Each night before she went to bed, Cheryl Bradley was fascinated by her mom’s stories of growing up on the farm.
When the East Lansing resident had her own children years later, she continued the tradition, sharing the stories of their grandmother’s youth, adding in her own youth and making up others.
But eventually, she said, they became too big to sit in her lap and listen.
Then, about 14 years ago, Bradley heard about a Mason storyteller giving a presentation on the art.
“It was an evening around Christmas and I went to it,” she said. “I started talking to a woman there and we decided to start an organization in the Lansing area to promote storytelling. That night was the root of our group.”
And so began the Lansing Area Storytellers.
The group started with four members and has grown to eight.
At 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Edgewood United Church, 469 N. Hagadorn Road, the group will hold its eighth annual Tellabration for area adults.
For $5 audience members can remember what it was like to be a child and expand their imaginations.
Trudy Bower, one of the area storytellers scheduled for the event and a group member for about 11 years, said those who come will not be disappointed.
“It’s like a concert really,” she said. “Storytelling is a unique entertainment. It’s not like anything else you can find around here and it’s just fun.
“Some people golf or fish, I tell stories. It’s a form of recreation.”
But Saturday night won’t just be about storytelling in East Lansing.
The Tellabration is an international day for storytelling with participants in at least 40 states, more than nine countries and spanning six continents.
“It’s a time for storytellers around the globe to join hands figuratively,” Bradley said. “Traditionally it’s the weekend before our Thanksgiving each year.”
Judy Sima, the State Liaison for the National Storytelling Network and a storyteller out of Southfield, said events like the Tellathon, and the art of storytelling, are important to a community.
“Storytelling builds community,” she said. “We’ve pulled too much away from stories today. People are so spread apart, involved in their TV and work and forget to communicate.
“This opens up a community’s imagination. A lot of families don’t live near enough to grandparents to hear their stories anymore.”
Those interested in learning more about storytelling or other local storytelling events can e-mail Sima at Judsim@hotmail.com.
