Performances
Storyteller – Sometimes the only way we can hear the truth is through a story. The oral story can unlock the barriers our mind and heart erect so we can hear and be changed. A good story can heal us, teach us, sell us, inspire us, and make us laugh and cry.
Rivka Willick offers a variety of performance and workshop programs. She performs for adult groups, teens, families and older children, historic celebrations, businesses and mixed groups.
· Programs
o Jewish Storytelling - Rivka Willick draws from the rich history of Jewish stories to create exciting programs you’ll remember for years to come. She draws from the midrash, history, Chassidic and Sephardic traditions, Yiddish and misyagid literature, and stories shared by hundreds of her listeners through the SOS project.
§ Tapestry of Jewish Oral Stories- A storytelling sampler featuring stories from various Jewish Storytelling Traditions.
§ My Bershert; Finding your match – 1 hour performance for Jewish singles’ programs which includes traditional and original tales. Stories from Rivka’s S-O-S (Save Our Stories) Project are included. A portion of the program is set aside for listeners to share stories from their families, friends and personal experiences.
§ A Taste of Yiddishkeit – Rivka bases traditional, personal, original stories with the traditional, personal, original Jewish food. Kosher Food never sounded so fun.
§ Special Holiday Programs – Rivka performs a variety of holiday programs for children, family and adult audiences.
v Sukkot Stories
v Lights in the Window; Chanukah Stories -- It is a mitzvah to put the lights of Chanukah in the window and let the outside world know we are proud to be Jewish. In this set of stories, the tales become lights which illuminate the courage and beauty of the Jewish tradition. Rivka tells modern, historic and traditional tales. (for general and adult audiences)
v Here We Go Again; Purim Tales --Most of us know and delight in the story of Esther and Mordechai. You know the story...a plan is made to wipe the Jews off the map, and then everything turns around. Well...did you know the Esther and Mordechai story is not the only Purim story? In this program, Rivka has 3 more Purim stories from 3 different times, 3 different places. Yet, they all have an amazingly similar plot!! (for general and adult audiences)
v We Cleaned for a Month and Now There’s Matzah Crumbs Everywhere!! Pesach Stories --There’s nothing in the world quite like Pesach. Take a break from your cleaning, cooking and going a little mashugana and enjoy tales of Matza, Hagadahs and Emunah (Faith). Both adult and family programs are available.
v SOS: Save Our Stories Workshops -- Think about the history of the Jewish people in just the last 100 years. We are all part of that history. Rivka is dedicated to saving this generation’s stories by teaching how to shape and pass on tales from our family and community.
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o Original Storytelling Programs
§ Show and Tell – Storytelling for the 21st Century – Sit back for an hour of pure joy as Rivka Willick tells tales about her mother-the standard poodle from outer space, how Steven Spielberg’s Jaws changed her life (and the world), Coffee served with ice cream, and many other subjects you’ve never heard before. This program is great for corporate and event entertainment and festival programs.
§ SOS Project – Rivka has been collecting stories about dating, Jewish heritage, living in New Jersey, the Immigrant experience, Birth, Family life, and being a woman for many years. The SOS project encourages individuals and groups to tell and share their stories. Heirloom Workshops mix both writing and telling for families and business can discover and save their stories.
o Healing stories
§ Second Chances
This dynamic program features orginal transformational tales. This is storytelling for the 21st Century. Some of the stories that might be told are:
v Second Chances (3 misfit animals are given a 2nd chance at life)
v Helen’s Remedy (A self-indulgent lawyer learns to stop talking after a walk in the SC Dunes)
v Little Red Cap (The complete version of Little Red Riding Hood-it empowers women!)
v Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein in 9 minutes or less!
v Dancing on the Edge
v Patricia (an often requested favorite)
v Shirley’s 13th year. The bees keep secrets!
§ Labor Daze-400 years of Birth Stories
This very original program is a collection of oral stories all about birth. This is an adult performance with a wide range of stories spanning over 400 years. Stories include The Blindfold and the Curtain, Super Bowl Birth, Bound for Greatness, Between the House and the Barn, The Pick Pockets’ Child and The Doll. (email Rivka@simplyextraordinarytales.com for more information and program details).
o Story Soul Food – Fantasy and Fairytales to heal the spirit and soul – Experience the transformative power of Fantasy and Fairytale Stories when told in the tradition of the oral tale. None of the stories are read or memorized, they are told in collaboration with the listening audience so each performance is unique. These tales deal with a wide range of subjects including addiction, abuse, control issues, green living, loss, and personal power. Rivka uses both traditional stories often in formats that have been changed or forgotten and original tales. Fantasy allows us to explore feelings and issues that are impossible to deal with as ‘pure fact’. Rivka’s Fairy Tales allow us to discover ourselves so we can understand personal truths.
o They changed the World in Petticoats—Stories of historic woman
It’s time to meet some remarkable women. You might know a couple names, others will be new to you, but all these remarkable women helped change the world.
o Historic Programs – The word ‘history’ can be divided into 2 words ‘hi’ and ‘story’. When we say hello to the story, history comes alive. Rivka offers several exiciting and fun programs for schools, libraries, historic sites and events. She also does research and creates stories for your business or community commemoration.
§ The Legends of George – Oral tales about George Washington – Our first president has become a legendary figure and Rivka loves collecting and passing on the legends. This hour long show is filled with stories about Mr. Washington and other revolutionary folks worth remembering. (performed in costume)
§ Stories from the Nickel Magazines – Pulp fiction from the early 1900s – A hundred years ago people delighted to the fictional stories printed in literary magazines like the Nickle Magazine and Harpers. Rivka has discovered some of these wonderfully chessy stories and tells them in period costume. Get ready to laugh and shiver—the funny stories are funny, but the scary ones are gruesome. “A great program for historic sites and festivals”.
§ Presidential Tales not found in History Books – Legends and Stories – Have you heard the stories about John Quincy Adams walking naked in D.C. or the heart wrenching tale of Teddy Roosevelt’s Valentine Day Tragedy. These and many others are included in Rivka Willick Presidential History Program. **Program can be focused on specific period or complete overview of the presidents.
o They changed the World in Petticoats—Stories of historic woman
It’s time to meet some remarkable women. You might know a couple names, others will be new to you, but all these remarkable women helped change the world.
· Scary Tales – Rivka Tells -- Pull your blanket tight around you. Sit close to some one you love.
Choose one
1. Stories to make your hair stand on end (kids)
2. Bone chilling tales (adults with healthy hearts)
3. Sagas which will haunt your dreams (thrill seekers)
Call 862-268-4989 or email Rivka@SimplyExtraordinaryTales.com
before it’s too late!