Bruno Bettleheim in The Uses of Enchantment , Jane Yolen in Touch Magic, and other acclaimed writers and psychologists have discussed the power of fright in children as a necessary and useful tool.  Listening to narrow escapes and horrible demises in ghost stories and gothic tales strengthen human survival instincts. The imagination is primed to act in reality should these dangerous situations arise, thus justifying the enjoyment shared in hearing a good scary story.

This program challenges the popular, modern versions of fairy tales by reinstating the original gothic tales long before the stories were edited in the Victorian era. For example, what happened after Sleeping Beauty is awakened by the Prince’s kiss? Most people believe they lived happily ever after, but this was far from the truth or intent of the original tale. Find out more through this innovative program. 

Judith Heineman is a professional storyteller and holds an MA in English from the College of the City of New York & is a member of several theatrical unions, including Actors Equity. She is the founder of the Chicago Storytelling Guild, a co-founder of the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival, and producer of Tellabration, an adult storytelling festival. 

Daniel Marcotte holds a BM in Voice Performance from Illinois Wesleyan and an MA in Musicology and Certificate in Early Music from Florida State University. He is currently the Music Director of the Bristol Renaissance Faire and teacher of voice and music theory.

Recorded Thursday, September 11, 2008 at St. Charles Public Library.