By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
For 18 years now, our dear burg has had multiple seasoned ‘tellers treat us to tales and tunes of all kinds as part of the Athens Storytelling Festival. Mind you, some of these folks are Emmy-Award winners, children’s book award winners, and music industry award winners, and they all have something in common: Athens is one of their favorite stops on the circuit. Why? Because of how we have showered them with love and made them family.
Recently, I spoke with Leah Oakley, who is the new president of the Athens Storytelling Festival. She happens to be a teller herself, having personally studied under the tutelage of veteran teller, Donald Davis. Leah recently retired as a bookkeeper for our public schools, and is one of many people who works tirelessly to give “kids of all ages” the opportunity to experience expert delivery of ‘magination, music, and mirth. The festival will be held once more on the Athens State University Campus, and there are free events in addition to “School Days,” the opportunity for local students (whether public, private, or homeschool) to attend special sessions designed just for them, and our local legislators have made it possible for them to do so at no charge. We are the only city in the nation that does this, and we thank our representatives and local sponsors who make it possible for kids to hear life lessons that are laugh-out-loud funny.
Before we moved to a discussion of this year’s line-up of tellers, Leah gave the basic run-down of the schedule:
Monday, October 7 at 6 p.m.
Student ‘Teller Competition to be held at Athens-Limestone Public Library. The winners will be able to compete for a chance to tell at the Thursday, October 24th session to be held in the big tent.
Monday, Oct 21 at 5-7:30 p.m.
Donald Davis will be presenting his most excellent workshop entitled, “Connecting Teachers and Students through Stories.” Dinner will be served in Sandridge Hall from 5 -6 p.m., and those reservations are now closed. However, the workshop that will be held in McCandless Hall is free and open to the public.
Tuesday-Thursday, October 22 – October 24
School Days — Kids from throughout Limestone County will attend all three days, and I can say from experience that this is my favorite event. To watch students actually be engaged with something other than a smartphone is refreshing, and watching them laugh through listening and imagining is delightful. Donald Davis, Carol Cain, Tim Lowry and Josh Goforth will be the ‘tellers for School Days
Tuesday Night-6:30 p.m.
Student ‘Teller Showcase is the opportunity for the young ‘tellers to trot out their talent under the big tent. Everyone is invited, and admission is free.
Thursday Night 7:30 p.m.
The Olio, which in the food world means a highly spiced stew, or it can also mean a miscellaneous collection of things, is the night in which all of the tellers give a “sampling of their wares,” in preparation for the Friday and Saturday events. The winners of the student competition will also tell their stories.
Friday-Saturday 9 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
The festival in full swing! At 9:15pm on Friday night, you can attend the Ghost Walk, which will be conducted around the Athens State University campus. Ticket holders are free, all others are $10. Athens State students will be dressed in character. This is NOT the same event as Tourism’s Haunts Walk.
The ‘Tellers
Donald Davis
During his twenty-five-year career as a United Methodist Minister, Davis began to use stories more and more. He was also asked to begin performing at festivals and in other settings until he retired from the church to tell stories full time. The author of eighteen books and more than forty original recordings, Davis is the recipient of both the Circle of Excellence and the Lifetime Achievement Awards from the National Storytelling Network.
Josh Goforth
Josh hails from Madison, AL. He could be described as the festival’s “Hometown Boy Makes Good,” and is a musical prodigy as well as an outstanding ‘teller. He started playing in church at the age of four, plays ten instruments, and I am told that he and Michael Reno Harrell have teamed up to do an original presentation for this festival.
Michael Reno Harrell
Michael’s natural knack for storytelling, in print, song, and spoken word, has earned him praise from not only the music community but from the literary and storytelling worlds as well. Along with his performances, Michael often conducts workshops in songwriting and storytelling, and we are looking forward to whatever he and Josh have cooked up for us.
Carol Cain
Carol Cain is from a big family and a small town, which both give her plenty to talk about! For the past 28 years, she has brought “Rosie the Riveter” to life, and has performed on stage, radio, and television. Carol is also no stranger to museums, schools, churches, senior centers, and libraries throughout the Southeast.
Tim Lowry
Audiences across the country enjoy storyteller Tim Lowry, as he mixes stories from American History with a variety of folktales and personal narrative. The award-winning recording artist and author has performed on television and in hundreds of appearances nationwide.
When he is not on the road, he makes his home in Summerville, South Carolina, and does a special version of Charles Dickens’s Christmas Carol.
Reverend Robert B. Jones, Sr.
The wait is OVER! Athens Storytelling Festival is pleased to welcome Rev. Robert B. Jones, Sr. to our stage in 2024. He is a nationally known ‘teller, as well as a fine blues musician. In addition to his work on the Main Stage, Robert loves to take interactive storytelling programs into area schools, and like Donald Davis, illustrates his sermons with stories.
There you have it, ladies and gentlemen! The 2024 Athens Storytelling Festival is almost here, and info as well as ticket purchases are at athensstorytellingfestival.com. See you there!
By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
December 20, 2024
