The Magic Carpet: Mesopotamian and Egyptian Myths - the dramatic discovery of some of the world's first stories

Grimm's Grimmest - the darker side of traditional fairy tales

A Garden Variety - nature-based myths, legends and folktales

A Yiddish King Lear - personal family stories and others from the Jewish tradition

A Whirl of Tales - world-wide folktales that honor the wisdom of children and elders

Memory, Myth, Experience and Tradition - an on-your-feet workshop designed to put your own twist on a traditional tale and actively involve an audience

Join storyteller Judith Heineman and musician Daniel Marcotte to find out how tales like Star Wars and Harry Potter got their start. Learn how the world's first literature was inscribed on clay tablets, discover Gilgamesh, the world's first superhero, and be spellbound by ancient tales of quests, magic, monsters, and more!

• The Epic of Gilgamesh
• The Legend of Osirus
  The Descent of Ishtar
• City of Rainbows
• The Egyptian Cinderella
• How to Make a Mummy
• The Clever Thief
• and more!

Judith and Daniel have performed at the Oriental Institute, the University of Chicago, the Field Museum, the Adler Planetarium, and dozens of schools and libraries throughout Chicago and the suburbs. This duo brings music and stories to life, involving the audience in every tale! Daniel and Judith are an asset to any school, library, or museum at which Ancient Egypt or Mesopotamia are studied. Fun and informative, suspenseful and action-packed, these stories will enliven the spirit, and expand the listeners' awareness of ancient cultures of the Middle East. Replica artifacts, costumes and early musical instruments enhance their program.

Featuring John Berquist and Judith Heineman

Judith and John offer world tales that interactively engage audiences in song and story. They specialize in nature-based stories for public and private garden events, museums, festivals, libraries, schools and more. They also conduct workshops for educators, students and parents.

Judith and John were among the first pilot teacher/tellers in the Words 37 apprenticeship storytelling program for the City of Chicago public high school students, having worked with bi-lingual students in the Mexican community of Pilsen and on Chicago's south side at South Shore High School.In addition, they tour extensively under a Rothschild Family Foundation grant to senior centers and nursing facilities.

They tour extensively under a Rothschild Family Foundation grant to senior centers and nursing facilities.

Just say the words, "Psst! Did you hear about... Once upon a time... I shouldn't really tell you this but..." and you're hooked. Explore the art of storytelling using written, physical, and mental warm-up exercises in a theatrical frame-work so that your stories form a continuum in this re-emerging, highly respected medium. Discover how to put your own twist on a traditional tale, how to create the beginning of a personal tale, and how to actively involve your audience. All of this will occur in an intensive one-day, one-your-feet, interactive workshop. We will be using original and published material.

We will work individually, and in small and large groups. Original writing triggered in class exercises will form the basis of some of our stories. We will discuss sources and compare tale-types, learn how to select and shape stories, how to involve an audience, how to reduce stage fright, how to enhance character choices and vocal quality. By the end of the session, participants will tell at least one story out loud. A variety of genres, from children's stories to world tales to ghost stories will be explored. Original interpretations in a supportive, nurturing environment will be emphasized. No experience necessary.