MARGARETVILLE — Open Eye Theater will present “Legends and Tales,” at noon Saturdays from Sept. 7 through Oct. 19.
According to a media release, the series, which is geared to children ages 6 to 11, will feature seven storytellers and musicians who will weave tales of giants, princesses, ghosts, cowgirls, witches, a WWII pilot and the dangers of making wishes. A different story is told every week. Storyteller and musician teams are from the Catskills area and are in order of appearance: Michelle Macau with musician Marcel Smith; Marge Helenchild, Peg DiBenedetto, with musician Kent Brown; Leland Krane with musician Matt Lake; Darlene DeMaille with musician John DeMaille; Parker Cross; Lisa Ruth Mays, Carol Schwartz, with musician John St. James; and Pamela Finkle-West with musician Theodore Finkle.
The schedule is as follows:
• Sept. 7: “Abiyoyo” and “Abiyoyo Returns” with Michelle Macau and Marcel Smith. Based on a South African tale. Using music and song, a boy and his father save the town from the man-eating giant Abiyoyo. Then 30 years later, Abiyoyo saves the town, and the community learns to live with their giant.
• Sept. 14: “Ruth the WASP” with Marge Helenchild, Peg DiBenedetto and Kent Brown. Young Ruth worked at the family dairy store while dreaming of becoming a pilot. Flying was all she could think of. Following her heart she became a member of WASP — Women Airforce Service Pilots. The true story of Ruth Franckling Reynolds, WWII veteran and Congressional Gold Medal honoree.
• Sept. 21: “Monkey’s Paw” with Leland Krane and Matt Lake. The mummified monkey’s paw has been charmed to grant the owner three wishes. This tale of horror, written by W.W. Jacobs, warns one to be careful what one wishes…as the wish may come true.
• Sept. 28: “Famous Cowgirls, Outlaws and Gunslingers of the Old West” with Darlene DeMaille and John DeMaille. In the 1800s, the way of life in the American West demanded tough character from both men and women. In order to survive and thrive, they had to be cunning, quick-witted, merciless, and skilled at shooting firearms.
• Oct. 5: “Seamus Jennings and the Sligo Selkie” with Parker Cross and a musician to be announced. If you ever wanted to talk to an Irish ghost, Seamus is not just friendly but downright vivacious. He tells many stories including about an afterlife rambling from the Pakatakan Mountain to the Hudson River.
• Oct. 12: “A Tale of Appalachia” with Lisa Ruth Mays, Carol Schwartz and John St. James. In the Appalachian Mountains, there are witches. They fly on eagles’ wings. Witch Boy wants to become human, for he loves a beautiful girl named Barbara.
• Oct. 19: “The Legend of Mt. Utsayantha” with Pamela West-Finkle and Theodore Finkle. The tale of a Native American princess, the beautiful chief’s daughter whose tragic tale ended in a lake near Mount Utsayantha in modern day Stamford.
The theater is at 960 Main St. in Margaretville. Tickets are Pay-What-You-Will (suggested $10) and can be purchased at: https://tinyurl.com/mjwumsmk.