Ray Bradbury Storytelling Festival

Storytelling is not just for little kids. It is one of the oldest forms of human communication. Adults have been telling stories for centuries. Here's a chance to see storytelling for adults (there is also a performance for schools that morning) at the annual Ray Bradbury Storytelling Festival at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan.

This year's tales are from books that have been banned. This year's lineup includes:

Jim May - telling excerpts from Fahrenheit 451, banned for offensive language and content

Jay O’Callahan - performing Don Quixote, banned for promoting questioning authority and glorifying individualism

Megan Wells - performing Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, banned for sinister and frightening themes

I have seen some of these performers several times and they are fantastic. They make you want to go home and read the rest of the story. It is a great time to take a look at the beautifully restored Genesee Theatre. (And if you're lucky maybe you will see the theater ghost!) Having attended for several years, I believe it is worth the time to trek up north to see this wonderful and fun event! I highly recommend it.


Tickets are $17 for the evening show at 7:30 p.m. and $6 for the 10:30 a.m. school matinee at the Genesee box office or www.ticketmaster.com. Library patrons can present any library card and receive $1 off the evening show at the box office.

The Festival will begin with A Conversation with Ray Bradbury, a short film by the National Endowment for the Art , a slideshow and commentary by Waukegan Public Library Director Richard Lee about his recent trip to Ray Bradbury's home in Los Angeles. Library officials traveled to California in June and October to assess, pack, and move 22,000 pounds of books, manuscripts, and personal belongings from Bradbury's private collection to Waukegan. The Library was named as a beneficiary of Bradbury's estate in January.

For more information, call or visit the Waukegan Public Library at (847) 623-2041, or check out the information on their website.

Can't go, but want to read more by Ray Bradbury? Come by our library or check out this link to the catalog.