Libraries
“I just want to thank you for the wonderful performance that you provided for the children in Clinton, Ma. on Wednesday!! The alligator dance was a hoot and I especially loved the story about the sun, the birds were adorable. That was always one of my favorites!! We received so many compliments from the parents. As you could tell we have some great child performers here!!” — Debbie Marini, Children’s Librarian
If you’re reading this, you know that libraries have special requirements for performers, because you never know exactly what the make-up of your audience will be. They may all show up wearing strollers, speak five different languages and a smattering of English and span diapers to age 12 (We should be so lucky.)
You need a performer who can instantly adapt to the vagaries of your patrons’ make-up. That means a performer with a large repertoire, who can think on her feet. And that means, a performer who has run into every conceivable situation in performance, head off troubles before they can occur and keep smiling. Themes? Have I got themes! Need something fishy? Something silly? Something for preschoolers? Preschoolers with 8-year-old sibling? Vice versa. NO PROBLEM!
SUMMER READING CLUBS are a speciality. (As Stuart Little said, “Never forget your summers.” That is one smart mouse.) Ask for beautiful, professional fliers and press releases to save you time and garner a bigger audience.
I LOVE performing in libraries. LOVE it. You children’s librarians, you are one fabulous group of people, and forgive me for painting you with one brush, but it’s a good one, and after 20 plus years of shows with you, I know what I’m talking about. If, as Ursula LeGuin said, it’s “into the space ship, Granny,” I’m taking YOU with me.
Three Shows for Your Summer Reading Club: One for Families, One for Teens (& Tweens) and One Cabaret of Starry Songs for Adults–
FOR FAMILIES
The One You Don’t See Coming–
StoRies & mUsic of SLeep, Dreams & StaRRy Nights
Come to the Summer Reading Show that’s full of mystery, stars, laughter & play your part…Ties in with “Dream Big@Your Library” theme
Find out: Who steals your mind so you can’t move or think till morning? Can Biafu and the hunters catch this thief? You’ll laugh at this really great African tale.
Wagon of Straw–a Kurdish tale of the Milky Way. We help keep alive stories others have tried to destroy.
Who is the Man in the Moon?–An Asian tale of two brothers, and more stories, songs & audience costume drama for “dreaming big” for ages 4 to adult. You’ll never look at the moon the same way.
Dance an original sleepwalkers’ dance, hear haunting and unfamiliar lullabies that WON’T put you to sleep!
Wear your p.j.’s and don’t miss this great time at your library!
FOR TEENS
The theme is “Own the Night,”
so the program is “Wild, Weird & Creepy Tales for Teens”
featuring classic urban legends, coming-of-age ghost stories teens really enjoy: “The Vanishing Hitchhiker,” ”The Blue Satin Dress–or Can a Prom Dress Really Kill?”, “Giovannin Senza Paura,” (the absurd Italian folktale with bits of Italian they can echo), The Three Girls & the Jumping Corpse (with guitar and sung refrain), and more tales teens shouldn’t live or die without.
FOR ADULTS
(The theme is “Between the Covers”): “How High the Moon?”–
Starry Song Standards of Love and the Night, CABARET
songs with piano accompaniment as seen at Cranwell Resort, Colonial Theatre, Mission Bar & Tapas, Loomis Village and elsewhere. See cabaret page http://maryjomaichack.com/cabaret/ for video sample. (We bring keyboard and turn your room into an intimate cabaret-style concert.) This is a very special program.