Powellswood Storytelling Donald Davis entertains in the Woodland Garden[/caption]
Rebecca Chamberlain explains. “There was one moment that I can’t forget. Angela Lloyd was telling one of Richard Kennedy’s stories, along with a soulful song she wrote to accompany it. Throughout her performance, a beautiful dragonfly perched on a large stalk behind her, occasionally circling in the light and returning to rest behind her. The story—about constant change and transformation of life—was meaningful on its own, but having the flowers, light and dragonfly move in and out of the narrative gave it magical significance… It felt as grounded and real as life can be.â€
The goal of the festival, scheduled for July 21-22 this year, is to leave the audience feeling uplifted. 2017’s featured tellers embody this purpose. Donald Davis will share stories from his forty-plus books and CDs including his latest, Tales from a Free-Range Childhood. MaryGay Ducey, who has been praised for her “elegant, witty, and deeply moving†stories, leaves audiences feeling hopeful. Linda Gorham’s performances are filled with surprising twists, unconventional humor, and “sophisticated attitude.†Bill Harley, a Grammy Award winner and NPR commentator, excites audiences of all ages with his wildly funny songs and imaginative stories. Antonio Sacre, a bilingual teller, draws inspiration from the traditions of his Cuban father and Irish-American Mother.
Honoring the knowledge that everyone wants to be heard when they speak, the festival schedule includes workshops which allow participants to learn that little something extra that really gets people listening. Workshops run Friday from 9:00 a.m.to 3:00 p.m. Master tellers provide tips of the trade and coaching in the art of telling a great story. Workshop content is relevant to many professional paths, from non-profit administrators looking to hone their skill in telling the stories of their organizations to educators working on perfecting their content presentation. Bill Harley’s workshop “The Power of Story†is from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. MaryGay Ducey’s workshop “Risk and Roses: Stories in Service to Social Change†runs from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Donald Davis’s Personal and Family Story Intensive is from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The intensive with Davis is limited to ten participants and sells out each year so early registration is recommended.
Friday’s “A Trio of Tellers†provides an introduction to the festival experience with a short family-focused program from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Friday’s Free Children’s Program is designed to entertain school-aged children in summer camp programs or daycares with performances selected specifically for them. The short program is followed by a brief tour of the garden. Sessions available at 9:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m., and 1:00 p.m. (Groups must pre-register by email at admin@powellswood.org.)
The full lineup of tellers performs Saturday, with seven jam-packed hours of riveting performances. Tellers rotate among the three festival tents to provide all attendees with a sampling of their unique telling style. Gates open at 9:00 a.m., telling from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
You have a lot of options for having fun and creating lasting memories this summer. The Festival could be a great one!
