davidoff. Performances are Friday and Saturday, Oct. 19-20.

According to the theatre, several genres of stories may be offered, such as classic tales that come out of the oral tradition to become polished by time, literary tales written by a specific author, personal tales and urban legends. “Spooky Stories and Songs of the Season” is presented in two sets with an intermission. The program is recommended for adults and children ages seven and up.

The storytellers joining Thomas-Davidoff in the production are, from Elmhurst, Cassy Beach, Marilyn Connolly, Mary Proska, Joe Schram, and Steven Soria. Also in the production are Bobette Arnett of Forest Park, Julie Brandon of Downers Grove, Pat Cooley of Justice, Debbie Proska of Lombard, and Alma Read of Des Plaines. The theatre said Thomas-Davidoff worked with each of them closely in her storytelling class and through the rehearsal process, developing the production.

“I help the tellers find a story that speaks to them. Some of them can find a story easily, and some find it harder,” the Western Springs resident said in a release.

Thomas-Davidoff stressed that the storytellers shouldn’t be concerned with memorizing their stories but rather just tell them the best way they can through visualizing the details and including them in their stories one detail at a time.

“My mental image for it is that it’s like fingering a string of rosary beads with your mind; you go from bead to bead until you’re done,” she explained.

According to the theatre, some of the stories being told are “Skeleton Woman,” a tale from the far north, “John Tangle and the Witch Cat,” a southeastern American story, and “The Gruesome Test,” from Japan. Also included in the program are “The Babysitter,” “The Seamstress in the Graveyard,” “Next of Kin,” and “La Llorona,” The Weeping Woman story from Mexico and the southwestern United States.

Performances of “Spooky Stories and Songs of the Season” will be held in GreenMan's performance space at 232 S. York in Elmhurst. There are two performances only. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. on both evenings. Tickets are $5 each. Free parking is available. For more information or for ticket reservations, call 630-464-2646 or visit www.greenmantheatre.org.

Photo provided by GreenMan Theatre, photo by Ken Beach.