Venues

Libraries
Museums
Festivals
Schools
House Concerts
Theatres
International

Mary Jo brings her performances and programs to a variety of venues including:

MUSEUMS

Museums are special places, and special to Mary Jo. The atmosphere of works of art and history gives a timeless, bigger-than-life feeling, whether it’s an aquarium, a room celebrating antiquity through sculpture and artifacts, paintings from different eras or works on paper, there’s a dignity without stuffiness—and the desire to bring these items further to life, the better to engage the visitor.

A program of storytelling and singing are a perfect way to engage visitors and heighten atmosphere. Some examples of Mary Jo’s participatory and background music in museums:

“Mary Jo’s high energy performance was a delight for all ages. Her warm, engaging personality and request for audience participation made Mary Jo’s performance a highlight of the weekend’s programs. Additionally, Mary Jo’s musical talent and her incorporation of the guitar and the fiddle made the stories come alive—a real treat!”

Paula Antonevich
Coordinator, Public Programs and Visitor Services, Concord Museum

Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge, Mass.

—Author/Artist James Gurney’s Dinotopia opening; Mary Jo adapted a folksong with words to suit the occasion, along with stories and songs and guitar

—Roz Chast Exhibition: Family stories, humor, origami craft, songs and guitar

—Christmas: Songs with guitar in the galleries

—Halloween ghost stories

—Family Day stories and songs with audience participation dress-up stories from picture books such as Robert Munsch’s Paper Bag Princess (with permission)

MFA Boston (twice)

—Interactive tales and tunes from world folklore

Peabody-Essex Museum, Salem, MA

—Family Programs of world tales and tunes (twice):

Worcester Art Museum, MA

—Family Mix of Fabulous Folktales and Tunes (three times)

Wadsworth Museum, Hartford, CT

—-Christmas wandering medieval minstrel

Portland ME Children’s Museum

—Or Would You Rather Be a Fish? Folklore & Songs of the Sea

The Quadrangle/Smithsonian, Springfield, MA

—many programs over the years for First Night, Christmas, Celebrations of Dr. Seuss, Reading & Connecticut Historical Museum

Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, MA

—Animal Tales & Tunes (twice)

Concord Museum, MA

“Skunk Grease & Turpentine,” Folktales & Tunes of American Pioneer Days

Children’s Museum, West Hartford, CT

Solstice Celebration with “Sun, Moon, Stars, Shine!” Show in Planetarium

“You were fantastic tonight!!!…You had me hooked from the first notes of your guitar!!

You were a star!!!”

Judy Petersen

Former Artistic Director of The Connecticut Storytelling Center, re NSN performance

FESTIVALS

Connecticut Storytelling Festival
National Storytelling Festival
LAUGHS Festival
Doggone Storytelling Festival
Swapping Grounds National Storytelling Festival
Sharing the Fire
Story Space

What does Mary Jo bring to festival performances?

Energy—great material—fantastic audience rapport—presence—quick thinking on her feet/ad libs—vocal prowess—humor—sensitivity to audience mood—responsible time management—variety with song, language play, visual elements (sometimes)—depth—entertainment.

Family programs—tons of varied and fun participation with songs, movement, dance, chants and other techniques that engage, engage, engage. Kids and adults laugh out loud and love the rich variety of her choices and program structure.

Adult programs—finesse with the word spoken and sung, a fresh “in” to classic stories, such as Arachne with some parts sung and improvised, and guitar “colorations.” Try a hilarious tall tale such as “Old Sally Cato,” a bumptious pioneer woman of gumption (hat tip to Robert San Souci); lilting Irish tunes and tales; sophisticated ghost stories such as Italo Calvino’s “Giovannin Senza Paura,” aka “Dauntless Little John.” Urban Legends such as the Vanishing Hitchhiker captivate and unfold insights into the dark side of the world—or underworld. And more!