PORT ANGELES — Ten storytellers will weave their magic for listeners this weekend, sharing stories and tales that bridge cultures and traditions at the 17th annual Forest Storytelling Festival.
Their stories will begin to unfold today at 7:30 p.m. at Peninsula College’s Little Theater, 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd.
The festival celebrates the tradition of storytelling, an art that combines theater and literature, with performances by six internationally known storytellers as well as four Olympic Peninsula artists.
A full weekend pass to the festival costs $75, and individual events cost $12 to $20. Children ages 10 to 16 and Peninsula College students pay half-price.
Free events
Two events will be free and open to the public.
On Saturday, the Open Mic Story Swap begins at 12:15 p.m.
Some storytellers, including one of this year’s featured artists, Ingrid Nixon, got their start during open mic events, said Cherie Trebon, Forest Storytelling Festival director.
A Concert of Inspirational Stories at 10 a.m. Sunday will also be free to the public.
Back from verge of death
The art of storytelling was on the verge of death in the early 1990s.
“If you had asked me 20 years ago, I would have said yes, storytelling is endangered,” Trebon said.
“Since then, there has been a resurgence in interest in storytelling,” she said.
There is still sometimes a struggle between storytellers and the modern electronic world, she added, saying that it is difficult to get young people to experience storytelling events for the first time.
Some individual artists have posted their stories to video-sharing websites such as YouTube.com, and groups, such as the Seattle Storytellers Guild, post an audio file featuring one of their storytellers on group websites, she said.
A recent event at Peninsula College, which many students were required to attend for class credit, was a major success, she said.
Many of the students walked in with little interest in storytelling but left with enthusiasm for the art, she said.
The festival always opens with an event for area schoolchildren, which is offered this year to home-schoolers, students at Queen of Angels and students at Hamilton Elementary School.
Story People
The Story People of Clallam County started as a guild in 1992 to promote the art of storytelling on the Olympic Peninsula.
Festival Story People performers will include Leslie Slape, Dennis Duncan, Rebecca Hom and George Neiswanger.
Six internationally known storytellers are featured.
■ Charlotte Blake Alston has performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Smithsonian Institution, detention centers and a refugee camp in northern Senegal.
She also was a featured artist at the Presidential Inaugural Festivities in Washington, D.C., and was host of Carnegie Hall’s Family Concert Series.
■ California-born Patrick Ball, a Celtic harp player, tells tales in the Celtic tradition.
He has recorded seven instrumental and three spoken-word albums, which won national awards in both the music and spoken word categories.
■ Michael Reno Harrell is an award-winning songwriter and author from the southern Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina.
He has been a Featured Teller at the National Storytelling Festival and also Teller in Residence at the International Storytelling Center.
■ Port Angeles native Ingrid Nixon’s tales include the epic adventures of Antarctic explorers such as Sir Ernest Shackleton.
She currently lives in interior Alaska, where she leads interpretation and education programs for the National Park Service in Denali National Park.
She has written, hosted and/or narrated numerous films about national parks and won several national awards for her work.
■ Paul “Che Oke’ Ten” Wagner is a member of the Wsaanich (Saanich) tribe of southern Vancouver Island, B.C., and is an ambassador of the traditional songs and stories of his Coast Salish tribal ancestors.
His teachings of the sacred tradition of his people are interwoven with Native American flute and traditional drum songs.
■ An accomplished storyteller, Pat Peterson is a master of ceremonies who encourages and guides performers to bring forth their finest work.
She has told traditional and original tales to audiences of all ages for more than 25 years.
Quilt raffle
A special feature of the festival includes the annual quilt raffle.
This year’s quilt, made and donated by Phyllis Luther, features a log cabin pattern in forest shades of browns, tans and rusts.
A complete schedule is available on The Story People website at www.dancingleaves.com.
For more information, phone Cherie at 360-417-5031 or email forestfest@yahoo.com, or phone Rebecca at 360-866-6308 or email rebhom@baclroadteller@gmail.com.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
