LAURINBURG — The grounds of the John Blue House will be filled this weekend with the words and music of some of today’s most talented storytellers, songwriters and singers.

The 11th Storytelling Festival of Carolina returns to the John Blue House for the three-day event beginning on Friday.

Headlining the event are Donald Davis, deemed the “dean of storytelling”; Tim Lowry of Summerville S.C.; and Kuniko Yamamoto, who uses origami, music and audience participation to weave her tales.

“Our tellers are the best there are,” said Erin Rembert, executive director of the Storytelling & Arts Center of the Southeast. “As always, the featured storytellers have each achieved national acclaim and have told at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tenn.”

The festival kicks off Friday night with a Storytelling Olio, spotlighting a story from each of the featured tellers, beginning at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $10.

The public will have a chance to meet tellers and musicians Saturday night at SACS. It will feature The Moon and You, an American folk group that combines guitar, cello, drums and harmonious vocals. Tickets to the event are $20.

“Enjoy sweet and savory desserts and share the evening with the tellers, musicians and old and new storytelling friends,” Rembert said.

The featured storytellers are:

Davis

Davis had a 20-year career as a minister before he became a professional storyteller. He has recorded over 25 storytelling albums and written several books based on those stories. The Waynesville native was also guest host for NPR’s Good Evening and is a recipient of the NSN ORACLE Circle of Excellence and Lifetime Achievement awards. He is a graduate of Davidson College.

Lowry

Lowry has been telling folk tales and stories from American history for the past 15 years. He grew up in southeastern Kentucky where he learned the art of storytelling from Appalachian folk who spun yarns and told tales to entertain, teach morals, and pass along local history.He studied drama in high school and toured the East Coast in 1987 with a drama school from Greenville, SC. After earning a degree in Theater, Tim taught English language arts for five years. He left the classroom in 2000 to become a full-time performer. Lowry has has made several television appearances, recorded a number of storytelling CDs, filmed a DVD, and written a storytelling handbook.

Yamamoto

A native of Japan, Yamamoto received a degree from Otani University of Kyoto, Japan. She started performing professionally in her hometown of Osaka where she grew up studying traditional dance, music and theater. She has received national exposure performing Japanese Storytelling at the Silk Road International Exposition and on Kansai National TV. Yamamoto traveled to the United States to study with Tony Montanaro, highly respected mime and actor. She has performed extensively in theaters, schools, colleges and festivals across the country.

The festival will also feature storytellers Robin Kitson, Jadie Fuson, JA Bolton, Ray Mendenhall, Jess Willis, Gary Buchanan and Linda Goodman.

The national tellers will conduct workshops on Saturday, “providing valuable” educational tools for tellers, parents and teachers,” Rembert said. There will be a Children’s Play Place with games and activities for parents to share with their children. Food and craft vendors will show and sell their wares throughout the festival.

Musicians Momma Molasses and Earleine will perform on Saturday. Sunday brings local band Last Time Around to the music stage.

Weekend and single-day tickets available as well as local resident, family, military and senior discounts.

“We are thrilled to welcome talented musicians back to the festival in 2016,” Rembert said. “Join us to hear the best tellers in professional storytelling and nationally recognized singers and songwriters– all without having to leave Laurinburg.”

For information and to purchase your tickets, visit www.storyartscenter.org or call the Storytelling and Arts Center at 910-277-3599.

Courtesy photo Donald Davis, the “dean of storytelling” will perform at this weekend’s 11th Storytelling Festival of Carolina. The event begins on Friday.
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_Story.jpgCourtesy photo Donald Davis, the “dean of storytelling” will perform at this weekend’s 11th Storytelling Festival of Carolina. The event begins on Friday.

Staff report