Programs

PROGRAMS

Linda brings her unique storytelling style to a wide variety of venues

Preschools
Elementary, Middle & High Schools
Libraries & Universities
Park Districts, Civic Organizations & Museums
Festivals

 

Lots of Fun and Audience Participation for all Ages

  • Multicultural Folktales
  • Respect & Other Character Stories
  • Anansi the Spider & Other Trickster Stories
  • Ghostly Hair Raisers
  • Greek Mythology – stories about love including a readers theater piece on Perseus
  • Twisted Fairy Tales – fun twists on familiar stories
  • Jumping on Grandma’s Plastic Covered Couch – humorously heartfelt and poignant stories about family, love and self-identity
  • I Shape Freedom – stories about African American heroes (see selected programs below)

Linda has a remarkable innate ability to connect with her audiences. Always engaging and knowledgeable, Linda captures the viewer’s attention, answers questions expertly, and is friendly and approachable.” – Nathan Richie, McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum

I SHAPE FREEDOM

Linda combines historical background and personal testimony to tell the stories of many remarkable African Americans who shaped freedom by helping to change attitudes about race in the United States. Click on titles to download summary descriptions.

The Story of Ruby Bridges – In 1960 African American six-year-old Ruby Bridges was legally assigned to attend first grade at a formerly all-white elementary school in New Orleans. In protest, the entire school boycotted. Ruby sat in a classroom with no other students, only her teacher, for the entire school year. (all ages)
100 Years of Black History – This program explores the contributions of more than 30 African American men and women over the past 100 years. (middle school and up)
The Loving Story – In 1958 Richard and Mildred Loving married in Washington, D.C. to evade Virginia’s anti-miscegenation law. Linda tells the story from Mildred’s point of view (middle school and up)
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – Dr. King was highly influenced by experiences growing up in the south. Linda tells the story of King’s youth and teenaged years. (4thgrade and up)
Wilma Rudolph & Andy Stanfield, Olympic Heroes– Both gold medal Olympians overcame adversity to become national heroes. Andy Stanfield was Linda’s uncle. (all ages)
Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott – In 1955, in a simple act of defiance, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. (4th grade – adults)
Civil Rights in the 50’s and 60’s – This program explores the contributions students made to the Freedom Riders movement. (4th grade – adults)
The Little Rock Nine & School Integration– In the fall of 1957 nine African American teenagers became known as The Little Rock Nine when they volunteered to integrate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. (middle school – adults)
The Barack Obama Story: From Birth to the White House  This program tells the story of Barack Obama’s childhood in Hawaii and Indonesia. It covers his education, marriage, move to the White House and the white house dogs, Bo Diddley and Sunny. (elementary school)

I have worked with numerous fine performers and interpreters. Linda Gorham is by far one of the most creative, energetic and enthusiastic that I have had the pleasure to know.
Both as a performer and a businesswoman, she is reliable, professional and thoroughly prepared. During the time with Linda on tour for “I Shape Freedom,” I witnessed her work in numerous venues from voluminous theatres to cramped and noisy school commons. She adapted to each new scenario effortlessly and with good humor. -– Nathan Richie, McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum


“I want to let you know how much we enjoyed working with you. I wish all the people I deal with had as much enthusiasm, love and wisdom flowing from them as you do. Your performance was perfect! I have heard nothing but great things about your stories. I loved them all myself. Thank you for making my job so enjoyable!” -– Janelle Hildeman, Curator: Shared Stories: A Performance Series of the Lives of Women at the Beach Museum of Art, Kansas