STORYTELLER
LYNN RUEHLMANN
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Here's
what Andy Offutt Irwin says about Lynn's storytelling:
Lynn
does this magical thing. She utterly transforms herself into the
characters she's telling about. She becomes a little
girl – surrounded by grownups – learning to use chopsticks. She
becomes those clunky grown-ups. She becomes a First
Lady, or the President of the United States. She pulls off what
a lot of us storytellers try to pull off; we stop seeing the teller.
We see the little girl. We see the grownups.
We see mirthful and wise Lynn herself, in all stages of life,
bringing us along.
Click
here to watch videos and listen to stories:
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Lynn
matches her stories and programs to her audiences, so let her
know if you have something special in mind.
Below are
some of her specific programs and stories:
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“Love's
All Greek to Me” NEW SHOW
This
light-hearted show joins together the Greek myth of Eros (otherwise
known as Cupid) and Psyche with Lynn's true contemporary story.
It is presented with spoken word and cello music.
Adult
For a printable PDF page with
more information, click
here
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"Mischief
and More"
Drawing
from her repetoire of stories from childhood through adulthood,
Lynn tailors her programs to fit the audience. Subjects include
off-beat jobs, summer romances, adoption, parents and parenting
and other adventures.
Adults and Families
For a printable PDF page with more information, click
here
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“Winning
Women”
This
show is two separate stories. The first is about Dorothea Lange,
photographer during the Great Depression. The second story weaves
together humorous, resonant tales about mothers, aprons and Fannie
Farmer.
8th grade – adult
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“Perseus:
A Greek Hero and His Myth Adventures”
Lynn
narrates the myth of Perseus while audience members act it out,
wearing whimsical masks and costumes. The story includes encounters
with the Grey Women, the Gorgons, Hermes and Athena, and the marriage
of Perseus and Andromeda.
2nd grade – 8th grade
For a printable PDF page with more information,
click here
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“Greek and Grand”
The
program is tailored to the audience. Stories may include the weaving
contest between Athena and Arachne, why Io was turned into a cow,
and what happened to Aristaeus' bees. See more complete descriptions
and choices of myths by clicking the link to printable PDF page.
3rd grade – adults
For a printable PDF page with more information, click
here
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“It
Happened in the White House: True Tales of the Eight Virginia Presidents
and Their Wives”
Meet
the wives and hear stories about eight men whose presidencies spanned
United States history from the American Revolution through World
War I: Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Harrison, Tyler,
Taylor, and Wilson.
4th grade - adult
For a printable PDF page with more information, click
here
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“Steadfast
and Spirited: Stories of the American Revolution”
The
war seen through three true tales: Deborah Sampson, a female Patriot
who fought disguised as a man; Peggy Shippen Arnold, the Loyalist
spy and wife of Benedict Arnold; and Phillis Wheatley, a slave turned
poet.
4th grade – adults
For a printable PDF page with more information, click
here
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“Spy!
The Story of Civil War Spy Elizabeth Van Lew”
The
story of a bold woman who supported and spied for the Union, aiding
soldiers and slaves,
all while living
in the Confederate capitol.
4th grade – adults
For a printable PDF page with more information, click
here
"A
Confederate Rose"
Rose Greenhow, Washington, DC, socialite, was hostess to both Confederate
and Union officers. The story of her work as Confederate spy can
be booked as a companion piece to Van Lew's.
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"Treasure Chest
of Tales"
Storytelling
in a dazzling array of forms: a folktale told in sign language,
an ancient myth filled with contemporary emotions, a humorous personal
story, an entertaining story from history, and maybe even a literary
tale.
3rd grade – adult
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“Tales
of Ancient Egypt”
Stories
told by Egyptians thousands of years ago, from their version of
“Cinderella,” to a myth of Osiris and Isis, to a folktale about
a prince and his fates.
1st – 6th grade |
“In
a Kingdom Not So Far Away”
Fairytales from around the world, including a Japanese tale about
a princess and tiny Samurai warriors, "Sleeping Beauty" with a song
audiences learn in sign language, and a Persian story about a baby
who starts out as a melon!
K – 5th grade |
"Be
Brave, Be Bold, Beware!"
Ghost
stories, scary stories, creepy stories, selected to suit each
audience. The tales range from a completely creepy tale by Charles
Dickens for adults through gentler stories with funny endings
for the younger set.
Adults and families
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“Quilting
Aesop”
Character
building stories by Aesop, told with audience participation, using
a quilt with a silhouette from each story as a backdrop.
K – 3rd grade
For a printable PDF page with more information,
click here
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"Picture
This "
A
charming collection of stories from around the world, each with
some audience participation, and each accompanied by art that
relates to the story.
K-3rd grade and families |
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