Storytelling Programs

Nancy Marie Payne concentrates on two areas of programing.

The Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries

The 1800's were a time of increased immigration, overpopulation in the cities and abandoned children. Civil unrest and civil disobedience surrounded the Civil War years and women were expanding their horizons. Nancy Marie brings this era to life through her characterizatioins.

Traditional Stories

Fairy tales, fables, legends and myths are not only for young audiences. They hold universal truths of love, loyalty and triumph over adversity. The difference is not in the tale, but in the telling.

Kate Stoneman, NYS's First Female Lawyer

The story of Kate Stoneman, teacher, social activist, lawyer, is

intimately tied to the story of the Suffragist Movement in New York

State. Kate knew the leading suffrages of the state and worked with them

to establish the Albany NY chapter. With the support of her civically

responsible family and the help of the suffragist, Kate broke down the

barrier that kept NY women from practicing law. Not only is this Kate's

story but the story of the historic struggles of women in NY for

equality.

Suitable for middle school and up. Flexible in length

Remember the Ladies: The Struggle for Equality

Storyteller Nancy Marie Payne tells the stories of farsighted women who started and sustained the equal rights movement from the fated meeting of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott to the passing of the long delayed 19th Amendment.

6th grade and up. Flexible in length.

Orphan Trains Stories

The 1800's were a time of increased immigration, overpopulation in the cities and abandoned children. Each of these stories tell of the adventures of New York City children, victims of their era, who took a hand in their own destinies.

How I Came to Dowagiac

The story of the first Orphan Train out of New York City in 1853, told through the eyes of Elsie -- orphan, turned street rat, turned train rider.

The O'Shawnesseys and Their Trains

Five immigrant children, separated by tragedy, find their lives changed by trains. The story is told by the girls and introduces the listener to life in the 1880's and 1890's.

Suitable for all audiences and flexible in length.

Railroad to Freedom

Underground Railroad station master Ann Wilber tells stories of courage and determination as blacks and whites help fugitives from slavery. This program includes local as well as national events.

Railroad to Freedom is a story of ordinary people who did extraordinary things. Their courage flew in the face of an injustice that stunted the growth of a nation -- an injustice that denied basic human rights to a large portion of its people.

Suitable for all audiences and flexible in length.

Women in Aviation: The Pioneer Days

Women who took up flying in the early 1900's had to handle prejudice as well as their aircraft. Common public sentiment in the early days of flying stated that when a man died in an aircraft, it was a shame, he knew what he was getting into and he was a hero for breaking new ground. When a woman died in a plane accident, it was proof positive she shouldn't have been flying in the first place.

Storyteller Nancy Marie Payne brings this exciting time alive through the voice of Pancho Barnes, one of the colorful and innovative female pilots of the 1920's.

Nancy, as Pancho, relates the story of first flight from a woman's perspective. "Pancho" tells her own colorful story as well as the exploits of early balloonists and aviators, including Ruth Law, Harriet Quimby, Bessie Colman, Bobbi Trout, Amelia Earhart and others.





Suitable for all ages and flexible in length.

Workshops

For Students

Workshop members are involved, active and interactive. Curriculum Correlation: Language Arts and Literature.

Grades K-3
Workshops include: What is a Story? - Structure, Parts and Kinds. Presented in performance.
Two hours.

Grades 4-8
Workshops include Stories - Parts, Structures, Kinds, Learning a Story and Performance.
Three days or 15 hours.

Nancy Marie Payne is listed with BOCES Arts and Enrichment.

For Adults

Information available upon request.

Contact

Please feel free to contact Nancy:
658 Sickle Hill Road, Berne, NY 12023
(518) 872-2209
NMPMountainTop@juno.com