Mar. 28, 2013 - Ancient Greece Comes Alive

Program personnel dressed as Greek mythology.

Benton, KY - The gods and goddesses of Ancient Greece have been seen roaming around Marshall County over the past few weeks as part of the Marshall County Public Library’s Mount Olympus Live! program.

The program, which was performed by members of the library’s Young Adult Advisory Panel, introduced children to a variety of classic stories, such as the birth of the Greek gods and the cause of the Trojan War, from the point of view of the gods themselves. The show was performed at all three branches of the library as well as Benton Elementary and Central Elementary. Each program featured a different panel of gods and goddesses who provided an improvisational performance and took questions from the audience.

 

“I love these types of programs because everyone involved gets something out of it,” says Tammy Blackwell, Young Adult Librarian for the Marshall County Public Library. “The teens who perform really study their character so they can pull it off and make it seem natural. During the show, they are the characters they’re portraying, and the kids in the audience can tell. They stay more attentive and involved than if someone was just sitting up there reciting a story.”

This was the second Live! performance for the library. Last year the Young Adult Advisory Panel brought storybook characters to life for younger students, but this year they felt challenged to take on some more difficult subject matter.

“This was definitely the teens’ idea,” says Blackwell. “I’m not a big fan of Greek mythology and knew very few of the stories going in. But with the popularity of the Percy Jackson series, kids are really into that sort of thing right now, so I let them go with it.” Despite her initial reluctance, Blackwell soon was knee-deep in mythology. “Just like the teens, I have to do a lot of research before the show. I might not be an expert, but I certainly know way more about the stories of Ancient Greece now!”

The Marshall County Public Library provides programs and events for kids of all ages throughout the year. Information about future programs can be found online at www.marshallcolibrary.org or at your local branch of the Marshall County Public Library.