Saturday, December 16, 2023
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
An Online All Hans Christian Andersen Storytelling Festival for the Holidays
Watch LIVE on facebook or YouTube
Featuring Storytellers
Laura Simms - The Ugly Duckling & The Little Match Girl
Simon Brooks - Foolish Hans
Therese Plair - The Flying Trunk
Ed Stivender - There is a Difference
and violinist Shem Guibbory
Free! All Ages Welcome!
Hans Christian Andersen, known throughout the world for his literary fairytales, was devoted to kindness and care for children, and to the natural world. As a special holiday event, and as an antidote to the swell of violence in the world, we are presenting some of his great stories in celebration of compassion.
The stories are family friendly and engage all ages.
Please join us to listen and then share the tales with others to further kindness and understanding in our world.
The stories will be recorded and can be downloaded on YouTube for a month after the program.
Contributions are gladly accepted to support Summer Storytelling in Central Park
Watch live on facebook or YouTube
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2023 SCHEDULE
Here are the storytelling programs we presented in Central Park in 2023. Check our website again next spring for Summer 2024.
JUNE 2023 |
DATE |
STORYTELLERS |
STORIES |
STORIES ORIGIN |
6/17/2023 at 11 AM
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April Armstrong
Laura Simms
Musician – Salieu Suso |
The Teapot
The Nightingale |
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen |
6/24/2023 at 11 AM
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Therese Plair
Ed Stivender
Special Emcee: Melissa Heckler
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The Flying Trunk
There is a Difference |
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen |
JULY 2023 |
7/1/2023 at 11 AM
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Bill Gordh w/Banjo
Rachael Harrington
Special Emcee: Ellen Shapiro
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Little Ida's Flowers
The Queen's Horse |
Hans Christian Andersen Irish |
7/8/2023 at 11 AM
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Jean Hale
Regina Ress
Ron Sopyla
Special Emcee: Regina Ress
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The Pixie
The Wicked Prince
The Most Incredible Thing of All |
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen
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7/15/2023 at 11 AM
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Michele Carlo
Robin Bady w/guitar
Special Emcee: Laura Simms
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Juan Bobo and his Pig
The Journey of the Beetle |
Puerto Rican
Hans Christian Andersen |
7/22/2023 at 11 AM
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Megan Wells
Joy Kelly w/guitar
Special Emcee: Laura Simms |
The Sandman
Annsi & the Moss Covered Stone |
Hans Christian Andersen
North African |
7/29/2023 at 11 AM
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Simon Brooks, w/drums
Special Emcee: Laura Simms |
Foolish Hans
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Hans Christian Andersen
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AUGUST 2023 |
8/5/2023 at 11 AM
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Milbre Burch
Special Emcee: Heather Forrest |
The Enchanted Sister
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Pennsylvania Dutch
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8/12/2023 at 11 AM
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Usha Venkatraman, w/puppets
Heather Forest, w/guitar
Special Emcee: Laura Simms |
Sun and Moon
The Emperor's New Clothes |
Nigeria
Hans Christian Andersen |
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The history of Hans Christian Andersen's Statue |
More than sixty summers in New York City's Central Park |
Fairy Tales From Around The World
On Saturdays all summer long since 1956, New York children have gathered around Hans Christian Andersen's statue at the Conservatory Pond in Central Park to hear his tales told by a fine ensemble of storytellers. Celebrity performers such as Victor Borge, Eva la Gallienne, Fanny Hurst and Celeste Holm have also visited, telling their favorite stories.
The idea for the statue originated with Baroness Alma Dahlerup, then president of the Danish-American Women's Association of New York, who had for years arranged for Andersen's stories to be read on the radio. Robert Moses, then New York City Parks Commissioner, secured the 'perfect' site and the City Department of Parks and Recreation and the Central Park Conservancy have given their active support ever since. A significant share of the funding for the statue came from donations made by school children both in Denmark and the United States. Danish-American sculptor George Lober created the larger-than-life bronze statue that was commissioned in 1954, in anticipation of marking the 150th anniversary of the author's birth. Hans Christian Andersens' well-rubbed knees are ample evidence of the fun children continue to have sitting on his lap.
 The statue has become a symbol of the good relations between the United States and Denmark. Following a tradition established by her father and mother, her Majesty, Queen Margrethe II visited the statue in 1976 during her American Bicentennial trip. Other members of the Danish royal family continue to visit. In 1964, the City of Copenhagen contributed two 19th century street lamps that now stand on each side of the statue. In 1985, New York City Parks Commissioner Henry Stern, wishing to reciprocate, sent two New York City street lamps to Copenhagen, which can be seen standing in Dantes Plads. More historic information to be found in "From The Archives."
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