The Program
About the Tales & Tellers
She Came to the Desert to Dance
— spoken word and movement, performed by Michele Belluomini
About the Artist
Michele Belluomini has been a storyteller for over 25 years. She has been a teller at many local and national storytelling conferences and festivals. She is a member of the National Storytelling Network and Patchwork: A Storytelling Guild based here in Philadelphia
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Dry
—a vignette, told by Blinky Comix
About the Artist
Blinky Comix is a Philadelphia Folklorist following and documenting phenomena on the area. Mermaids who are documented in a painting by Hieronymus Bocsh in Fishtown (as was the route from the painting to the dealer)- to actual sightings of dinosaurs. Please see my blog BlinkyComix ArtSpace (https://paintpot55.wordpress.com/) to read all of the details.
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Remember the Time
—a choreopoem, told by Tiffani Dean
About the Artist
Tiffani Dean is a professional griot who understands that stories are living breathing words that deserve to be told whatever way they choose to be told. She uses her gift of mixed media and textile along with oral and written story telling skills to bring ordinary letters in the alphabet alive. Along with those skills she has the vision to bring other art forms together to complete the story if needed.
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I Heard the Voices
—a true story, told by Khadijah Renee
About the Artist
Khadijah Renee is a versatile artist who uses her voice to do many things. Jazz vocalizing, Energy Healing, teaching, advocating, leading and storytelling.
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Caro Come II Sale (Dear as Salt)
—an Italian folktale, told by Maria LoBiondo
About the Artist
Maria LoBiondo believes stories shared are heart-to-heart gifts between teller and listener, connecting generations in the moment together. She began telling multicultural folk and fairy tales when expecting her second child; her daughter is now 30 years old. Her engaging style and lively expressions have delighted listeners in classrooms, libraries, religious settings, and festivals. She is a member of the Princeton Storytelling Circle, the National Storytelling Network, the New Jersey Storytelling Network and Northeast Storytelling.
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Owl; The Jolly Miller (TBD)
—a folktale(s) and ballad, told by Denise McCormack
About the Artist
Denise McCormack is a celebrated storyteller and performance artist, renowned for her ability to bring narratives to life on stage. Her captivating presence and talent for weaving engaging tales have enchanted audiences at the National Storytellers Network conferences, NJ Storytelling Festival, Philadelphia's main stages, and NYC's Artists Without Borders. Denise's performances are marked by compelling character portrayals and an intuitive connection with her audience.
As president of Patchwork: A Storytelling Guild and a key figure in various storytelling organizations, Denise has played a vital role in fostering a vibrant storytelling culture. She also offers workshops and coaching sessions on storytelling and public speaking, helping participants unlock their storytelling potential.
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Ashes
—a literary tale, told by Mary Ann Paterniti
About the Artist
MaryAnn tells traditional folk tales, fairytales, and literary stories. She has an animated style that will capture your attention and keep you very entertained. Her repertoire includes over a hundred age-appropriate stories for children, teens, and adult audiences.
MaryAnn’s also been an Early Childhood Educator for over 45 years and is a natural in the classroom. In her mind , she can play the djembe, the harmonica, and the ukulele. MaryAnn lives in Burlington, Vermont and will happily travel to your event.
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The Imaginations of Anxiety
—a true story, told by Greg Snow
About the Artist
Greg Snow is a 2nd generation poet, emcee, and host who loves seeing poets set free. Greg was born and raised in Harrisburg, PA before moving to Philly after college. Co-founding 2 Lines open mic in 2021 with his friends, Greg continues to provide open mic experiences in hopes people would experience true and lasting freedom.His poetry is a bridge for the broken to find beauty.
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The Night I Saved the Princess
— a personal tale, told by Christina Sturgis
About the Artist
Chris Sturgis is a multi-talented artist and writer. She has 25 years’ experience as a newspaper reporter, including an exclusive interview with Hillary Clinton. She has appeared in Anything Goes, Barefoot in the Park, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Othello, Paul Sills’ Story Theatre, and the Kaufman and Hart comedy, Once in a Lifetime. She blogs at CLSreal.com.
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Eye Contact
—a personal story, told by Nancy Taylor
About the Artist
Nancy Wexler Taylor is a native of Philadelphia and currently resides in Doylestown, PA. Her life is rich with creativity and community involvement, as she dedicates herself to creating art, volunteering, performing improv, and storytelling.
In November 2019, Nancy dared herself to take the stage at The Philadelphia Moth, where she won Best in Show. Her storytelling prowess continued to shine, as she also won Best in Show at First Person Arts in June 2023. For Nancy, storytelling and improv are not just activities but a means to stay present and engaged in the moment. She is deeply thankful for the inspiration she draws from her family and friends.
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About the Rotunda
THE ROTUNDA
The Rotunda, located in Philadelphia, PA, is a community-gathering place that is fueled by the belief that art is a catalyst for social change and that the arts can lead to the formation of meaningful partnerships between our parent organization the University of Pennsylvania, and surrounding neighborhoods. Over 300 events are offered every year, including live music, film, spoken word, theater, art, dance, education, youth programs, arts incubation, and various experimental genres. As an alcohol-free venue, The Rotunda provides a critical social alternative for all ages. At its core, The Rotunda is a shared space fostering learning, enrichment, and community support while empowering the public to present, produce, and promote their work.
ACCESSIBILITY
- Left side of the building toward the back (follow the path between Cinemark movie theater and The Rotunda): There are seven steps up to enter the venue.
- Right side of the building toward the back: There is a ramp equipped for wheelchairs, strollers, walkers, and all other assistive devices. Follow the concrete path from Walnut Street. Once inside, make a right into the hallway and then make a left at the restroom. This entrance is kept locked except during events.
- The venue has a ramp onto the stage as well, stage right. It's ADA compliant and brand new and snazzy.
- There is a single-occupancy, all-gender ADA restroom on the first floor, almost as soon as you enter from the ramp. This restroom is also equipped with a baby changing station.
- There are additional, all-gender restrooms in the basement. The restroom on the east side of the basement is equipped with three toilets. The restroom on the west side of the basement is equipped with three toilets and two
- The venue is not air-conditioned.
About the PHILADELPHIA FRINGE FESTIVAL
The Philadelphia Fringe Festival is a city-wide celebration of innovation and creativity in contemporary performance. Each September, the Festival explodes into every nook and cranny of Philadelphia with more than 1,000 artistically daring performances, including national and international performances curated by FringeArts, and works produced by hundreds of independent artists.
ALSO FEATURED
WOVEN WORLDS: TRADITIONAL TALES AND PERSONAL THREADS
Renowned storyteller and performance artist Denise McCormack invites you to delve into "Woven Worlds: Traditional Tales and Personal Threads," a thought-provoking and captivating solo show at The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, on Friday, September 13 at 7 PM. Tickets are PWYC. Suggested: $15/pp
FRIDAY
SEPTEMBER 13 @ 7 PM
PWYC
About Patchwork: A Storytelling Guild
We are an arts organization dedicated to promoting storytelling, as a folk tradition and contemporary art form, in our community. Our mission is to provide opportunities for artists to showcase their work and for the public to engage with and appreciate the artform in all of its many guises. We offer a variety of events, workshops, and outreach throughout the year, and are committed to supporting local artists in all disciplines to tell their stories.
Patchwork Storytelling Guild is a member-supported 501c3 non-profit organization serving the needs of the Philadelphia Metro area, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, the Delaware Valley, and beyond.
We strive to provide a forum for storytellers and to promote the art of storytelling through community outreach related to the practice, performance, and value of storytelling. Patchwork offers: monthly story swaps, coaching sessions, performance opportunities... and more.
Our Partners & Affiliates
