Starting Wednesday, July 1, We Tell Stories, the acclaimed children’s storytelling theatre company, celebrates the County public library Summer Reading Program, “Read to the Rhythm! / Lee al Ritmo!” with five different performances reflecting the folklore of various countries and cultures at the Vets Auditorium while the Julian Dixon Library is closed for remodeling.
Shows are interactive, multicultural and educational, blending laughter and literacy for fun-filled afternoons for parents and children alike.
Performances are every Wednesday in July at 2 o’clock. They are 45 minutes, and . admission is free.
“Read to the Rhythm!/Lee al Ritmo!” Performance Schedule
Wednesday, July 1
“Funky Fables” (A romp through Aesop’s Fables)
The Birds, the Beasts and the Bat
The Lion, Jupiter and the Elephant
The Gnat and the Lion
The Hare and the Tortoise
The Stag and the Vine
Wednesday, July 8
“Listen to the Beat” (Tales with a beat from African and African American culture)
The Frog Who Wanted to Sing, John Henry, Akimba and the Magic Cow
Wednesday, July 15
“Jive Tales” (Stories of Trickster characters from folklore and literature)
Signifyin’ Monkey, Coyote Chanticleer the Rooster, The Lion in the Well
Wednesday, July 22
“Jitter Bugs” (Three fun stories just crawling with bugs)
Three Boys with Jugs of Molasses, The Wind Says Goodnight, Cutie Cockroach
Wednesday, July 29
“Stories That Sing” (A show comprised of stories done in rhyming verse)
The Jabberwocky, The Walrus and the Carpenter, The Cat Who Became a Poet, King Hilary and the Beggarman
In unique We Tell Stories fashion, actors unfurl imaginative costumes and props from an old steamer trunk and the fun begins.
Audience members participate from their seats, and then join actors on stage to play integral parts in each performance.
Parents and kids delight in this family activity that is both entertaining and culturally enriching.
With a repertoire of 12 trunk shows, We Tell Stories brings classic literature and folk tales to life in classrooms, theatres, schools, museums, festivals, special events, and libraries.
We Tell Stories’ goals are to inspire creativity, enhance literacy, cultivate intercultural awareness and harmony, and spark a love of the theatre and spoken word.
Since 1981, We Tell Stories has been promoting arts education in schools throughout the Southland with assembly programs, and student and professional development workshops.
These performances are made possible in part by a Culver City Performing Arts Grant with support from Sony Pictures Entertainment.
The Julian Dixon Library is part of the County of Los Angeles Public Library, colapublib.org. Our website is colapublib.org/libs/culvercity or email library staff at jmead@library.lacounty.gov.