Donna Washington has been making her living telling stories for 30 years, and she is also an award winning author and recording artist. Based in Durham, she has traveled all over America and internationally sharing stories with audiences of all ages. She also teaches workshops, residencies, and master classes for storytellers of all ages. She has performed at thousands of schools & libraries and numerous storytelling festivals throughout the country. She has also been featured at numerous storytelling festivals including the 2004 National Storytelling Festival, The Illinois Storytelling Festival, The Three Rivers Festival, The St. Louis Storytelling Festival, The NC StoryFest, The Corn Island and Cave Run Festivals in Kentucky, and the Broward County Children’s & Ocala Storytelling Festivals in Florida – just to name a few. Washington received a 2002 Parent’s Choice Award for her first independent recording, Live and Learn: The Exploding Frog and Other Stories. The October 2004 edition of the ALA Booklist gave Washington’s second CD, A Little Shiver, a recommended review. It also won the 2004 Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Award and 2005 Storytelling World Honors. Her third CD, Fun, Foolery, and Folktales, also won the 2004 Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Award and a 2006 Storytelling World Honors. The Sword and The Rose has won an iParenting Media 2005 Excellent Product Award, a 2005 Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Award and a 2006 Storytelling World Award. All of her CDs have won 2005 Children’s Music Web Awards. Angels’ Laughter features poetry, stories, and songs.
In addition to her CDs, Washington has four books to her credit: A Pride of African Tales (2003), with award winning illustrator James Ransome providing the lush watercolor pictures for the book, received rave reviews from the American Library Association (ALA) Booklist and the School Library Journal, and it was nominated for the Pennsylvania 2005-2006 Young Reader’s Choice Award. Washington’s second book, The Story of Kwanzaa, is a wonderful primer for kids about the African-American celebration of Kwanzaa. Her third book, A Big Spooky House, is a wonderful book to read aloud at Halloween. Her fourth book, Li’l Rabbit’s Kwanzaa (2010) was published by HarperCollins Children’s Books.
Washington was born an army brat in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She traveled all over with world with her parents and spent from second to sixth grade in Seoul Korea. She attended Northwestern University and was involved with numerous theatrical productions, and in the four years she was there, she began to make storytelling a central part of her performance life.These days you can find her traveling the country at festivals, conferences, schools, and libraries telling stories and giving workshops for anyone who is willing to listen to her.
While you’re at the Museum, stop by the new exhibit Freedom! A Promise Disrupted: North Carolina, 1862-1901. Discover the story of the Reconstruction era, when the promises of freedom were cut short in North Carolina due to a backlash of racism.
NEW THIS YEAR: Reserve your ticket in advance! Even though this event is free to attend, tickets are required, as seating is limited. PLEASE NOTE: If you reserve your ticket ahead of time and have not checked in at the auditorium by the time the doors open (2:45 p.m.), your seat may be released so someone else can attend the event. Some tickets will also be available at the Museum the day of the event – please visit the information table outside Daniels Auditorium beginning at 2 p.m. on the show date. Thank you for your understanding; please contact us if you have any questions.
Street parking is free on weekends in downtown Raleigh, and the lot across Wilmington Street from the Museum is also free on the weekend. Learn more about parking options in downtown Raleigh
A ramp from Edenton St provides access to the Museum’s main entrance. A ramp is also available from Jones St. and the entrance from Fletcher Garden. Wheelchairs for interior use are available free of charge at the Museum information desk. The Museum entrance closest to the auditorium is a staircase that leads up to glass doors on Edenton St.
Large print program notes and assistive listening devices will be available at this event. This program will also be interpreted by an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter. Please call us at 919-664-8333 with any questions about accessibility.
