Wednesday, February 28, 2001

By MICHAEL BOYLAN
mboylan@TheCitizenNews.com

Storytelling is an art form and nobody knows this better than the organizers and performers at the Azalea Storytelling Festival.

The festival has had the best storytellers in the nation over the last four years and this year will be no different, with a Grammy Award winner and a national television radio host among the six featured guests.

The festival, in the Callaway Auditorium at LaGrange College, will feature Jane "Miss Jane" Cunningham, Donald Davis, David Holt, Nancy Kavanaugh, Erich Litwin and Barbara McBride-Smith.

Davis tells stories of growing up in the Southern Appalachian mountains. He is a master storyteller, author, recording artist and ordained minister. He spends 300 days a year on the road away from his home in Ocracoke Island, N.C., and is an author of eight books and numerous audio books.

McBride-Smith began her storytelling career as a librarian. She is known for an updated mythology. "Greek Myths, Western Style" puts a "Texas twist" on ancient tales while preserving the essential elements of the original myths.

Cunningham's stories deal with growing up in Mississippi. She specializes in legends and folk tales that were told on long childhood rides in the country.

Litwin is a respected musician and storyteller, weaving both forms together. He specializes in "interactive" experiences with young audiences, combining folk tales with blues, country and children's music. Kavanaugh's work as a teacher, writer and storyteller spans 20 years. Her fascination with oral performance has led her to stories of ancient and modern women.

Holt is most likely the most famous of all artists featured this year. He is familiar to many as the host of National Public Radio's "Riverwalk" program, host of Public Broadcasting's "Folkways" series and as the host of The National Network's "Fire on the Mountain" and "Celebration Express."

He also is the founder of the Appalachian Music Program at Warren Wilson College in Swannonoa, N.C., and can play 10 musical instruments. He is a Grammy Award winner and was named to Esquire magazine's register of men and women who are changing America as "The Best New Generation."

The storytelling festival begins Friday, March 2 with registration at 5:30 p.m. A light supper and storytelling sampler begins at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 3, registration begins at 9 a.m. Saturday's first concert begins at 10 a.m. and features Davis, McBride-Smith and Holt. After a break for lunch from noon to 2 p.m., conversations with the storytellers will begin.

The afternoon concert featuring Cunningham, Litwin and Kavanaugh will begin at 3:30 p.m. The evening concert begins at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, sacred storytelling and a sing-a-long begins at 9 a.m. and lasts until noon.

Tickets are $30 for the full festival, $15 for Friday night, $20 for Saturday and Sunday, $10 for Saturday morning and $5 for individual concerts. For ticket reservations or information, phone LaGrange College at 706-880-8276.

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