in 2015. Irwin will be telling stories at the H-F
Park District Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. The event
is free and open to the public.
(Photo by Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)
Just as the planets occasionally align, sometimes the storytelling events converge in Homewood.
On Tuesday night local storytelling fans will have a choice of events, the regular Homewood Stories show hosted at Grady’s Grille or an appearance by renowned storyteller Andy Offut Irwin at the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District Auditorium.
Irwin’s performance at 7:30 p.m. is sponsored by Homewood Public Library and is coordinated by local storyteller Greg Weiss.
Irwin, of Covington, Georgia, is a professional storyteller who appears around the nation. He is a regularly featured teller at the annual National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tenn. Weiss has brought Irwin to Homewood several times, most recently in April 2015 when he and Bil Lepp performed at James Hart School and Homewood library.
He is known for his charming and humorous portrayals of characters from his small southern home town.
The show was an impromptu event, according to Weiss.
“In the wide world of storytelling, you know a place is pretty special when nationally renowned storytellers contact you for the chance to tell in your town,” he said. “It has happened here in the past — and it has happened again.”
The event would have been held at the library except that Tuesday also happens to be election day, and the library is a polling place.
“What better way to cap off the Ides of March — cast your vote, then head over to the auditorium for an hour of great storytelling for all ages,” Weiss said.
A few blocks away, Homewood Stories will start at 7:30 p.m. The doors open at 6 p.m. The monthly show created by dentist Karen O’Donnell celebrated its second anniversary in January.
Tellers will include O’Donnell, Paul Teodo, Jenniffer Weigel, Mac MacDevitt and Dennis Frymire.
Weigel is an author, speaker and Emmy-award-winning broadcast journalist. Teodo is a retired hospital executive turned storyteller who has performed several times at Homewood Stories. Frymire is a Chicago-based actor and storyteller. MacDevitt is a Chicago-based artist, builder and storyteller.
Both shows are free and open to the public. Seating is limited at Homewood Stories. Reserve a seat or table by contacting O’Donnell at [email protected].
The H-F Auditorium is located at 2010 Chestnut Road. Grady’s Grille is at 18147 Harwood Ave.
and Mac MacDevitt. (Provided photos)
founder Karen O’Donnell
tells a story during the
June 2015 show.
Homewood stories in
2015.