“What is storytelling? It’s a combination of going places you’ve never been before, and then recognizing home.”
Kevin Kling, professional storyteller
Call it a laughfest, if you will — but don’t be embarrassed at becoming a bit misty-eyed, either. Emotions are part and parcel of the world of storytelling.
The fourth annual Possum Town Tales Storytelling Festival presented by the Columbus Arts Council Sept. 24-27 should have a particularly high quotient of laughter this year. Internationally-acclaimed storytellers Andy Offutt Irwin of Georgia and Kevin Kling of Minnesota team with Southern songstress and storyteller Kate Campbell for a weekend designed to entertain and inspire.
All are much-respected on the storytelling circuit and have been featured tellers at the mecca — the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee, where 10,000 and more fans converge every October to hear these and other performers.
What is storytelling?
“Storytelling is a whole lot of stuff that gives an excuse for people like me to keep working,” laughed Irwin, in a phone interview Thursday. “Think of it as stand-up comedy, only nicer and with longer narratives.”
The tradition has endured through every time period and culture, a means of education, preservation and entertainment.
“In a way, it gets us back to the front porch, when people talked to their family and friends and shared with neighbors,” said CAC Program Manager Beverly Norris, who has frequented the Jonesborough festival. “It’s a place where everyone is friendly with each other. That’s what storytelling can do — take us to a place where it’s all about communicating and friendship.”
Irwin, Kling and Campbell are experts at the art form, vibrantly recreating true tales, folktales, new tales, old tales and anything in between.
Arts Council Executive Director Tina Sweeten-Lunsford remarked, “If you’ve never heard a skilled professional storyteller, you’re missing something special.”
Fans at the national festival in Jonesborough pay $145 to $170 for their tickets. In Columbus, a weekend pass encompassing eight sessions is $35.
“Thanks to generous sponsors, we’ve been able to keep pricing very affordable as we build a storytelling audience in the area,” said Norris. “We want everyone to feel as though they can enjoy it, and bring the whole family to many of the events.”
Linda Bobbitt of Columbus has attended every Possum Town Tales.
“It offers such a different experience,” she commented. “I’ve enjoyed every one I’ve come to; they’re for old, young and those in-between.”
What a show-off
Andy Irwin describes himself as a storyteller, humorist, musician, public speaker, educator, whistler and show-off. Others have added “equal parts mischievous schoolboy and the Marx Brothers, peppered with a touch of the Southern balladeer” and “a walking menagerie.” All the handles fit this Covington, Georgia, native known for innovative tales, including those about his 85-year-old-widowed-newly-minted-physician-aunt, Dr. Marguerite Van Camp.
The teller was awarded the 2013 National Storytelling Network’s Circle of Excellence Award. All six of his storytelling CDs have won Storytelling Word Awards. After his Columbus appearance, Irwin travels to the national festival, where he is again a featured teller this year.
“I’m thrilled to be working with Kevin and Kate; we all have contrasting styles,” he said. “I’m excited about coming to Columbus for the first time, too — and Aunt Marguerite will be with me!”
That’s MinneSOta, thank you
Kevin Kling of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is known for his storytelling and popular commentaries on NPR’s “All Things Considered,” as well as for the plays and books he writes.
His funny, often tender stories are frequently autobiographical. Born with a congenital birth defect that affects his arms, his condition was compounded by a motorcycle wreck that took the use of his right arm. Kling is undaunted, traveling the globe to perform.
“What is storytelling? This idea pops into our heads that we know what it is, but I guarantee you it’s much, much more,” said Kling via phone Thursday. “It’s a combination of going places you’ve never been before, and then recognizing home.”
For him, storytelling is about connections.
“That’s the most crucial part: How do we belong, how do we connect?” he said. “When I come down there (to Mississippi), the exciting thing will be to find where and how do we connect, and how do we embrace our differences.”
Stories in song
Kate Campbell is well-known to bona fide music fans, and performed in 2014 at the Rosenzweig Arts Center with Pierce Pettis and Tom Kimmel, as the New Agrarians. Her clearwater voice and literate musical vision have attracted collaborators including Emmylou Harris, John Prine, Buddy Miller and Guy Clark. She has been featured on NPR’s “All Things Considered,” “Early Edition” and “Live From Mountain Stage.”
The Mississippi-born Campbell, based in Nashville, combines quirky characters and storylines in her unique music. She, too, has been a featured teller at the national festival.
Possum Town Tales veteran Jerry Hodson of Columbus said, “I hope more and more people will realize the quality of what’s being offered here, especially when we’ve got nationally-known talent like this.”
Diverse events
The festival offers entertaining evening events, as well as daytime sessions geared especially to young audiences and their families. A Thursday evening workshop with Irwin is open to everyone and should be of special interest to teachers, counselors and anyone else involved in getting a point across.
The Homegrown Storytelling session provides a stage for local people who have a story to share. Sign up with the arts council.
A Lunch & Story format offers a luncheon and light-hearted time as Irwin shares tales of Aunt Marguerite in “Book Every Saturday for a Funeral.”
All events are at the Columbus Arts Council’s Rosenzweig Arts Center, 501 Main St., except for Sept. 26 day sessions presented under a tent at the Hitching Lot Farmers’ Market at Second Avenue and Second Street North in Columbus. Some school performances are also scheduled.
“We’re excited that we’ve already sold tickets to a couple from Iowa who will next go on to Jonesborough after Columbus, and to storytelling fans in other parts of Mississippi,” said Norris. Anyone needing lodging is encouraged to make reservations immediately, due to regional football games that often fill up hotels and bed-and-breakfasts.
Festival sponsors include the Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Columbus), Courtyard by Marriott, Hitching Lot Farmers’ Market, Birney and Beth Imes, Main Street Columbus, the Mississippi Arts Commission, South Arts/Art Works and The Dispatch.
For more information or for tickets, contact the CAC, 662-328-2787, Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., or visit columbus-arts.org.
POSSUM TOWN TALES FESTIVAL
Weekend pass $35, or see separate event pricing
(All events at Rosenzweig Arts Center, unless noted)
Thursday, Sept. 24
Friday, Sept. 25
Saturday, Sept. 26
(Day events under tent at the Hitching Lot Farmers’ Market, Second Avenue and Second Street North; chairs provided. Day: $3 includes all three sessions; age 5 and under free.)
Sunday, Sept. 27
Tickets and information: 662-328-2787
or visit columbus-arts.org.
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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