On Wednesday, June 22 at 6:00pm the First Congregational Church of Greenwich invites the community to a “Night of Storytelling …on the lawn.”
This special evening is an event for all ages. Folks are welcome to bring picnic dinners and an appetite for some wonderful storytelling by Val Tutson, a nationally acclaimed storyteller from Providence, Rhode Island. The church will provide beverages and all the ingredients to make-your- own sundaes.
The storytelling will take place in the church. The First Congregational Church is located at 108 Sound Beach Avenue directly across from Binney Park in Old Greenwich. A unique and engaging family event, join us to celebrate the end of the school year and the beginning of summer. This is our gift to the community so bring Valerie Tutson graduated from Brown University with a self-designed major, Storytelling as a Communication’s Art, and a Masters in Theatre. Since 1991 she has traveled the country and world teaching storytelling and gathering and sharing stories and songs.
Her repertoire includes folktales, personal and historical stories with an emphasis on black traditions, and first person Bible stories. A lifelong member of the United Church of Christ, Valerie has been featured at numerous UCC events across the country both as a storyteller and workshop/retreat leader. Valerie has also shared her gifts in interfaith gatherings and settings for other denominations.
She volunteers each summer at Silver Lake, the Connecticut Conference Outdoor Ministry Program, as one of the deans of SING PRAISE, a conference during which 40 middle schoolers write and perform an original Biblical musical in 5 days. In addition to telling stories herself, Valerie provides opportunities for others tell their stories, as well. For 12 years she hosted Cultural Tapestry, an award winning show for COX Communications.
Valerie is a founding member of the Rhode Island Black Storytellers, director of FUNDA FEST: An Annual Celebration of Black Storytelling, and serves as the Executive Director. Valerie served on the board of the National Association of Black Storytellers and twice was Co-Director of its annual Festival and Conference, once in Providence, RI. Valerie has been a featured teller and MC at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesboro, Tennessee and the National Black Storytelling Festival and Conference. In 2013, Valerie received the Legacy Award from Big Brothers and Sisters of the Ocean State, and, in 2014, she received an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Rhode Island College, where she was also the Commencement Speaker.