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)