Join Rebecca Sheir, former host of Circle Round, for an exciting reading of The Tale of the Unwelcome Guest and The Lion’s Whisker, two colorfully illustrated picture books adapted from folktales told on the award-winning public radio podcast. Each book will be accompanied by live music played by composer Eric Shimelonis. The reading will be followed by a book signing and craft activity.
IMPORTANT EVENT INFORMATION:
- This program is designed for elementary-aged youth accompanied by their grown-ups. Thanks to our sponsors, this event is free and open to the public; registration is not required.
- This performance takes place in The Mount’s Event Tent, a large-scale, open-air tent adjacent to the parking lot. Please be mindful of the weather and plan accordingly.
- In the event of extreme weather—such as excessive heat or severe thunderstorms—this performance will be cancelled. This webpage and The Mount’s homepage will be updated by 9:00 am the day of the performance if a cancellation is necessary.
- Books will be for sale from The Mount Gift & Bookstore at this event.
- Seating for all Mount programs is first-come, first-served. Accessible seating is available. To discuss arrangements, please contact us by phone: 413-551-5111 x5; or email: programs@edithwharton.org. For more information about accessibility, review The Mount’s accessibility webpage.
- Questions? Email: programs@edithwharton.org
Rebecca Sheir is the former host and writer of Circle Round, the internationally-acclaimed folktales podcast distributed by Boston’s NPR station, WBUR. A former public radio reporter and host, Rebecca has brought thousands of stories to life on such national programs as Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Here & Now, The Splendid Table, and Marketplace. She’s hosted several weekly news shows on public radio, including AK (Alaska Public Media) and Metro Connection (WAMU 88.5), along with podcasts for the Folger Shakespeare Library and Slate Magazine. Her first book, Onions and Garlic, was adapted from a Circle Round episode of the same name and published by PJ Library. She’s also the author of the Circle Round picture books series, published by Storey Publishing. Rebecca holds a B.A. from Columbia University and an MFA in Creative Nonfiction Writing from the University of Iowa. She lives in the Berkshires with her husband, composer Eric Shimelonis, and their nine-year-old son.
Eric Shimelonis is a composer, musician, and audio producer whose work has wowed audiences on stage, screen, and over the airwaves. Audiences have enjoyed his classical compositions at the Juilliard School, the Rattlestick New Music Series, the Kennedy Center, and at a sold-out concert at Carnegie Hall starring Oscar winner F. Murray Abraham. With more than 300 sound designs in the theater, Eric has won a Helen Hayes Award and been nominated for Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel, Big Easy, and Henry Hewes Design Awards. Film highlights include the features International Falls and Winter Passing, for which he performed a duet with Will Ferrell. To date, he has contributed nearly 300 original scores, using hundreds of different world instruments, to Circle Round, the internationally-acclaimed folktales podcast he co-produced with his wife, Rebecca Sheir.
Rebecca and Eric’s forthcoming show, Lions and Legends, will feature imaginative retellings of legends, myths, folktales, and fables, serving as a magical, timeless resource for teaching values, nurturing empathy, and offering hope, wisdom, and comfort in today’s chaotic world. Consider supporting Lions and Ledgends by contributing to their GoFundMe.
