WORLD CLASS STORYTELLERS, STORYBOOK CHARACTERS, GIANT PUPPET THEATRE AND A CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL PLANNED FOR THE LIBRARYSYSTEM’S 9TH ANNUAL ART OF STORYTELLING INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
(MIAMI, April 22, 2009) – Storytellers from around the world will take center stage in downtown Miami on Saturday, May 2, from 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., as the Miami-Dade Public Library System celebrates its 9th annual Art of Storytelling (AOS) International Festival, this year featuring its exchange partner the Toronto Public Library, Canada.
This free family event at the Main Library, 101 W Flagler Street, will highlight the joys of reading and expose young children, teens and their families to the many ways in which storytelling is used in different countries to enhance literacy.
A magical adventure awaits as celebrity storytellers, from Canada, Brazil, the Caribbean, Japan and the U.S., join the cast of the Bit’s ‘N Pieces Puppet Theatre, Teatro En Miami, Didgeridoo Down Under, Mother Goose, Little Red Riding Hood, Anne of Green Gables and many others to entertain and enthrall.
Unique to this year’s event will be a “Teen Zone” featuring anime, manga and video gaming competitions; plus activities around popular books such as Twilight and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.
Throughout the day there will be magic shows, face-painting, arts and crafts and music and dancing with local and international entertainers including Blah-Zay-Blah, Steps in Order, the Drumming Circle, the Tallawah Mento Band, the Kehewin Native Dance Theatre, the Jamaican Folk Revue, and Bahamian Junkanoo.
Free parking is available at the Miami-Dade Cultural Center Garage, 50 NW 2nd Avenue and the Hickman Garage, 270 NW 2nd Street.
Storytellers:
Antonio Rocha
Baba Lyons
Bits ‘N Pieces Puppet Theatre
Didgeridoo Down Under
Jamaican Folk Revue
Kuniko Yamamoto
Laura Packer
Lela Lombardo
Mother Goose on the Loose
Teatro en Miami
The Lorax - MCM Players, Miami Children’s Museum
The Pink Fairy with Suzy Hammer
Toronto Public Library Storytellers
Musicians and dancers:
Bahamian Junkanoo
Blah-Zay- Blah
Drumming Circle
Kehewin Native Dance Theatre
Steps in Order
Tallawah Mento Band
(Please note: This is a partial list of performers. Performers subject to change)
Victoria Galan, Public Affairs Officer
305.375.5180; galanv@mdpls.org
Vinora Hamilton, Public Information Officer
305.375.3327; hamiltonv@mdpls.org
