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Megan
Hicks
storytelling empress:origami swami
Megan Hicks
stories:(un)folding
P. O. Box 7994
Fredericksburg, Virginia 22404
(540)371-6775
meganhicks@earthlink.net
www.meganhicks.com
Throughout Virginia and the
D.C. Metro area, I have built a reputation for my ability to captivate
listeners of all ages and all walks of life. For me, the biggest thrill
in storytelling comes from the story-listener connection, when the space-time
continuum is suspended and only the story exists.
Stories reach places in the
mind and heart that lectures and lessons don’t touch. Teens who
sleep through lectures stay awake and listen to good stories well told.
Kindergartners who squirm during lessons give full attention to storytelling.
A program of folk and fairy tales can span generations simultaneously,
enthralling (on different levels and for different reasons) children,
parents, grandparents and great-grandparents.
For workshops I take a hands-on
approach, using the power of story as my most effective teaching tool
-- for children and adults alike. Whether the focus is performing, writing,
or paper folding, participants amaze themselves and each other with the
excellence of their creative efforts.
Working 13 years as a professional
children’s librarian (1990-2003) was the best possible apprenticeship
for a fledgling storyteller. Several weekly storytime programs, hundreds
of booktalks, school visits, summer reading programs each with a different
theme; audiences of all ages, all sizes, all the time; developing the
flexibility to tailor programs to specific patron needs and to accommodate
the unexpected. These are all skills I use daily. And I never forget that
storytelling is all about literacy – reading, listening, expressing
ourselves through writing and through the spoken word.
Honors &
Awards
Parents’ Choice Silver
(2005)
Finalist – The Audies (2005)
Parents’ Guide to Children’s Media Award (2002)
Storytelling World Honor (2002)
National Storyteller of the Year (2000)
Recordings
“Groundhogs Meet Grimm”
Independently created, produced and performed, my first recording was
included among AudioBookCafe’s Best-of-the-best for 2003, and won
a Parents’ Guide to Children’s Media Award and a Storytelling
World Honor. “Groundhogs Meet Grimm” is
a hoot! – Free Lance Star, Fredericksburg, VA -- “Groundhogs
Meet Grimm” is as good as it gets. – Elizabeth Applebaum,
AudioBook Café.
“What was Civil About
that War…”
A ghost story based on the First Battle of Fredericksburg and the heroism
of a nineteen-year-old soldier remembered as the Angel of Marye’s
Heights.(Finalist, The Audies 2005, Parents’ Choice Silver for teen
audiences) “Megan Hicks is a history teacher’s
dream come true.” – Robert Rodriquez, Cathedral High School,
New York
Audio & Video Clips
"Groundhogs
Meet Grimm" -- audio
"What
Was Civil About that War..." -- audio
"The
Fisherman (and His Wife)" -- video
Programs offered
Storytelling is a perfect method for communicating ideals of Character
Development. If your school system highlights a Word of the Month, consider
how many of the programs listed below address the themes of: Kindness,
Responsibility, Fairness, Honesty, Courage, Respect, Cooperation, Dependability,
Forgiveness.
Preschool-K-1st-2nd-3rd
At this level, I include lots of audience participation. Animal
noises, choruses, clapping rhythms, call and response. These programs
are fun, AND many of them address character education.
·
“Bully for You! -- Disarming Aggression with Wit”
– Multi-cultural folk and fairy tales about taking care of yourself
in appropriate ways. This theme recurs with different stories chosen for
older children and for teens. Study guide and discussion questions available
upon request. (See also “Circle Time with Cuthbert & Magnolia”
under “classroom workshops.”)
· “Enough Already! – Stories of Greed, Grace,
and Gratitude” – Folk tales about knowing the difference
between enough and too much, sharing, and remembering to thank the good
fairy.
· “No Tricks. Just Magic” –
Fairy tales from around the world. They’re great stories. That’s
why they’ve been around for centuries. Kids will beat a track to
the library shelf marked 398.
· “Shivers!” – A little bit
scary and mostly funny stories for dark, stormy nights.
· “Slam-Dunk Poetry” – Start
poetry month with lively renditions of Dr. Seuss, Ogden Nash, Hilaire
Belloc, Lewis Carroll… just to name a few.
· “Stories In-Creasing” – Explore
Asian culture with a storytelling magic show that introduces children
to origami, an ancient art that’s been around since the Chinese
invented paper. Each story ends with the surprise of a different origami
model.
· “Train Stories” – as well
as some songs and rhymes.
Classroom workshop:
“Circle Time With Cuthbert and Magnolia”
– Mrs. Glockenspiel’s kindergartners at Minnow Springs Elementary
School learn about the difference between telling and tattling, “finding”
and “taking,” sharing, acceptance, and being friends. This
presentation is tailored as a classroom presentation. Children gather
in a circle for stories and discussion. Handouts include a copy of the
story and a Circle Time Clothesline to help recall and re-enforce the
lessons.
3rd-4th-5th Grades
·
“Akbar & Birbal” – Justice tales, each
with an unexpected twist, from the Mogul Empire of India. During the reign
of Queen Elizabeth I, India basked in a renaissance of its own, under
the reign of Akbar (“The Great”), with help from his wise
and witty judge Birbal.
· “Bully for You! – Disarming Aggression with
Wit" – Includes fables of Aesop, and folktales from
around the world. Upon request, I will provide handouts of questions and
discussion points for follow up classroom activity.
· “Enough Already! – Stories of Greed, Grace
and Gratitude.” Same theme , different stories, chosen
for older audiences.
· “No Tricks. Just Magic” –
Fairy tales from around the world. They’re great stories. That’s
why they’ve been around for centuries. Learn what’s special
about the Dewey Decimal number 398.
· “Poetry Potpourri” – Launch
Poetry Month with a program of energetic recitations from the works of
A.A. Milne, Ogden Nash, Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein, Roald Dahl, Hillaire
Belloc, Lewis Carroll. Perfect for sparking the poetry muse in your library
or classroom
· “Shivers, Part 2! Don’t Turn Off the Night
Light” – Funny, gross, and scary enough.
Classroom Hands-on Craft Workshop:
“Folding Under Pressure with the Origami Swami”
– Easily recalled short stories hold the instructions for several
simple origami models. During one class period, students learn two or
three story-gamis that they are able to recall and replicate. I teach
different story-gamis to each class so that they will share with each
other. Origami is a great tool for leaping social barriers.
6th Grade and up
· “Akbar & Birbal” – Justice
tales with a twist, from the Mogul Empire of India. During the reign of
Queen Elizabeth I, India basked in a renaissance of its own, ruled over
by the legendary ruler Akbar (“The Great”), with help from
his wise and witty judge Birbal, who was called The Ninth Jewel of Akbar’s
Crown.
· “Bully for You! – Overcoming Aggression with
Wit” – Stories chosen for older audiences.
· “King Arthur’s Nephew's Big Mouth”
– Of all the knights of the Round Table, Gawain was the most chivalrous.
The handsomest. The kindest. The most impulsive. His mouth got him into
trouble time and time again.
· “No Tricks. Just Magic” –
We never outgrow our fascination with magic of fairy tales. Program includes
traditional multi-cultural and contemporary fairy tales.
· “Poetry Potpourri” – Stories
told in verse. I’ll introduce you to Sam McGee, The Highwayman,
Annabelle Lee, The Raven, Poe’s Cat, archy the cockroach and his
friend Mehitabel the cat.
· “Unquiet Graves” – Stories
about dead folks who won’t stay put, classics and originals. Too
scary for young kids.
· “What Was Civil About that War…”
– Martha Stephens of Fredericksburg refused to evacuate her home
on the eve of one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. The charge
of the Irish Brigade, the slaughter of Union troops, the wounded crying
out for water, the heroism of a nineteen-year-old boy remembered as The
Angel of Marye’s Heights – she was there. She tells their
stories. (Word of the month: Courage) (Finalist –
The Audies 2005; winner – Parents’ Choice Silver Award for
teen audiences.)
Classroom
Workshops:
· “Folding Under Pressure with the Origami Swami”
– Math teachers love this program. So do art teachers. Material
can be presented in condensed form during one class period, or it can
be expanded into a residency, focusing on skill building and learning
to read origami diagrams.
· “Go Ahead and Tell!" – Get
that story off the page and onto a stage. Interactive techniques for learning
a story, making it your own, and remembering it once you’re in front
of an audience. Can be expanded to a residency, culminating with a storytelling
concert for younger students.
High School through Adult
· “Akbar & Birbal” – See
description above.
· “Bully for You! – Disarming Aggression with
Wit” – See description above. Stories chosen for
adult audiences.
· “Groundhogs Meet Grimm, or: I’ll Have a Parodies”
– Fractured fairy tales starring (of all preposterous creatures)
groundhogs. The CD won both a Storytelling World Honor award and Parents’
Guide to Children’s Media Award and was included among AudioBookCafe’s
“Best of the Best for 2003.”
· “Gutsy Broads” – Stories celebrating
strong women. Fairy tales, traditional and contemporary, intact and fractured.
· “High School on the Home Front”
– Stateside during World War II. USO dances, Western Union, ration
stamps, war heroes, war brides, Gold Star moms. (This program premiered
at the D.C. Visitors Center in 2004, during celebrations dedicating the
World War II Memorial.)
· “No Tricks. Just Magic” –
Back in the day, fairy tales were told to grownups. 12 Dancing Princesses
is as much for troubled parents as it is for wayward teens.
· “Nuclear Family Fallout” –
Personal narrative about surviving the Baby Boom. 90 minutes.
· “Poetry Potpourri” – See description
above
· “What Was Civil About that War”
– See description above.
Workshops:
· “Your Life as History/Your History as Legacy”
– Participants consider their lives against the backdrop of headlines,
political events, and icons of pop culture, asking themselves, “What
was I doing when…?” We are all Primary Sources living smack
in the midst of History. This workshop turns history into personal narrative.
· “Tell Us About It” – See description
above.
· “Folding Under Pressure with the Origami Swami”
– See description above. Also available as professional development
for teachers, librarians, and childcare workers.
What clients say
TEACHERS
“Our students absolutely
loved her stories and were clamoring for more as she was winding down
each session.”
St. Catherine’s School (Lower Division), Richmond VA
“I wish I could keep
my class’s attention as well as you do!”
Red Apple Preschool, Stafford VA
“We Scheduled Ms. Hicks
at the end of the school year. The children were excited about school
ending, but they were enthralled with her storytelling. They didn’t
move for an hour. Excellent program.”
Sixth Grade Teacher, Oakton VA
“The students loved it.
She was great!!”
Fifth Grade Teacher, Clifton VA
“The students were totally
captivated. The question/answer period demonstrated a deep interest on
the part of the students. Fantastic!”
Sixth Grade Teacher, Vienna VA
KIDS
“You made me feel good in my brain!”
Amber Lyn, 3rd grade
“I liked how you made
you feel like you were really there. I laughed when you told the three
little (groundhogs).”
Sam, 5th grade
“Your stories are funny
and scary. You are a very nice lady to have around….”
Jennifer, 4th grade
“You make it sound like
it is real.”
Travis, 4th grade
“Thank you so much.
The pictures you put in my head were very beautiful.”
Chris, 3rd grade
“I think that was the
best story I ever herd in my hole life. Have a keen summer.”
Dana, 2nd grade
WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS
“In spite of this session
being right after lunch, Megan kept all participants WIDE awake and laughing
the entire time. …(H)er energy was contagious. … In addition
to learning a new skill, we learned how to best utilize this skill when
working with children in a library setting.”
Virginia Library Association Para-Professional Conference Attendee
“I personally really
enjoyed the stories and paperfolding, and I know that our patrons equally
enjoyed you. (They wouldn’t let you leave J).
Baltimore County Public Library, Baltimore MD
“Megan is fabulous! The
kids loved her stories and learning how to do origami. She is so pleasant
and easy to work with. She arrives early, responds quicky to e-mail and
phone calls. Everyone loved the program.”
PTA Cultural Arts Chair, Clifton VA
“Great workshop. Really
addressed multiple intelligences. This should be a part of all school
curriculum (sic).”
Northlands Storytelling Conference workshop attendee
PROGRAM PLANNERS
“You kept the audience
spellbound. You sure do make a program chairman look good.”
Tuckahoe Women’s Club, Richmond VA
“Megan was fabulous.
She captured the group’s attention immediately and held it for the
entire performance. Both students and teachers loved her and the wonderful
story she told. The teachers want her back again next year.”
PTA Cultural Arts Committee Co-Chair, Fairfax County VA
“All the women who attended
… have remarked on the magic felt when you began to tell that story,
and even the tiniest baby stopped to listen.”
Homeschool mom
“I still feel the glow
of a good program turned great. I appreciate your efforts in making it
look easy and flawless. You are a true professional.”
Young Adult Librarian, Spotsylvania VA
“Megan is delightful
and captivating. She has performed the Civil War story for 3 years for
the 6th grade, and I intend to hire here again next year. She is the only
storyteller I have seen at the … showcase who can hold my attention.”
PTA Cultural Arts Co-Chair, Oakton VA
“’What Was Civil
About that War…’ is a winning combination of storytelling
and history – so tightly executed that the 6th grade audience (not
appropriate for younger) was completely caught up. A must see! One of
the best programs we’ve had in a while. Ms. Hicks is also very effective
with younger audiences. The common theme of the Bully stories is empowerment
and self-acceptance – good messages for the kids.
PTA Cultural Arts Coordinator, Vienna VA
Affiliations
Virginia Storytelling Alliance
– Co-President & founding member
Voices in the Glen – performing member
National Storytelling Network
League for the Advancement of New England Storytelling (L.A.N.E.S.)
Northlands Storytelling Network
Artist Rosters
Virginia Commission for the
Arts (VCA)
Bluemont Artists-In-Education
Creative Arts Program (CAPs) of Fairfax County (VA)
Howard County (MD) Performing Arts Directory
D. C. Public Library Performers Roster
Montgomery County (MD) Schools Performing Arts Roster
Raleigh & Wake County (NC) Community Arts Program
Clients
Schools --
Albermarle County (VA) Henley Middle School; Fredericksburg
(VA) Walker Grant Middle School, Lafayette Upper Elementary, Fredericksburg
Academy, Holy Cross Academy, St. Patrick’s; Fairfax County (VA)
Colvin Run, Vienna, Oakton, Louise Archer, Centreville, Bonnie Brae, Churchill
Road, Forestville, Saratoga, Union Mill, Waples Mill, Terraset, Wolftrap,
Westbriar, Island Creek St. Bernadette’s; Henrico County (VA) Shady
Grove Elementary; La Plata (MD) Mary Matula Elementary; Loudoun County
(VA) Lovettsville Elementary, Guilford Elementary, Mountain View Elementary;
Louisa County (VA) Jouett Elementary, Trevilians Elementary, Louisa Middle
School; Madison County (VA) Waverly Yowell Elementary; Prince George County
Schools (VA) North Elementary, South Elementary, Walton; Prince William
County (VA) Minnieville Elementary; Punxsutawney School District (PA)
Bell Townsend Elementary, Jenks Hill Elementary, Mary Wilson Elementary;
Putnam City Schools (OK) School Board Office; Quantico (VA) Marine Base
Burrows, Ashurst, Quantico Middle School; Richmond (VA) Redd Elementary,
Norrell Elementary, Nuckols Farm Elementary, St. Catherine’s Upper
School, St. Catherine’s Lower School; Rockingham County (VA) Broadway
High School; Spotsylvania County (VA) Battlefield Middle School, John
J. Wright Middle School; Stafford County (VA) Drew Middle School, Gayle
Middle School, H.H.Poole Middle School, Rodney Thompson Middle School,
Parkridge, Widewater, Hampton Oaks, Garrisonville, Rockhill, Moncure,
Falmouth, Grafton Village, Hartwood, Barrett, School Board Office; Stanwood
(WA) Elementary Schools Cedar Home, Stanwood, Twin City; Virginia Beach
(VA) John B. Dey Elementary
Libraries
Arlington County (VA) Cherrydale, Columbia Pike, Glencarlyn,
Shirlington; Baltimore County (MD) Arbutus, Catonsville, Essex,
Hereford, Northpoint, Perry Hall, Rosedale, Towson, White Marsh; Caroline
County (VA) Smoot Library; Central Rappahannock Regional Library
(VA) Headquarters, Porter, Salem Church, Spotsylvania Courthouse, Montross;
Chesterfield County (VA) Bon Air, Central, Chester, Clover Hill,
Enon, Ettrick-Matoaca, LaPrade, Meadwodale, Midlothian; District of
Columbia Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, Anacostia, Benning,
Capitol View, Chevy Chase, Cleveland Park, Watha T. Daniel/Shaw, Georgetown,
Francis A. Gregory, Lamond-Riggs, Mt. Pleasant, Northeast, Palisades,
Petworth, Southeast, Southwest, Juanita E. Thornton-Shepherd Park, Tenley-Friendship,
Takoma Park, Washington Highlands, West End, Woodridge, Langston, R. L.
Christian, Sursum Corda, Parklands-Turner, Deanwood Kiosk; Falls Church
(VA) Mary Riley Stiles; Hampton (VA) Hampton Public Library;
Jefferson-Madison Regional (VA); Joondalup Library System
(Western Australia); Kilmarnock (VA) Lancaster Community Library;
Lancaster Public Library (NJ) Monroe Township Library; Loudoun
County Libraries (VA) Ashburg, Middleburg, Rust, Sterling; Massanutten
Regional Library (VA); Middlesex Regional Library (VA) Urbanna,
Deltaville; Newport News (VA) Grissom, Bailey, Main Street, West
Avenue; Pamunkey Regional Library (VA) Ashland, Atlee, Goochland,
Hanover, King & Queen, Mechanicsvills, Montpelier, Rockville, Upper
King William, West Point; Prince William County (VA) Bull Run,
Central Community, Potomac; Prince George’s County (MD)
Baden, Bowie, Oxon Hill; Richmond (VA) East End, Ginter Park,
Main, West End; Staunton (VA) Staunton Public Library; Virginia
Beach (VA) Central Library
Other venues
Chrysler Museum, Norfolk VA; Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit MI; Madison
Children’s Museum, Madison WI; Telltale Hearts Storytellers Theatre,
Richmond VA; Sharing the Fire, Cambridge MA; Northlands Storytelling Conference,
Madison WI, 2004 & 2006; National Storytelling Conferences, Providence
RI and Pittsburgh PA; Washington Storytellers Theatre, Washington DC;
Ki Theatre, Washington VA; Tellabration, Fredericksburg, Fairfax, Staunton,
Virginia Beach VA; Bascom-Louise Art Center, Highlands NC; Country Dance
and Song Society (CDSS); Jacob’s Ladder Summer Enrichment Program
Festivals
North Carolina Storyfest (Greensboro, NC), 2006
Australian National Storytelling Festival (Perth, WA), 2005
Columbia (Maryland) Festival of the Arts, 2004
Frederick (Maryland) County Festival of the Arts, 2004
Greatest Generation Celebration (District of Columbia), 2004
L.A.U.G.H.S. (Virginia), 2003
Groundhog Day Storytelling Festival, (Punxsutawney, PA), 2003, 2004
Connecticut Storytelling Festival (New London, CT), 2002
Southern Maryland Celtic Festival, 2000 & 2001
Virginia Annual Gathering, 2001, 2006
M.A.S.T. (Mid-Atlantic Storytellers) Gathering (Pennsylvania), 1994, 1995
Newport News Festival of the Book (Virginia), 1999
Voices in the Glen Storytelling Festivals (Virginia), 1998-2003
Wake County Storytelling Festival (North Carolina), 1998
Solo Adult Concerts
2006
“The Front Lines & the Home Front: Two Wars, Two Women Remember”
– Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD
“What Was Civil About that War…” Westminster Canterbury,
Virginia Beach, VA
2005
“What Was Civil About the War…” The Athenaeum, Fredericksburg,
VA
2004
“High School on the Home Front,” University of Mary Washington
ElderStudy
“High School on the Home Front,” DC Visitors Center
“No Tricks. Just Magic,” Brandermill Woods Retirement Community,
Richmond VA
“Groundhogs Meet Grimm,” Virginia English Literacy Institute
Conference
Appalachian folk tales, Bioethics 2004, Wintergreen, VA
“Winter Chills” –ghost stories for teens, Salem Church
Library, Fredericksburg VA
2003
“Gutsy Broads” – Mary Washington College Dept. of Speech
& Linguistics
“Nuclear Family Fallout”– Washington Storytellers Theatre
2002
“What was Civil About that War” – Connecticut Storytelling
Festival
“What was Civil About that War”— Daughters of the American
Revolution
“Gutsy Broads”— Tuckahoe Women’s Club—Richmond
VA
“Gutsy Broads”— Fredericksburg Women’s Club
Radio
“Public Interest with Kojo Nnamdi”--National Public Radio,
12/2001
“The Kojo Nnamdi Show”—WAMU, 4/7/2004
Workshops
Storytelling
VEMA (Virginia Education Media
Association) Conferences, 2006
Humane Society of the United States, EXPO, Atlanta GA 2005 – “Storytelling
in Humane Education.”
Washington Children’s Book Council Celebration of Children’s
Literature, 2004
Mary Washington College Elder Study – “Your Life as History,
Your History as Legacy” – Lecture/Performance 2003
American Humane Association National Conference, Crystal City, VA (2001)
and Denver, CO (2002) – “Storytelling in Humane Education”
National Storytelling Conference – “Giggles & Grimms –
Parodist Lost/Parodist Regained” 2001
Virginia Annual Gathering – “Giggles & Grimms….”
2001
Library of Virginia --“More Bang for Your Programming Buck”
2000
Writing --
"Your Life as History/Your History as Legacy"
Salem Church Library, Spotsylvania VA
Chautauqua Institute, Chautauqua NY
Ardiena Ann Tromley Storytelling Festival, Fredericksburg VA
Sharing the Fire, Cambridge MA
Mary Washington College Elder Study
Origami -- children,
teens, and professional development
Arlington County Libraries, Australian National Storytelling Festival
(Perth, Western Australia)), Joondalup Library System (Joondalup, Western
Australia)Baltimore County Libraries, Chesterfield County Libraries, Detroit
Institute of Arts (Detroit, MI), District of Columbia Public Libraries,
Jefferson-Madison Regional Library, Lancaster Public Library (NJ), Library
of Virginia , M.A.S.T. (Mid-Atlantic Storytellers) Gathering, McLean Community
Center, Northlands Storytelling Conference (Madison, WI), Origami USA
National Conventions, Prince George’s County (MD) Libraries, Rockingham
Regional Library, Stafford County School Board (VA) – professional
development seminars, Virginia Beach Public Library – professional
development, Bascom-Louise Gallery (Highlands NC)
Residencies
Hammond Elementary School – Laurel, MD
“Circle Time with Cuthbert & Magnolia” (prek-2nd grade)
& “Folding Under Pressure with the Origami Swami” (3rd-5th)
Country Dance and Song Society (CDSS) Family Camp – Buffalo Gap
WV
Storyteller-in-residence, “Storytelling Readers’ Theatre”
(4th – 6th) and “Folding Under Pressure…” (3rd
– adult)
Jacob’s Ladder Summer Enrichment Program – Saluda, VA &
Chatham VA
“Storytelling – First Step to Public Speaking”
Odyssey of the Mind World Finals – Knoxville, TN
Storyteller-in-residence
St. Catherine’s School (Upper School) – Richmond, VA
“Storytelling – First Step to Public Speaking” (9th-12th)
and “Folding Under Pressure…” (9th – 12th)
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