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DOWNS - Stories are magical. Stories can make us laugh until our eyes water, sob with deep emotion, jump with fright and then comfort us with a happy ending. A young storyteller can create other worlds, elicit emotional highs and lows, foster unheard-of ideas, and make every day seem incredible. Learning the art of storytelling can teach children many skills and take listeners on extraordinary journeys.
The Kansas Storytelling Festival is sponsoring a workshop on Saturday, April 29, for students ages eight and older to introduce and mentor them in the art form of storytelling.
Joyce Slater, a professional storyteller from the Kansas City area, is coming to teach and inspire the students. She brings puppets, fiction and nonfiction books, and research materials for inspiration.
The workshop starts at 11:00 a.m. A break for lunch allows participants to eat, then return for the 1:00 p.m. program of telling their stories to each other and guests.
The workshop will mix up activities for groups and individuals and is guaranteed to be an excellent experience for youth.
The Kansas Storytelling Festival proudly presents its annual event on April 28 and 29, 2023. Over the two days, the festival also offers the yearly tall tales contest, ghost stories, legends, workshops, master storytellers, and more. The event includes six nationally recognized tellers performing on four stages throughout the Festival.
Every session at the festival offers great entertainment. Here are just a few highlights of this year's line-up:
Kevin Kling’s autobiographical tales are as enchanting as they are true to life: hopping freight trains, getting hit by lightning, performing his banned play in Czechoslovakia,
growing up in Minnesota, and eating things before knowing what they are. www.kevinkling.com/
Rev. Robert B. Jones, Sr.’s stories are about growing up in his native Detroit, tales about old blues musicians, or inspirational stories drawn from history or scripture. Rev. Robert Jones loves telling stories that reach the mind and the heart. www.revrobertjones.com/
Megan Hicks is a self-proclaimed Teller-Without-a-Niche. Megan dives heart-first into every story she tells – fairy tale, personal story, American history, parody, ghost and horror, humor – you’ll be happy to follow. www.meganhicks.com/
Brian "Fox'' Ellis’s goal is to inspire the audience to awaken to a deeper understanding of who they are within their relationship to human history and the natural world around them. Through the art of storytelling, celebrate history in person, folktales, science, and literature with Brian. https://www.foxtalesint.com/
Mo Reynolds has tried to like knitting and crocheting, but the only weaving she enjoys has to do with words. Mo weaves personal stories with folk and fairy tales, throwing in a tall tale here and there for good measure. https://www.moreynolds.com/
Joyce Slater is a teaching artist, and revels in the exploration of the creativity of both students and teachers. Joyce leads audiences of ages on a magic path through folktales, fairy tales, ghost stories, personal narratives, and more.
All workshops are experiential; the only way to learn storytelling is by doing it.
A Friday Festival highlight at the Kansas Storytelling Festival is the Kansas Tall Tales Contest. Throughout the festival, enjoy the incredible talent through Legends, Ghost Stories, Storytelling Workshops, Master Storytellers, Swappin’ Ground, and Featured Tellers Q & A.
All storytelling locations are accessible within a few blocks of walking distance. There is plenty of parking on Morgan Ave., Downtown Downs.
The festival’s program, venues, lineup information, show time/schedule of events, admission, where to stay, etc., are all in the festival’s link on the Kansas Storytelling Festival website,
https://www.kansasstorytellingfestival.com/
For information about the Kansas Storytelling Festival, Brenda Gutierrez, 785-577-5421, [email protected]
Purchase admission buttons early online, kansasstorytellingfestival.com/shop, for both days, one day, or for a specific performance at the registration area in the Downs Memorial Hall, 500 Morgan Avenue.
Purchase buttons (admission) for Friday or Saturday of the festival at the festival registration area in the Memorial Hall, Morgan Ave, or online at https://www.kansasstorytellingfestival.com/shop