On May 26, Expresso Yourself Coffeehouse will be featuring storyteller Andrea Kamens. She tells traditional, original, and first-person stories that tremble with truth. With skillful structuring and improvisational verve, she opens dialogue between her listeners and the story.
“I like a good story,” Kamens says, “whether I make it up, I tell it, someone else tells it, or I read it.” A writer, tutor, community volunteer and mom of five, Kamens brings her storytelling art to listeners of all ages, creating magical presentations of original material as well as telling folk and fairy tales from a variety of traditions. Kamens began telling stories before she could read – stories to teach her sister with developmental disabilities to talk and make her brave enough to dive into the swimming pool; stories that had her friends galloping across the schoolyard on their invisible horses in a cliffhanger-laden drama that spanned a year of recess. Her infectious love of language, poetry, rhythm, and play have engaged members of her many communities for over two decades. Kamens is on an active member of Northeast Storytelling and on the board of Story Space in Somerville, MA.
Poets, storytellers, musicians, and singer/songwriters get to participate in the open mic as well. Thea Iberall, host of Expresso, said, "It's been great how more and more people are finding out about Expresso. Andrea has chosen a theme of ‘Love and Longing’ for the evening. There’s a lot to say about that."
The Expresso Yourself Coffeehouse is held the last Saturday of every month at 7 p.m. at First Parish Unitarian Universalist, 26 North Street, Medfield. Open mic readers have 5 minutes to share. Original or non-original poetry, stories, performance art, music or songs are welcome. Sticking to the theme is encouraged. Teens and adults are welcome. Great refreshments are served. Medfield TV films the event and posts it to YouTube. There is a $5 suggested donation, $3 for students.
