“Fredella Mae's Daughter Is A Storyteller” explores three powerful, emotionally charged tales woven together with poetry interludes and short personal narratives. Come journey through riveting tales that move people’s souls and make you reflect on your humanness through adaptations of centuries old West African story, Gullah Geechee folklore of South Carolina, and a “John Redding Goes To Sea"— a short story by Zora Neale Hurston.

For ages: 16+ | Photo credit: Paul Bloomfield

Muriel “MONIK” Johnson is a prolific educator, performer, and visual artist. As a child, Muriel would sit in awe as her mother recited nursery rhymes, sang songs, and told stories. This awakening of a storyteller hidden in the mind of a young child ultimately inspired Muriel. She has been storytelling professionally for over 25 years, captivating audiences around the world. Muriel has performed at preschools, elementary schools, museums, colleges, churches, theaters, festivals, and countless other venues across the U.S. She has toured Colombia, Brazil, and Peru, as well as Cape Town, South Africa, and Ghana, West Africa, where she has had the privilege of sharing stories, gathering stories, and making deep human connections along the way. Additionally, Muriel is a published children’s book author, veteran teacher, and creator of stunning artwork depicting ancestors made with butterfly wings. Storytelling Website: forherstories.com Art: artofnaturebymonik.com.

The Pay it Forward program is generously funded by the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, Greenfield Savings Bank, Tandem Bagels, Applied Mortgage, Boston Rare Maps, Greenfield Cooperative Bank and Northampton Cooperative Bank, Massachusetts Cultural Council, and Individual Donors.