Life
on the Prairie: Portrait of an 1870s Pioneer Woman
This
detail-rich, historically researched program “Peeks into the Past”
of a typical, strong pioneer woman’s life in Missouri during the
post-Civil War years. Storyteller Karen Young presents the life of a
fictional “wife, mother, farm hand, seamstress, laundress, water
hauler, wood chopper, gardener and doctor” in period costume.
Four handmade quilts hold the stories of her family’s life. Stories
of fire and drought, floods and fighting off wolves are set in the living
diorama of a typical 1870’s household. Created by an extensive
collection of period and reproduction antiques, her “log cabin”
contains quilts, kitchen items, cooking and laundry implements, tools,
hand-carved toys, furs and clothing.
Audiences
are invited to look at, touch,smell and fully experience this recreation
of a pioneer home on the prairie. Two versions of Life on the Prairie
are available for all audiences:
| Living
Diorama complete with period antiques and quilts. This 45-minute
performance is followed by 15 minutes for “cabin tour” and questions. |
|
OR |
|
Family
quilts as backdrop for 45-minute performance. |
“The
Children were enthralled with her stories and thoroughly enjoyed touching and smelling the artifacts on display.” Elementary School Reading Specialist |
“It
was my favorite part of Missouri Day!” Elementary Student |
Grammy Ellstrom Tells Tall and True Tales:
Great Americans Tall and Small
Tales of strong women and fearless men punctuate this fun and fanciful fact-filled performance. Listen to Grammy Ellstrom recall anecdotes of American tall tale river, cowboy and backwoods heroes. Rival river boat captains Mike Fink and Annie Christmas. The riotous wedding of Slue Foot Sue and Pecos Bill. Even Davy Crockett’s wooing of Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett.
“Wake up Grammy! It’s time to tell
us a story! Your tales are funny!”
Elementary Student
How Paul Bunyan
Shaped America
Did you know that the Great Salt Lake was formed by Paul Bunyan
as he dug a grave for his beloved blue ox Babe and filled it with his
salty tears? Or that a forgetful Paul let his giant pickaxe drag behind
him, thereby creating the Grand Canyon? Grammy Ellstrom “remembers”
how her friend shaped the mountains, rivers, lakes and national treasures
of America. Scientific explanations are also presented “for them
folks who want facts and not just fancy.”
Grammy remembers the “Sons of Liberty and the Daughters of the American Revolution.” Heroes like Samuel Adams. “I knowed he’d been at that Boston Tea Party cuz he hadn’t washed that Indian-colored paint off from behind his ears.” Benjamin Franklin. “Smartest man I ever met, despite the fact that he wanted a turkey representin’ our country.” Even Uncle Sam. “He sold meat to the Army and ended up selling the idea of liberty to the world.”
"I Want to Vote!" America's Women
Suffrage Story
A
cantankerous pioneer woman and her modern day great-great-granddaughter
remember the heroic work of suffragettes Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady
Stanton and St. Louisan Virginia Minor to legalize a woman’s right
to vote. “I WANT TO VOTE !” was their chant and it echoed
across America. “Peek into the Past” to a time when half of
the adults in America—the female half—had no Voice in their
government because they didn’t have the right to Vote.
Storytellers Side by Side Karen Young and Gale Rublee Portman bring this
momentous slice of history to life and juxtapose today’s politically
active woman and her commitment to children, education and the environment.
This 45-minute storytelling program can be followed by a short Q &
A, if requested.
Grades:
5-Adult
American History, Women’s Studies, Voting Rights
“By the end of the performance, the entire audience was enthusiastically chanting ‘I WANT TO VOTE!’ along with the storytellers.”
“The children will not forget the
information presented in this
storytelling way and did not even
realize they were learning so much
about history and citizenship.”
From Dawn to Knight:
Celtic Hero and King Arthur Tales
The
Celts (Irish, Scottish, British & Welsh) have celebrated heroes from
the beginning of time. Those tales still speak to the hearts and minds
of today’s story listeners. Tales of warriors, lovers, hunters,
kings and even dogs transport audiences to a time and place filled with
magic and heroism. “Peek into the Past” to meet the mythical
Celtic gods—the Tuatha de Danaan—as well as Finn McCool, Prince
Llywelyn, King Arthur, Merlin and more “otherwordly” characters.
Grades 2-Adult
“I loved the King Arthur story! Did
it really happen that way?”
“This was
the best program we have had this
year in our Noon Series.”
University Department Head
Travel
through time and “Peek into the Past” to meet heroes, heroines,
giants and ordinary folk whose stories stretch across continents and cultures.
Ancient tales from Greece, Ireland and Asia. A tribal story from Africa
and a tall tale from America. Even a current urban tale. Together they
form a story map of the world from the beginning of time to today. This
animated and engaging program, featuring Storytellers Side by Side Karen
Young and Gale Rublee Portman, is filled with adventure, life lessons
and laughter.
Grades K-6
World Cultures, History, Language Arts
“I was amazed that all our elementary students—from the youngest to the oldest—were enthralled through the entire program.”
School Principal
Conestoga
Carrie and Story Spirit Woman delight audiences with rip roaring tall
tales and heart warming legends. This spirited program is filled with
songs and stories told by America’s native peoples and the pioneers
who traveled West in wagons. “Peek into the Past” of the American
frontier with Storytellers Side by Side Karen Young and Gale Rublee Portman.
All Ages
Westward Expansion,
American and Missouri History
"Your stories were funny and exciting
and helped me imagine what it must
have been like back then.”