Literary Halloween

Want to do something different for Halloween this year? A bit literary? How about a bit of storytelling?  On Halloween night, October 31st, there is the Ninth Annual Ray Bradbury Storytelling Festival at the Genesee Theater in Waukegan. It is sponsored by the Waukegan Public Libray.

                   

Past performances have included excepts from Frankenstein, Dracula, Something Wicked This Way Comes and the Canterville Ghost and original tales of horror and suspense. Family friendly stories for all ages are at 6:30 p.m. and a spooky second act recommended for listeners age 12 and older starting at 8:00 p.m.  Click the link above for ticket information. Come join the fun.  I highly recommend it!

If Halloween is already booked, try to see Megan Wells performing her version of Dracula at the Skokie Theater. Megan Wells serves as the artistic director of the Bradbury festival and appears each year in the persona of various nefarious characters, from Dracula to Mr. Dark. She holds an MFA in theater arts and numerous theater awards including the Joseph Jefferson Award for directing. Her Dracula is worth getting out for. 

So go beyond your normal candy buying activities this year for Halloween by getting out and seeing a great show. Or two! And watch out for the things that go bump in the night.

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.