I love to share the stage whenever possible. While children are usually eager to try their hand at acting or playing percussion instruments, it sometimes takes a little more persuasion to get adults to participate.  In the picture at right, I had excellent help with a song.  As I played keyboard, I had Lilian leading the audience in acting out the wild rumpus in Where the Wild Things Are while Clara played sax!








And here, (at right)  David Morgan of the Ms. Humanities Council adds his mean harmonica playing to a song as Lilian helps with the singing!

I sometimes tell people that I don't really tell a story, so much as direct a story. I have a big collection of hats, props, masks, and instruments that get audience members involved in becoming part of the story. At right, kids become the "wild things" in Where the Wild Things Are.

I love when everyone in the audience starts to feel a part of the action. In the picture at right, kids and adults take part in a "wild rumpus" as part of the story Where the Wild Things Are.

Telling a story is always well and good, but having children participate in the story makes it come alive for them. I love to let kids act out different parts and provide sound effects. I also bring in a song or two that go with the story, and audience members, both children and adults, are invited up to play some of my homemade percussion instruments. In the picture at the right, I had a couple of impromptu dancers as well!

We had a special treat during my program in Columbus last week. One of the parents offered to show us how to make tortillas. Check out the picture at the right - she had LOTS of help from the children, and they turned out delicious! This went well with the story I told called Magda's Tortillas.

Had a great time last week in Columbus! Told a story about a little girl learning to make tortillas (see the character played by an audience member, at right!)