Norah made a wonderful mashup video, showing some of the most hilarious and excruciating moments from massmouth's January 2010 Story Slam, held at Kennedy's Midtown in Boston. The theme was "So Embarrassing", and contestants covered a myriad of topics: everything from peeing in public to wardrobe malfunctions, blind dates gone wrong to celebrity encounters from hell. Fine fodder for storytelling, and a most entertaining evening!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
October is for Storytelling!
If you love storytelling, than October is your month! As the leaves turn colors, pumpkins start turning up on people's front doors, and the dark starts creeping in earlier, we all get that itch to hear spooky, scary tales. Here is a listing of some exciting Storytelling events - brought to you by the local storytelling group massmouth - coming to the greater Boston area over the next couple of weeks for you to enjoy!Monday October 12 (Columbus Day): Three Apples Storytelling at Shelburne Farm in Stow, from 1-3pm. The Three Apples Storytelling Festival and massmouth have been invited by this wonderful local "Pick-Your-Own" Apple Orchard to come and entertain prospective apple-pickers with stories! You'll find us right by the front entrance, look for the Three Apples banner. Featuring Cindy Rivka Marshall, Nicolette Heavey, Laura Packer, Kevin Brooks and myself, Doria Hughes!
Sunday October 25: Boston-based Baroque Music ensemble Musica Nuova and I will be presenting a collaborative concert at the Taylor House Bed and Breakfast in Jamaica Plain, at 4pm. We will be presenting "The Masque of Bess of Bedlam", the imaginary late 17th century-style tale of one woman's journey from milkmaid to madwoman, using a combination of storytelling and the music of Purcell, Eccles and other Baroque composers.
Monday October 26: Reuniting two old friends that everybody loves, and which go together extremely well - Storytelling and Beer - massmouth is proud to present our very first StorySlam, at Kennedy's midtown in Boston, starting at 7pm. Based on a poetry slam format and similar to American Idol, a story slam is a contest of wit, words and in this case, Story, by known and undiscovered talent. This month's theme is "scared to death ". We are looking for real stories of fear, terror and dread, which may be supernatural or plain as mud. Each of the ten 5 minute stories is judged on how well it is told, how well it is constructed and how well it honors the time limit and relates to the theme. The three highest-scoring tellers are awarded prizes and an opportunity to perform at "the big MouthOff", venue and date TBA. Prizes will be awarded at each slam. There is a $5.00 cover and a one drink minimum. Find out more at massmouth!
Tuesday October 27: "The Masque of Bess of Bedlam" will be repeated at Bates College in Maine at noon.
Thursday October 29: MouthOff at the Haley House Cafe in Roxbury, starting at 7pm. The Haley House Cafe presents massmouth tellers Norah Dooley and Andrea Lovett, telling ghost stories to chill the bones! A mini workshop to follow, open mic at 8pm.
Friday October 30: Hallowe'en Storytelling and Costume Party at the Porter Square Bookstore in Cambridge, starting at 4pm. I (Doria) will be telling spooky stories to celebrate my favorite holiday!
These are just a few of the exciting and varied Storytelling events going on in the Bay State this month. For even more, check out the massmouth events page!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Marvelous MouthOff Monday by massmouth
1) Doria (me) went first, with "Mrs Puccini", the tale of my journey into my new identity/hat as Opera Composer's Wife. My husband, Curtis Hughes, is in the midst of birthing his opera "Say It Aint So Joe" about Sarah Palin and the 2008 Vice Presidential debate. There is a mini media circus brewing, which is rather wild for us! For more info on this remarkable work, check out http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7181860398&ref=ts or just google Sarah Palin opera and enjoy the right wing comments.
2) Libby Franck told "Cars and Guys" and took us down Memory Lane to the wilds of Westchester and new Rochelle, where fast cars and fast guys were no match for our Libby! She even crooned a couple of car serenades for us, tributes offered her by her 4-wheeled swains.
3) James McCoy told one of his original rhyming narratives, "Thompson was my only failure", about the life of Francis Thompson, a 19th century poet, Catholic and failed boot-maker. Poignant and sweet, as only James can be.
4) Marty Levin created an impromptu Improvisational work for us, based on three words spat out at him by the audience: "Caleidescope, Fluoridated, Incongruous". He took us on an incredible journey, demonstrating courage and agility along the way. Courage - since he didn't know where he was going any more than we did, but bravely plunged ahead - and a combination of mental and kinetic agility tht has to be seen to be believed. A tour de force!!
5) Kevin Brooks (who NEVER goes by Mr. Packer) told "Cars", a whimsical and hilarious ride through the various cars that have taken him along his life's path to date. That 1972 Volkswagen bus sure brought back memories..... We were all thrilled to hear that his current steed is approaching menopause, and looks to transform into something wonderful and strange in the near future - very abruptly! - which will mean that there will be a sequel to this tale!
6) Laura Packer decided to play, and riffed off of an old familiar tale (The Elves and the Shoemaker) in new and unfamiliar ways. At times frightening, at times sad, but finally hinting at something wondrous and strange and even transcendent, we followed her willingly down unknown paths. Laura doesn't always take us home, but we don't care; we just like to go where she leads. I named this telling "Booty Call".
7) Elsa Zuniga revealed depths of beauty, sadness, hope and love in her as-yet unnamed story about her Father's story. I think I understand why he only told his stories to her; she has a gift for creating stories that are like the sweetest onion you can possibly imagine: narrative layers unfold like rose petals to reveal new layers, and beyond/beneath them, even more. Beautiful, poignant, heart-breaking, yet strangely fulfilling and satisfying to hear.
8) The enigmatically named Marshall gave us a hysterically delightful new/old twist on an old Shelley Berman performance telling that he clearly loved as much as we did. "Hello, Davey!" was revealingly funny, current yet timeless. Rarely has a Storyteller incorporated a prop - in this case, a cellphone - so effectively and seamlessly into his telling. I laughed my ass off, but I did not lose my humanity (thank you Marshall!).
9) Maggie Bush generously closed this glorious evening with her retelling of Zora Neale Hurston's "Roy Makes A Car". Not to be outdone by the earlier and brilliantly told car-tales, this grand Lady of Storytelling told us a wonderful whopper about Roy and his Collision-Proof Car (yes, you read that right). Maggie explained that Ms. Hurston, in an effort to get really great stories from her southern informants, would ask them "Do you know any lies?" With this one, she hit pay dirt, and Maggie showed us exactly why "Roy" is a keeper!
Once again, I thank you all, with my heart filled with gratitude, for coming and telling these beautiful tales. Let's do this again, real soon, y'hear?
Happy Tales,
Doria
Sunday, August 23, 2009
BATV and Yankee Doodle on "Bowen on Billerica" - Billerica, MA - Billerica Minuteman
BATV and Yankee Doodle on "Bowen on Billerica" - Billerica, MA - Billerica Minuteman
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I'm going to be interviewed on a radio station tomorrow, a first for me! The show is called "Bowen on Billerica", and it is my chance to plug my upcoming performance at the Billerica Yankee Doodle Homecoming, alongside of my esteemed colleague and friend Jim LaChapelle. Tune in on WCAP 980 AM between noon and 1pm!
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