Program

Also known as "Urban Legends," this is a straight storytelling program with classic creepy tales that teens really enjoy. Adults with a taste for the absurd giggle along and often recognize these personalized versions of classics: The Hook, The Vanishing Hitchhiker (this time, set in the Berkshires), Crispy-Fried Rodent, The Blue Satin Dress (or you don't have to be an ancient Greek to perish in a poison gown), with nods to alligators in the sewers, spiders in the hairdo and girls who really shouldn't have tried to quick-dry their hair in a microwave. Occasionally, the Creepy Babysitter shows up, and sometimes, the Hand You Love to Hold, and we mean, the hand. Often, for variety, I include a wonderful version (in English but with lots of colorful Italian) of the folktale, Dauntless Little John, or Giovannin Senza Paura. This gives the usually shy audience some ways to hear their own voices--in bits of easily repeated Italian--with attitude. I also often include an Appalachian folk tale, The Three Girls and the Journey Cakes (and the Jumping Corpse), with original refrains and guitar accompaniment for interest and further variety. Really fun, a fine run-in with the absurd and American pop culture, friend-of-a-friend-told-me style. You've just got to love this oral tradition.