Virginia Keeping in historical costume as Molly Bannaky—at the Benjamin Banneker Historical Park
Programs:
Performance Programs
"Her Name was Molly"
Grades 3-12, Families/college/adults
Portrays Molly Bannaky: Dairymaid exiled from England at 17 yrs.,1683, as an indentured servant; her life & family in colonial Maryland; her life as the grandmother of Benjamin Banneker, the first African American man of science, math and astronomy.
Audience size: 250
Performed in first person & costume
Other Banneker stories include:
- “The English Dairymaid & the African Prince“ runs 30-40 minutes
- “Molly, Tobacco Farming & Healing Herbs“ runs 20-30 minutes. It can be two separate programs. (Also available as a workshop for camps or other venues))
- “Grandma Molly (AKA Big Mama), Tales of Benjamin as a Child“ runs 20-30 minutes
"Forging New Frontiers": Strong, Fearless, Adventurous Women.
Eleanor Roosevelt meets:Amelia Earhart, Marian Anderson, Mary McLeod Bethune*
Little Known short stories of Eleanor Roosevelt & the Secret Service
Amelia Earhart stories ...*
- Amelia & Hurricane Isabel (her last flight)
- Amelia meets Mrs. Roosevelt & takes her flying
Other features available
- Around the World w/Folktales
- Grandparent, grandchildren interactive stories
- Stories for all ages, 0 - 200+ ...
- Special programs designed upon request and w/adequate advance time
* Program note: "Forging New frontiers" Strong, Fearless, Adventurous Women, including Molly Bannaky stories can be told together or separately & tailored to the audiences and/or school requests. Eleanor Roosevelt & Amelia Earhart tend to be shorter stories, about 20 minutes in length.
Workshops/Residencies
StoryBuddies - an Oral History Residency
Story Circle Workshops
Grades 3-12 (Classroom of 20-25 students. Class room period of time.)
Sharing stories in a circle to create understanding, to improve listening/speaking skills, and to build self-confidence as well as community in the classroom.
Adults, Community Centers, Senior Centers, Churches & other community venues
Sharing stories in a circle to create memories, local history, civil rights, share laughter, common ground & understanding, perhaps solutions to a common goal or create community harmony. Stories may be used for performances at a later time, or to document history for formal programs.