Tales from a Darkening Wood
slightly spooky stories from both near and farIn this series, we gather at the feet of storytellers in a clearing in a mythical forest. Many stories are classic tales from fantastical authors such as Ambrose Bierce, Lucy Clifford, Lord Dunsany, but others are original stories.
We film this series in front of a greenscreen, and then apply a light cartoon filter to give it an unreal look.
Grab a place on the forest floor, as these storytellers spin their tales of faraway lands…and of ones right in your own backyard.
BURNING THE CRADLE
An unsettling, spooky tale about a couple who turns to black magic in order to conceive a child. Featuring Deaf storytellers Krissy Lemon, Jared DeBusk, and Nyeisha Prince. With the voice-over talents of Taji Coleman, Sherman Rynge, and Elise Dewsberry.
“This activity was supported in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency, and the National Arts and Disability Center at the University of California Los Angeles.”
NIGHT WOLF
A special episode from NMI’s musical webseries, “Tales From a Darkening Wood,” “The Night Wolf” features Deaf actor Jared DeBusk in an original musical short. Here’s a teaser from the script: “the most frightening were the sightings of his eyes, his red luminous eyes, which we would see peering at us, all of us, through the leaves of shrubs, or between the pickets of our fences, or in a shadow at the end of the lane, peering, watching, warning, threatening.”
Bad Old Woman ASL
A special episode from NMI’s musical webseries, “Tales From a Darkening Wood,” “The Bad Old Woman in Black” features Megan Clancy in a Deaf musical short based on unsettling story by Lord Dunsany. Here’s a teaser from the script: “An ominous feeling of gloom came down on the street of the ox-butchers. And in the gloom grew fears of the worst.”
John Mortonson's Funeral
This special episode from NMI’s musical webseries “Tales From a Darkening Wood” features Deaf actor Joshua Castille (Broadway’s Spring Awakening) in a Deaf musical short.
Here’s a teaser from the script: “The widow’s eyes sought the face of the dead beneath the glass. She threw up her arms and with a shriek fell backward insensible. The mourners sprang forward to the coffin, the friends followed, and as the clock on the mantel solemnly struck three all were staring down upon the face of John Mortonson, deceased.”
The Island of Dolls
A cautionary tale about a young girl who gets stolen by some very creepy mechanical dolls. Based on the classic short story by Lucy Clifford, this special episode of “Tales From a Darkening Wood” features Deaf storyteller Krissy Lemon, with voice-over by Erika Shindele, and music by Ron Barnett.
THE BAD OLD WOMAN IN BLACK
Book and lyrics by Lord Dunsany, music by Abby Bloom
A musical short based on unsettling story by Lord Dunsany about a village which is paranoid about a visit from a mysterious mythical old woman.. “An ominous feeling of gloom came down on the street of the ox-butchers. And in the gloom grew fears of the worst.”
Featuring Elise Dewsberry as the Storyteller.
THE OGRE AND THE TOAD
book and lyrics by Fiona Edmonds; music based on traditional Scottish folk songs. Featuring Father Bryan Ferguson as the Storyteller.
Who will stand up to the great Ogre terrorizing the land. Can it possibly be…a brave little TOAD?
NOTE: This was our very first “Tale from a Darkening Wood,” — so it’s rather near and dear to our hearts.