Comments on: Liz Warren’s List of Differences Between Storytelling and Theatre

By: Hope

Hope — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 04:32:56 +0000

Thanks very much, Liz! I just turned in my syllabus last night. I’m looking forward to teaching the class again but with your book.

By: Liz Warren

Liz Warren — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:20:11 +0000

Hope – I’m so delighted that you are going to be using The Oral Tradition Today! And thank you for letting people know about the book through your blog. Priscilla pushed me the posting. I’m going to put you into google reader so I can keep up with your postings.

By: Hope

Hope — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 17:32:14 +0000

By the way, sometimes I copy my blog posts to the front page of SmallerIndiana.com. On SI, Erik Deckers commented on this post:

“The difference between story telling and theatre is the same as the difference between radio theatre and TV. Once forces you to use your imagination, the other shows you what it is.”

By: Hope

Hope — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 17:31:51 +0000

Thanks very much, Jack! May we all always have good material!

By: Jack Gramling

Jack Gramling — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 13:28:16 +0000

Reading Ms. Warren’s comparison (and contrasting–constrastion?) of storytelling and theater was very interesting. I might add (as an actor myself) that the nice thing about being in a theatrical performance is, you have the luxury of being someone else, whereas a storyteller, at some point, has to eventually surface as him- or herself, even if he or she is voicing multiple characters.

I dunno. I prefer being mysterious. The thing is, I’ve seen storytellers who spend so much time setting up their story that their storytelling session ends up becoming a chalk talk. BORRRRRRRING! But…if a storyteller has a good story to tell and is him- or herself a compelling speaker, it can be a riveting performance. It’s hard to go wrong when you’ve got good material. Nevertheless, it does happen.

Good luck with the storytelling class, Ms. Amaryllis!

By: Hope

Hope — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:27:12 +0000

Thanks for the offer, Michael, and thanks for reading! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

By: Michael Perry

Michael Perry — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:13:08 +0000

Hi, Hope. Sounds like fun! If you need another storyteller for a “neutral” kind of experience (neither teacher nor student), let me and/or Karen know. We’re about as different as you can get.

Take care,
Michael Perry