ISC owes much of its rich history and promising future to those behind the scenes – the individuals who choose to become a part of the ISC family through monetary donations, volunteer hours, or even kind words of encouragement. Today, we would like to thank our local supporter Joy Bolt and her husband John, who are making a difference at ISC. –Lisa Whaley, Director of Development   Joy Bolt is a shining example of the idea that sometimes the smallest gifts have the biggest impact. A strong supporter of storytelling, Joy has, in fact, been living this adage since she first stepped into Jo ..read more

The Town of Jonesborough recently launched a new storytelling feature in Jimmy Neil Smith Park as part of a large-scale park rejuvenation project. The scenic Storybook Trail winds through three acres of wooded land that is part of the International Storytelling Center’s downtown campus. Funded by local residents Harold and Nancy Dishner, the trail is lined with 18 placards that, together, tell a story from a children’s book. Families can walk along the path and read to — or with — their small children. The semi-permanent placards will be changed to include the text and illustrations from a ne ..read more

As we move together toward the holidays and the end of the year, we want to give you a little peek into one of our most recent events on the campus of the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough. Throughout the second week of November, ISC welcomed groups of very excited fifth graders to its annual Kids Institute, an immersive cultural learning experience that combines learning with exposure to the performing arts. Now in its third year, Kids Institute is part of ISC’s suite of free programs that serves our region’s young people, many of whom don’t have easy access to cultural insti ..read more

One of Jonesborough’s most hallowed traditions returns in less than two weeks, with two series of live Christmas shows at the International Storytelling Center. Storyteller Tim Lowry will be on hand for two performances on December 1. His playful adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” has become a holiday tradition in its own right, with many listeners returning every year. For Lowry, the tradition began 21 years ago in his homebase of Charleston, South Carolina, where he worked with a restaurant as a “storyteller sommelier.” “They were going to hire Gerald Dickens, who is Charles ..read more

On October 6­­–8, ISC was thrilled to host thousands of visitors for the 51st annual National Storytelling Festival, when Jonesborough came alive with stories and traditions from all over the world. With perfect company and *almost* perfect weather (just a little rain on Friday!), we couldn’t have asked for a better event. Thank you to everyone who attended—and for the people around the world who watched our livestream on Friday. ISC is deeply grateful for our long-standing relationship with the talented photographers Jay Huron and Tom Raymond, who capture the joy and essence of the Festival e ..read more

A 2023 National Storytelling Festival Preview When the Globe Theatre in London asked Debs Newbold to adapt her first Shakespeare play, she didn’t hesitate. She knew she wanted to do King Lear.   It was a bold choice for a young woman early in her career. Adapting Shakespeare is challenging enough. But playing Lear is often considered a crowning achievement for older male actors, a plum role that they spend a lifetime getting ready for. Newbold’s approach was to shake off that air of gravitas, which can be off-putting. Ignoring gender and class barriers typically associated with high ..read more

A 2023 National Storytelling Festival Preview Storytelling is a surprisingly flexible art form that pulls elements, techniques, and people from other contexts in the performing arts world. One of the exciting things about the National Storytelling Festival is how it celebrates so many different approaches to the simple act of sharing a story. ISC’s featured tellers have included hybrid artists like trained mimes and dancers, poets, and musicians. The line between music and story has always been especially fluid, and it’s sometimes impossible to differentiate between storytellers who play ..read more

A 2023 National Storytelling Festival Preview The idea to start telling stories came to Mo Reynolds in a dream. Fast asleep, she watched as someone performed on a small stage in front of a black background. She woke up and knew she wanted to try it. Reynolds had been born and raised in the American South, but had somehow missed that storytelling was a thing that other people were doing. After her auspicious dream, she started a YouTube channel under the vague impression that she’d invented a new form. At the time, she was working as a children’s librarian in Montana, so she had a collect ..read more

Included in your Festival ticket, this one-of-a-kind concert features storytellers from across the country. It’s a great opportunity to hear new talent!  April Armstrong  Award-winning storyteller April Armstrong weaves melodies and words into her multi-cultural folktales, including African-American and Latino stories. She has performed for the National Association of Black Storytellers’ (NABS) Conference, The National Storytelling Network Conference, the Beaver Tales Storytelling Festival, the Connecticut Storytelling Festival, Hudson River Clearwater, and for schools in Jamaica and ..read more

  The International Storytelling Center is happy to present the following three recipients with tickets to the National Storytelling Festival, Yarnspinners Party, and a travel/lodging stipend. Michael Cover Jennifer Klee Stacy Parish   We are also happy to present the following three recipients with registration for a National Storytelling Festival Workshop, courtesy of the Merle Davis Story Listener Fund. Nancy Milbourne Liza Newell Jan Taylor The post Congratulations to the 2023 Merle Davis Story Listener Fund Scholarship Recipients! first appeared on International Storytelli ..read more