Ghost stories promote Books for Africa

Largely Literary Theater Company co-founders Sara Showman and Mark Dawidziak will present a spirited program of ghost stories at the Books for Africa Library Project’s annual fundraising dinner. The event begins at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 16, in the St. Bernard Church Social Hall.

The church is located in downtown Akron, at Broadway and State Streets. Parking is available at the University of Akron lot opposite the church.

The Books for Africa Library Project is a non-profit organization that helps communities set up libraries in rural Africa. The project has established libraries in Ghana and Liberia.

The special two-part program prepared by the Largely Literary Theater Company will open with Showman telling a romantic ghost tale and a not-so-romantic ghost tale – two looks at relationships from a supernatural point of view. The company’s managing director, Showman performs several storytelling programs, including Animal Tales and Holiday Stories with Mrs. Santa Claus, at area schools and libraries.

Dawidziak, the company’s artistic director, then will shift the spooky mood a bit with stories about spirits connected to Akron-area locations.

The July 16 dinner and performance are free, but donations will be collected. This is the fourth consecutive year the Largely Literary Theater Company has appeared at the annual Books for Africa Library Project dinner at the landmark downtown Akron church.

The benefit will begin with dinner at 6 p.m. and traditional string music provided by Touch of Spring. That will be followed by an 18-minute video presented by Books for Africa’s Kirt and Hilda Bromley, who will describe their recent four-and-a-half month mission in Ghana, where they set up three new libraries in rural farming regions of Brong Ahafo and the upper west (an area historically neglected in terms of education and government services).