GreenMan Theatre’s annual storytelling class offered in August

Those who enjoy telling stories and want to improve their storytelling abilities or learn how to tell a more polished story need look no further than GreenMan Theatre’s 16th annual Storytelling Class.

It will be offered over three Saturdays, Aug. 3, 10 and 24, at GreenMan’s performance location at 232 S. York St., Elmhurst.

The class will cover story types including traditional folk tales, literary tales, personal stories and urban legends.

“Traditional folk tales are fictional stories that have been told over and over again across the years,” said Carolyn Thomas-Davidoff, class instructor and director of October’s “Spooky Stories and Songs of the Season” storytelling event. “Urban legends are similar to folk tales except they’re much more modern and are usually sensational in nature,” she added.

“Spooky Stories and Songs of the Season” will be held Tuesday, Oct. 15, at the Elmhurst Public Library, and Friday and Saturday, Oct. 18-19, at GreenMan Theatre at First United Church of Elmhurst.

Thomas-Davidoff, who has worked with storytelling since the 1970s and is a professional storyteller, said that past students of GreenMan’s annual Storytelling Class have told her that the classes “give them more confidence when they need to do public speaking and help them improve their diction, timing and how to end a story effectively.” Beginners and experienced tellers are welcome to attend.

GreenMan’s 16th annual Storytelling Class will transition into the troupe’s “Spooky Stories and Songs of the Season” storytelling performance at the end of classroom work. Students do not have to perform in the show to participate in the class.

Each storytelling class will run from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays, Aug. 3, 10 and 24. Cost is $25 for GreenMan members and $30 for nonmembers. Attendees are asked to sign up in advance, then pay for the class on the first day of attendance.

Makeup sessions may be scheduled due to student schedule conflicts. For information about GreenMan’s 16th annual Storytelling Class, log on to www.greenmantheatre.org/storytelling-class.

In its 21st season, GreenMan Theatre Troupe is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to provide a source of cultural enrichment and pride for the community by presenting diverse, quality productions and providing opportunities for personal growth in the theatrical arts.

GreenMan has been presenting plays in Elmhurst since being founded in 2003. Past productions include “Dracula,” “Pride and Prejudice” and “Doubtful Abbey.” GreenMan also offers classes and workshops for members and the community and welcomes new members and participants in all aspects of theatre production. GreenMan programs are partially supported by Explore Elmhurst, as well as other individual and corporate donations.