LILY: "The Gunakadeit production
included a musical score, performed by the actors as
part of the storytelling process. Here I am rehearsing
my xylophone part." |
Storybox series brings tales to life
By Vanessa Orr, Capital City Weekly
Feb 22, 2006
Fifteen years ago, Brett Dillingham and Mark Whitman put on
a performance at the Juneau Public Library where they reached
into a big box of books, and performed a dramatic reading
of whatever selection they had chosen. Thinking that the event
might be even more interesting if storytellers were to memorize
the books and then put on a performance using full body movement,
Dillingham created the Storybox Series, a family-oriented
event.
The series, which often features some of Juneau's best storytellers,
has morphed over the years to include many forms of performance.
At the next Storybox evening, which will take place Feb. 23
at Resurrection Lutheran Church, the group plans to highlight
Tlingit and original stories. These include Ishmael Hope's
original one-act play, "Gunakadeit," adapted from
the Tlingit story told by John Katishan; "Raven Loses
his Nose," adapted by Nora Dauenhauer and performed by
Allan Hayton and Austin Tagaban; and the tale of "Tar
Baby and Brer Rabbit" as performed by Eve Dillingham.
"Watching the storybook come alive right in front of
you is a really neat experience," said Lily Hudson, who
will be performing in "Gunakadeit."
"There are so many dramatic elements-there's movement,
and music, and the changing voices of all of the characters."
Hudson, who as been telling stories since 2003, says that
she enjoys sharing her talent with others as a way to hold
on to her culture. "I find storytelling to be a way to
share my enthusiasm for Tlingit culture," she said of
her involvement in Storybox as well as her performances for
the Juneau School District. "I feel that I am following
in the footsteps of my ancestors, not only by telling stories,
but by passing on the moral lessons in the stories to as many
people as I can."
One of these moral lessons can be found in the tale of "Gunakadeit,"
a Tlingit story originally told by John Katishan, which was
recorded and put into a book that was published in 1909 by
John Swanton. This story has been adapted by playwright and
artist Ishmael Hope, and will be performed as a one-act musical
theater piece at the next Storybox. "The story is about
a man who was looked down upon by many, especially his mother-in-law,
who called him lazy and a gambler," Hope said. "Yet
one night, he kills the sea monster, Gunakadeit, and puts
on its skin. He becomes the monster and brings back food to
his starving village. The story is all about transformation
and the mysteries of the natural world."
Hope's adaptation will feature music by Stefan Hakenberg,
who is providing the score, and will be directed by Jim Simard.
The cast includes Hope, Lily Hudson, Allan Hayton and Victoria
Johnson.
"All of the actors will be playing instruments, which
we're using to replicate the feeling of the sea and the concept
of transformation," Hope said. "The emotional content
of the piece will be heard in all of these cool, interesting
sounds."
Though some people may be familiar with the stories that will
be featured in this month's Storybox, Hope says that this
will not prevent them from enjoying the performance. "People
sometimes feel that after they've seen or heard a story once,
there is no urgency to see it again," he said. "But
what we are doing is artistically very new and exciting. They
won't be seeing the same old thing-it's not the stories that
people think they know."
The series, which takes place about every other month, is
held at Resurrection Lutheran Church or the Juneau Public
Library. February's performance will be held at the church
beginning at 7 p.m., and is open to all ages. The cost is
$8.
"In November, we had about 40 people at our performance,
and in January we had about 90," said Hudson. "Our
audience is all ages-we encourage everyone to attend, from
age 1 to 101."
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