2008 MESA STORYTELLING FESTIVAL
OCTOBER 23 - 25, 2008

The Valley’s largest storytelling event celebrates the art of storytelling, a love of reading, and the power of the imagination!  Arizona, Youth, and Featured talent gather to share a wide array of stories from folk tales to tall tales, to tales from all over the globe. Following last year's record attendance and sold out concerts, the Storytelling Festival has been extended to three days.  The FREE festival on Saturday includes food and vendor booths, live music and stories from Arizona and Youth tellers.  The Featured tellers will all appear indoors on the beautiful stages at Mesa Arts Center.

STORYTELLERS INCLUDE:
Sheila Kay Adams
Charlotte Blake-Alston
Donald Davis

Olga Loya
Sandy Oglesby
Antonio Sacre
Willy Claflin
Kala Jojo

THE MESA STORYTELLING FESTIVAL IS GROWING!
The three-day festival will feature five storytelling concerts, including a new late-night concert for adults.  For the first time, featured tellers will be offering workshops on Thursday and Friday afternoon.

PRICES:

All workshops are free when you present a ticket for that evening's story concert.  Otherwise, workshops are $5.
All of the concerts are $11 per person.

Festival is FREE on Saturday from 10am-6pm.

CONCERTS:

Thursday

The Best of the West, 7:00PM
Thursday night's concert will feature six of the best storytellers from Arizona and California.  Storytellers include: Sean Buvala, Willy Claflin, Dustin Loehr, Olga Loya and LynnAnn Wojciechowicz.

Friday
Tried and True, 3:00PM
Friday afternoon features a new concert filled with stories by and for those with plenty of life experience.

The Teller's Treasures, 7:00PM
On Friday night, hear favorites from featured tellers Willy Clafin, Kala Jojo, Olga Loya, and Sandy Oglesby.  Storyteller Liz Warren is the emcee.

Stories from the Edge, 10:00PM
Stick around for late night stories with adult themes from Antonio Sacre and others.

Saturday
Humor Us, 7:00PM
Don Doyle is the emcee for the festival's annual Saturday night laugh-fest. Featuring Sheila Kay Adams, Charlotte Blake-Alston, Donald Davis and Antonio Sacre.

WORKSHOPS:

Thursday
Rhythm This and Melody That
3:15PM, Drama Studio
Charlotte Blake-Alston
Rhythm has always been an essential element in African and African-American folk traditions including storytelling.

If You Can Talk... You Can Write
4:15PM, Drama Studio
Donald Davis
What is the best way to help children learn to read and write?  Encourage them to tell stories!

Storytelling for the Wee Ones

3:15PM, Acting Studio

Sandy Oglesby

How do you engage the youngest listeners with a story?  The secret is selecting storytelling topics that captivate them and keep their attention.

Let's Move to Words, Music and Song
4:30PM, Acting Studio
Kala Jojo

Friday

Adult Stories- Where and When

4:45PM, Acting Studio

Antonio Sacre

Sing Me A Story
4:45PM, Drama Studio

Sheila Kay Adams and Willy Claflin

Life-long balladeers Sheila Kay Adams and Willy Claflin celebrate the traditional narrative ballad in this workshop/concert of story-songs.

Saturday

Stories Alive!

Stories, books and crafts for families

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SCHEDULE OF THE MESA STORYTELLING FESTIVAL!