April brings two evenings of stellar storytelling to Homewood, according to news releases from Homewood Public Library and Homewood Stories.
The library will host two internationally recognized tellers, Andy Offutt Irwin and Bil Lepp, in a show for adults at 7 p.m. Monday, April 20.
The following evening, Homewood Stories, a monthly storytelling show at Grady’s Grille, 18147 Harwood Ave., will provide an opportunity to hear both Chicago-based and local tellers. The show starts at 7:30 p.m.
Irwin and Lepp will be in Homewood at the invitation of Greg Weiss, drama teacher at James Hart School, and will be doing storytelling workshops with students.
Irwin bills himself as a “storyteller, humorist, musician, public speaker, whistler, show-off” and is the 2013 National Storytelling Network Circle of Excellence Award Winner.
He is especially known for relating the adventures of his 85-year-old-widowed-newly-minted-physician-aunt, Dr. Marguerite Van Camp.
Bil Lepp is a five-time champion of the West Virginia Liars’ Contest. His humorous tall-tales and witty stories have earned the appreciation of listeners from all walks of life. In 2011, he was awarded the National Storytelling Network’s Circle of Excellence Award. Lepp has been featured 13 times at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesboro, Tennessee.
August at Homewood
Stories. (Photo by Eric Crump/
HF Chronicle)
Storytelling fans will then have a chance to enjoy performances by local tellers at Homewood Stories Tuesday, April 21.
In addition to host Karen O’Donnell, two tellers will be making return engagements.
Gary Doherty last performed at Homewood Stories in August. Many of his story ideas come from his life as a social worker with teens, elders, disabled persons and from growing up in Chicago, according to O’Donnell.
Homewood Stories in
November. (Photo by Eric
Crump/HF Chronicle)
Richard Aspell, who, like O’Donnell, grew up in Homewood and is a dentist by profession, last appeared in November. He is an up and coming storyteller who has done voice over work for commercials, recorded books for the blind and dyslexic and emceed dance events for his wife’s folk dance ensemble.
“Rich likes sharing stories with his patients and building trusting relationships,” O’Donnell said.
New to the Homewood Stories stage and to storytelling will be Jan Bohacek. She was born in Chicago, lived 20 years in Los Angeles and returned to the area after retiring from a career in financial services.
Also telling at Homewood Stories for thefirst time will be Linda Braggs, an inspirational storyteller and one who shares stories from history, folk tales, fairy tales, original stories, biblical stories or fables. Her appearances have taken her to both national and international audiences.
More information:
Andy Offutt Irwin
Bil Lepp
Homewood Stories