Kathy Mattea
In Jonesborough, Tennessee, the storytelling capital of the world, tickets are on sale for the National Storytelling Festival, an annual gathering of some of the world's top talent. The oldest and most prestigious festival of its kind, NSF offers one-day and weekend passes for regular programming, as well as one-time admission to special events.
The three-day celebration of oral traditions from around the world - recently named one of the top tourist attractions in the nation by TripAdvisor.com - is the flagship event of its producer, the International Storytelling Center. The festival runs Oct. 7–9, with regular programming scheduled from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Sunday. The autumnal celebration of the world's oral traditions has been an annual tradition since 1973, when the first National Storytelling Festival spawned the American storytelling revival.
The 2016 festival features nearly two dozen storytellers, who take turns performing under big-top tents scattered across downtown Jonesborough, Tennessee. The diverse lineup includes Irish teller Clare Muireann Murphy; Jerron "Blind Boy" Paxton, a multi-instrumentalist and teller whose work embodies the spirit of 1920s music; Minton Sparks, who fuses wildly original poetry and an intoxicating gift for storytelling into memories of growing up in a small-town southern family; Motoko, a native of Japan, whose repertoire includes Asian folktales, Zen tales and mime vignettes; and Barbara McBride-Smith, who transports audiences from the ancient world of the Greek gods and goddesses to the eclectic shenanigans of her Baby Boomer generation.
A homecoming for some of the industry's finest performers, this year's featured tellers also include perennial favorites such as Donald Davis, Elizabeth Ellis, Bil Lepp and Tim Lowry. By showcasing oral traditions from the South and all over the world, the festival inspires unexpected connections and promotes cultural understanding.
In addition to the festival's signature programming, there's a handful of special events included in the price of the ticket, such as Exchange Place, a concert featuring new talent; the Swappin' Ground, where anyone can tell a story; and a Story Slam. Separately ticketed events include two nights of al fresco Ghost Stories; and the Friday night Midnight Cabaret, featuring Kevin Kling.
Two pre-festival concerts are also held on the festival grounds. Wednesday, Oct. 5 features Donald Davis and Thursday, Oct. 6 showcases Kathy Mattea. Both all-ages shows begin at 7:30 p.m, and tickets can be reserved in advance or purchased on site, while supplies last.
Tickets for the National Storytelling Festival - as well as all special events throughout the week - can be purchased online at www.storytellingcenter.net, at the International Storytelling Center in downtown Jonesborough, or on the festival grounds. For more information or to make reservations, call ISC at 800-952-8392, ext. 221.
