May 3, 2005

Beowulf: A Tale of Monsters and Men to be performed at ShimerCollege

Beowulf, a bone-chilling tale of monsters and men, will come to life at ShimerCollege when the award-winning storyteller and Celtic harpist, Chris Vinsonhaler, offers her interpretation of the Anglo-Saxon epic poem.  The 90-minute performance will take place in the Shimer College Gymnasium-Theater on Tuesday, May 3, at 7 p.m.

According to Vinsonhaler, Beowulf has something for everyone. ‘It is a dazzling work of poetry, and it is also a knock-'em, sock-'em piece of pop culture about a Dark Ages super hero. It is somber and thought-provoking, but it's also a lot of fun. That’s what great literature has always been about.’

Awarded a fellowship funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, Vinsonhaler tours nationally and internationally, performing at community events, conferences, schools and universities.  ‘Beowulf was meant to be heard, not read.’ she said. ‘What excites me most, and what I hope to share with others, is that the poem does indeed take on a life of its own when returned to spoken form.’  Information on the Beowulf Project is available at www.beowulfpoet.com.