About Karen

Karen CzarnikLinking her musical and theatrical work with the traditions of storytelling, her performances inspire audiences of all ages. Karen incorporates physical animation, characters, and stories and songs, both old and new to create an enlivening experience. Accompanying herself on the autoharp, she creates an interactive experience for audiences with her unique collection of traditional and original works. Karen's performances, workshops, and classes for storytelling groups, schools, libraries, story slams, festivals, and more offer "edutainment" through the art of Storytelling.

 

Karen has been a Performing Artist since childhood, and has been involved in a variety of performance roles. In 1996, Karen discovered the world of storytelling, and has been mesmerized, enchanted and engaged in the art form ever since.

 

Education and Workshop Training

  • Centre for Playback Theatre, NY, NY

  • National Storytelling Conference attendee

  • Northlands Storytelling Network workshop attendee, WI

  • OOPS - Storytelling Conference, OH

  • LANES - Sharing the Fire Conference, CT

  • Playback in the Academy Conference, Ontario, Canada

  • Lamb's Retreat for Songwriters, MI

  • Paint Creek Folklore Society workshop attendee, MI

  • Detroit Storytelling League Annual Storytelling Festival workshop attendee, MI

  • "Doorway to the Imagination" workshop attendee, an Odds Bodkin Storytelling Workshop, MI

  • The Annual Storytelling Festival workshop attendee at The Ark in Ann Arbor, MI

  • Improvisational and Stand-Up Comedy workshop graduate from The Comedy Castle, Royal Oak, MI

  • Western Michigan University – BA with an emphasis in Theatre, Writing/Journalism and Public Relations

 

Past & Current Professional Memberships

  • National Storytelling Network

  • Northlands Storytelling Network

  • North Oakland County Storytellers

  • Six Figures Playback Theatre Company

  • Paint Creek Folklore Society

  • Parent Tellers - Chatterton School District

  • Detroit Storytelling League

 

Some of Karen's Past Performance & Workshop Appearances

Karen has presented over 1,000 performances and workshops throughout Michigan and the US in hundreds of libraries, schools, community and private events. Some of her appearances are listed below. Public schools & libraries are too many to mention...

 

  • National Storytelling Network, PA

  • Detroit Institute of Arts, MI

  • Jackson Michigan Storyfest, MI

  • Bright Horizons Childcare Center, MI

  • Campus Martius Park, MI

  • Childtime, MI

  • Farmington Hills Cultural Arts Division, MI

  • Hillsdale Community Theatre, MI

  • Walled Lake Schools - Community Education Dept., MI

  • Novi Community Schools - Community Education Dept., MI

  • Ypsilanti Public Schools - Community Educations Dept., MI

  • SHARE Homeschooling Group, MI

  • The 25th Annual Michigan Storytelling Festival, MI

  • Frogtown Storytelling Guild, OH

  • WATCH Homeschooling Group, MI

  • The City of Beverly Hills, MI

  • FAITH Homeschooling Group, MI

  • Fairlane Town Center, MI

  • Storytellers Guild - Birmingham, MI

  • Jackson County (MI) Department on Aging, MI

  • Galaxy Credit Union Solutions, MI

  • University of Michigan Dearborn - Child Development Center, MI

  • North Oakland County Storytellers, MI

  • Paint Creek Folklore Society, MI

  • Wabeek Country Club, MI

  • Gazelle's House of Handmades, MI

  • The Village of Caro, MI

  • Waltonwoods Senior Center, MI

  • Generations Together Children and Seniors Center, MI

  • Commerce Township Montessori, MI

  • Northlands Storytelling Network, WI

  • OOPS Storytelling Festival, OH

  • LANES Sharing the Fire, CT

  • Kalkaska Senior Center, MI

  • Camp Dearborn, MI

  • The Winds Neighborhood Condo Association, MI

  • Annie's Children's Center, MI

  • Wayne Metro Community Action Agency, MI

  • Barrington Green Neighborhood Association, MI

  • Canterbury Commons Neighborhood Association, MI

  • Kiddie Junction, MI

  • Precious Cargo Childcare, MI

  • Good Beginnings Children's Learning Center, MI

  • University Prep Academy, MI

 

Read some press about Karen

 

Stories, songs and improv theater wrap up summer reading program (PDF)

Roseville-Eastpointe Eastsider ~ August 13, 2008

 

"Tell us your tale": EMU's Playback Theatre takes its scripts from the audience (PDF)

Metro Times ~ November 11, 2007

 

Storyteller soars: She takes listeners to magic places (PDF)

The Detroit Free Press ~ November 4, 2006

 

MIGHTY WIND: Storyteller's yarns knit people together (PDF)

The Oakland Press ~ February 7, 2006

 

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