Celebrating 100 Years of Roald Dahl!
Balboa Park - Sunday, September 18th - 10am - 5pm
WRITE OUT LOUD In Partnership with House of England, Japanese Friendship Garden,
Mingei International Museum, Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego Art Institute, Save Starlight and
Spreckels Organ Society
Tuesday, August 9th: San Diego: *** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
WRITE OUT LOUD - an organization founded in 2007 with a commitment to inspire, challenge and entertain by reading short stories aloud for a live audience, is excited to collaborate with San Diego organizations Celebrating 100 Years of Roald Dahl - on Sunday, September 18th in Balboa Park from 10am - 5pm. The celebration - honoring the centenary of the birth of Roald Dahl, the world’s number one storyteller - will take place in locations throughout Balboa Park. Collaborating partners include House of England, Japanese Friendship Garden, Mingei International Museum, Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego Art Institute, Save Starlight and Spreckels Organ Society. Film screenings, Roald Dahl inspired art workshops, story readings and more are all appropriate for the entire family. All events (unless noted) are free.
Anna Orchard, Event and Brand Consultant for the Roald Dahl Estate shared “Roald Dahl has inspired creativity and imagination in readers for generations, and we're thrilled that artistic organizations like WRITE OUT LOUD are honoring him during his centennial. This September (known as Roald Dahl Month) will see a number of wondercrump events going on around the country that will delight chiddlers and human beans alike!"
WOL Artistic Director and co-founder, Veronica Murphy shared her personal passion for the renowned author. “When my kids were little, I read all of Roald Dahl’s stories to them. They are so magical and whimsical and wonderfully fractured. We all loved James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, Danny Champion of the World - so many! Whenever my oldest son, Dalouge, had any money as a child - the first thing he would do is run out and buy one of Roald Dahl’s books. WRITE OUT LOUD is honored to partner with the community for the 100 year celebration of Roald Dahl’s birth.”
As a part of their StoryBox Theatre Program, WRITE OUT LOUD has commissioned local artists to create StoryBox designs for the re-telling of two of Roald Dahl’s stories. Storybox is the American name given to the Japanese storytelling tradition called kamishibai. The reader reveals a series of illustrations while narrating a story, completely engaging the audience. Samantha Jean Wilson is creating the artwork for THE ENORMOUS CROCODILE and Deborah and Larry Kline are creating images for THE MAGIC FINGER. Both Roald Dahl stories will be presented at various locations throughout the day in Balboa Park, as well as in libraries across the County through the month of September and beyond.
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Celebrating 100 Years of Roald Dahl - Schedule
HOUSE OF ENGLAND: Birthday cupcakes, Exhibit of Roald Dahl and his books
12:15pm Storybox THE MAGIC FINGER
1:30pm Storybox THE ENORMOUS CROCODILE
JAPANESE FRIENDSHIP GARDEN
11:00am Japanese Finger Painting Workshop ($15 per person)
1:00pm Storybox THE ENORMOUS CROCODILE
2:00pm Storybox THE MAGIC FINGER
MINGEI INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM ($5 admits entire family)
Noon - 5pm Japanese Lantern Making and Treasure Hunt
2:30pm Storybox THE ENORMOUS CROCODILE
MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTS
10:00am Screening of WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
(original with Gene Wilder)
SAN DIEGO ART INSTITUTE
Noon Screening of THE WITCHES
3:00pmCommunity Read of THE TWITS (All readers welcome. Sign up begins at 1:30)
SAVE STARLIGHT (in front of the Starlight Bowl)
1:00pm/1:30pm/2:00pm/2:30pm
Fighter Pilot Narrative (inspired by Roald Dahl’s RAF History)
Written and Performed by Todd Blakesley
3:00 pmStorybox THE MAGIC FINGER
SPRECKELS ORGAN SOCIETY
1:00pm Family Day Activities
2:00pm Organ Concert including Roald Dahl Poems
In addition to the Roald Dahl Celebration, WRITE OUT LOUD provides the community with six core programs serving over 16,000 people annually. Programs include their six show season of Story Concerts, TwainFest- an annual free literary celebration for families that takes place every August in Old Town, Stories for Seniors, StoryBox Theatrefor elementary students, Read Imagine Createfor teens and Poetry Out Loudfor high school students.
For additional information - visit the website at or call 619-297-8953
Press Contact: Susan Clausen * 619-933-0038 * * writeoutloudsd.com