Twenty-two of America’s best-loved storytellers will be Tellers in Residence at the International Storytelling Center in 2008 – one per week for 22 weeks from June 3 – November 1.

Click here for performance dates in June, July, August, September, and October.

Daily performance times and prices
Evening Concert Schedule

2008 Performances

June 3 - June 7    Bil Lepp
West Virginia
Bil Lepp is a nationally renowned storyteller whose outrageous tall-tales and witty stories have earned the appreciation of listeners of all ages. A five-time champion of the West Virginia Liars' Contest, Lepp's tales often contain morsels of truth which shed light on subjects as diverse as politics, religion, death, relationships, and human nature, all offered with an easy manner that helps the audience laugh at the stories as well as themselves. An award winning author and recording artist, Bil has been featured at venues across the nation, including the National Storytelling Festival and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. "…a side-splittingly funny man" ~The Smithsonian Center for Folk Life

June 10 - June 14    Dovie Thomason
Pennsylvania
Dovie Thomason is an award-winning storyteller, recording artist, and author, recognized internationally for her ability to take listeners back to the timeless place she first "visited" as a child when she heard the stories of her Lakota and Plains Apache relatives. With understanding and sly humor, she has shared her wise and boisterous teaching tales both throughout North America, including the National Storytelling Festival, and extensively overseas. Her commitment to traditional cultural arts and education as a Master Traditional Teaching Artist has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts, and she is a Circle of Excellence award recipient. "…[Her] vibrant storytelling meets listeners heart to heart." ~Smithsonian

June 17 - June 21    Dolores Hydock
Alabama
Dolores Hydock fills the stage with a swirl of characters in her funny, affectionate stories about family fireworks, food fads, parallel parking, true love, and other peculiarities of everyday life. In addition to her personal stories, her repertoire includes award-winning adaptations of medieval adventures, literary classics, and traditional tales that make the magic and mystery of ancient wisdom come alive for 21st century story lovers. Hydock has been featured at venues nationwide including the National Storytelling Festival, and has six award-winning recordings of original stories. "Dolores' storytelling is brilliant…the comedy is timed perfectly, and the dramatic moments are heart-rending." ~The Birmingham News

June 24 - June 28    Paul Taylor
Wyoming
Paul Taylor celebrates the culture of his Australian homeland by sharing stories, song and the didjeridoo music of his Aboriginal and European Australia. Taylor is mentored by Bill Harney, the last male custodian of the Wardaman culture in Australia's Northern Territory. Taylor has shared his stories and workshops around the world, including at the New Orleans Jazz Festival, the Kerrville Folk Festival, the Clearwater Revival Folk Festival, and as an Exchange Place teller at the National Storytelling Festival. His latest recording, Coeee!, has won both Parent's Choice Gold and National Parenting Publications Gold awards. "The rippling effect of your performance seems to be never-ending." ~Arts Elizabeth Concert Series

July 1 - July 5    Andy Offutt Irwin
Georgia
With a silly putty voice, hilarious heart-filled stories, and arguably the greatest whistle in the world, Andy Offutt Irwin is equal parts mischievous schoolboy and the Marx Brothers, peppered with a touch of the Southern balladeer. He serves as the storyteller for Evening Star, a live radio show for Georgia Public Broadcasting. Irwin has three storytelling recordings, among which his CD, Christmas at Southern White Old Lady Hospital, is the winner of the Best Storytelling Album of 2006 from Just Plain Folks Awards. His nationwide appearances include the National Storytelling Festival. "A fiendishly clever union of Tom Lehrer's topicality…cut with Bobby McFerrin-style mouth music…good, quirky fun." ~The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

July Performances

July 8 - July 12    Gay Ducey
California
Raised in New Orleans with its rituals and play, Ducey is a descendent of Southern women who prized a sassy mouth. Her work has been described as "full of wit and elegance, but aimed straight at the heart." A celebrated storytelling educator with many workshops up her professional sleeve, she has taught storytelling at several universities, UC Berkeley among them. Ducey is the co-author of A Crash Course in Storytelling, described by School Library Journal as "an essential purchase." Her national and international appearances include the National Storytelling Festival, and she is a Circle of Excellence award recipient. "Wouldn't it be great to be able to tell a story as well as Gay Ducey?" ~Mister Rogers

July 15 - July 19    Gene Tagaban
Washington
Gene Tagaban, whose heritage is Cherokee, Tlingit and Filipino, shares contemporary and traditional Native American stories, bringing them to life with the use of traditional flutes, drums, dance, masks and regalia. Be it trickster or creation stories, the portrayal of his grandmother, or his personal life journey of becoming the 'raven dancer,' Tagaban masterfully weaves his Native American heritage with his performance artistry. His international appearances include the National Storytelling Festival. Tagaban also performs with Kuteeya, an Alaskan native dance troupe. His Tlingit name, Guy Yaaw, loosely translates as "Salmon Home Coming." "…next time you hear that he's performing…drop everything and go. Simple as that." ~Flip Breskin, arts reviewer

July 22 - July 26    Ed Stivender
Pennsylvania
Since his performance debut in third grade as the virtuous shamrock grower in the St. Patrick's Day play, Stivender has entertained his extended family, and now, worldwide audience, with a wry mixture of whimsy, wisdom and wit. He has toured his one-man shows in Austria, Ireland, New Zealand and Indonesia, and multiple times at the National Storytelling Festival. A popular trainer and story consultant and author of two books published by August House, his work has appeared in Reader's Digest, Storytelling Magazine, and on audio and video recordings. Stivender is also an award-winning Philadelphia Mummer. Stivender is a Circle of Excellence award recipient. "…the Robin Williams of storytelling." ~Miami Herald

July 29 - August 2    Connie Regan-Blake
North Carolina
With playful elegance, Connie Regan-Blake takes her listeners on a journey from old-timey mountain tales to surprising, heroic, adventures of everyday living. With her distinctive voice, southern charm and Irish heritage, she is an ambassador for storytelling and a sought-after performer across the globe. One of the first to bring storytelling to a national audience, Regan-Blake is a frequent featured teller at the National Storytelling Festival. She is the recipient of the Circle of Excellence and Lifetime Achievement awards. "The mood was mountain, and the evening pure magic…Connie's voice melts to tender tones; then sounds so womanly wise." ~Southern Living Magazine

August Performances

August 5 - August 9    Carmen Deedy
Georgia
Best known for her razor-sharp wit and light, entertaining style, Carmen Agra Deedy is an award-winning recording artist and author of numerous best-selling books for children. Born in Cuba, she immigrated with her family to Georgia during the Cuban Revolution; now, her stories convey a strong sense of her dual heritage. Deedy has performed internationally including the Beyond the Border International Storytelling Festival in Wales, the National Storytelling Festival, and on Broadway at the New Victory Theater, and has been a guest artist on NPR's Weekend All things Considered. "With the skill of a master craftsman from an exotic land, storyteller Carmen Deedy captivates audiences…with her melodious voice and richly detailed international tales." ~Atlanta Journal-Constitution

August 12 - August 16    Dan Keding
Illinois
Internationally acclaimed storyteller, musician, and author, Dan Keding grew up in a household with his Croatian grandmother, where he learned over 30 folktales handed down through her family. He has performed at multiple storytelling venues worldwide, including the Sidmouth International Folk Arts Festival and the National Storytelling Festival. Keding has over a dozen award-winning recordings, and his first book, Stories of Hope and Spirit: Folktales of Eastern Europe, won the prestigious Anne Izard Storyteller's Choice award. Keding is a Circle of Excellence award recipient. "For Dan Keding simplicity and high art go hand-in-hand." ~Illinois Times

August 19 - August 23    Victoria Burnett
California
Through her upbringing, Burnett realized that music and story were equally powerful tools of communication. She blends her skills as a teacher, librarian, singer and performer to become what she calls a "story musicologist." She combines music and drama into a myriad of diverse folktales, legends and stories for all ages. Burnett has performed in schools, museums, colleges and festivals including as a featured teller at the Keepers of the Word Storytelling Festival and the National Storytelling Festival. "Her ability to seamlessly blend the spoken word with song felt like a new art form…" ~Las Vegas Herald

August 26 - August 30    Jim May
Illinois
Jim May is an Emmy award-winning storyteller and writer whose stories, both hilarious and touching, speak of the fathers, horse traders, and small-town raconteurs who populated the Illinois farming community where his family has lived since the 1840s. His story collection, The Farm on Nippersink Creek, won a best book award from the Public Librarian Association. May has shared his work across the United States and Europe, including at the National Storytelling Festival, and is the recipient of the Circle of Excellence award. "You could call Jim May a modern-day Homer if the Greek had told stories about farm life." ~Chicago Sun Times

September Performances

September 2 - September 6    Judith Black
Massachusetts
A creator and teller of tales for over 30 years, Black's stories wrestle with everything from familial dysfunction, to the search for spiritual connection, to the questionable joys of aging. Her background in theater, early childhood development, political activism, and the wryly observed life inform her work. The recipient of the Circle of Excellence award, she works as an artist in education at Lesley University and tells for adults and children around the globe, including many times at the National Storytelling Festival. "Spellbinding, heartwarming, and yet oh so familiar…Judith's story reaches the depths where we all are one." ~The Boston Globe

September 9 - September 13    Motoko
Massachusetts
An award-winning Japanese storyteller, Motoko captivates audiences as she exquisitely blends ancient lore and original tales with traditional music and eloquent physical characterization. Her tales are at once comical and wise, earthly and sublime. A native of Japan, Motoko first came to the United States as an exchange student and later trained with master mime Tony Montanaro. She has performed at multiple venues including the National Storytelling Festival, and her debut CD has won numerous awards. "The combination of skill, talent and ability to translate emotion to motion created entertaining and exciting imagery. Her show was a winner." ~Massachusetts Daily Collegian

September 16 - September 20    Mitch Capel
North Carolina
Mitchell G. "Gran'daddy Junebug" Capel is a storyteller, recording artist and author who has delighted audiences throughout the United States since 1984. He is the national interpreter of poet laureate Paul Laurence Dunbar. Described as "a word magician" and "unexpectedly powerful," he has produced multiple award-winning recordings, a motivational children's book entitled The Jealous Farmer and a series of DVDs. Capel has been featured at the National Storytelling Festival and on National and International Public Radio. "With competence and mastery, Mitch Capel connects the audience with Paul Laurence Dunbar by utilizing a demanding and commanding artistry..." ~The Paul Laurence Dunbar State Memorial

September 23 - September 27    Billy Teare
Northern Ireland
A native of Northern Ireland, Billy Teare has appeared on stage, television, big screen and radio. He incorporates songs, music, magic, juggling and a whole host of theater skills to enliven his world wide feast of modern and traditional tales, monologues, rhymes, chants and audience participation. For twenty years he has taken his humor and huge stage presence to venues across Europe and to major folk and storytelling festivals around the world, including the National Storytelling Festival. "He had tots, teens and timid adults dancing in their seats within five minutes…audiences have been enraptured by Teare's performances…" ~Portsmouth Herald

September 29 - October 2    Donald Davis
North Carolina
Donald Davis was born in a Southern Appalachian mountain world, surrounded by a family of traditional storytellers who told him fairy tales, silly Jack tales, scary mountain lore, ancient Welsh and Scottish folktales, and most importantly, nourishing, true-to-life stories of his own neighbors and kin. Featured at festivals throughout the world, Davis is also known as a prolific author, producer of books and tapes, and as a guest host for NPR's Good Evening. Davis is a frequent teller at the National Storytelling Festival and a Circle of Excellence award recipient. "…his stories often left listeners limp with laughter at the same time they struggled with a lump in the throat." ~New York Times

October Performances

October 7 - October 11    Nancy Donoval
Minnesota
A storyteller, story coach and award-winning recording artist, Nancy Donoval tells stories of complex emotions with a quirky, comic touch. Whether bringing a contemporary perspective to an ancient tale or digging for universal truths in a sliver of her life, Donoval seeks to create doorways that invite listeners to walk deeper into their own stories. A full time teller since 1988, her performance credits include the Illinois, Nebraska, Hoosier, Timpanogos and National Storytelling Festivals, Washington Storytellers Theater, and New York Storytelling Center. "Vibrant and engaging…Donoval, with perfect comic timing, has the knack for making you laugh at everyday absurdities." ~St. Paul Pioneer Press

October 14 - October 18    Bill Mooney
Colorado
Bill Mooney began telling stories in 1964, when he premiered his highly successful show, Half Horse, Half Alligator, which toured Europe and the United States for two decades. He has told stories at the New Jersey Folk Festival, Jackson Storyfest, Alabama Tale-Tellin' Festival, the National Storytelling Festival, and all over the world for Holland America Line. Bill has appeared on and off-Broadway, in movies, and on television shows, and was a two-time Emmy nominee for his role in a daytime serial. Award-winning recording artist and author of several books, Bill is noted for his one-man shows. "Magnificent! Hilarious! Bigger than life and proud of it." ~New York Times

October 21 - October 25    Jennifer Armstrong
Maine
Jennifer Armstrong has spent her life writing, singing and making music with fiddle, bagpipe, banjo and words. She is a storyteller, singer, poet and instrumentalist who uses humor, warmth and grace as she performs. She works as an artist-in-residence in folk arts, storytelling and writing, as well as a teacher and performer in venues across the country. Armstrong has been featured at the National Storytelling Festival and on National Public Radio, and has seven recordings. "Jennifer is wonderful, informative and entertaining. To put it simply, people love her!" ~Music Center of the North Shore

October 28 - November 1    Sheila Kay Adams
North Carolina
Sheila Kay Adams shares stories from the small mountain community in Western North Carolina where she was born, and passes on the rich musical heritage of her ancestors. A banjo player and seventh generation ballad singer, she is also an award-winning author of books and recordings. Adams has performed across the nation and the British Isles, including appearances at the National Book Festival, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, and the National Storytelling Festival. "Her stories may be localized or carry you back to the thirteenth century, but their lessons, poignancy, and humor have no boundary, real or artificial." ~The Washington Post