Next Kansas City road trip concert: former Walmart, now Harmony Christian Church

Georgetown, Ky is a pretty town, and we pulled into the Harmony Christian Church parking oohing and aahing at everything we'd seen. We were, however, totally unprepared for the enormity of what this congregation has accomplished with an unwanted big-box-store space.

Instead of knocking the plain, concrete block building down, church members utilized what was there - good location, solid bones and plenty of space. With everything from a coffee bar in the huge foyer, to a school to car garage bays kept to service cars in the back, this multi-purpose building has been converted with utility and grace in mind.

Did I mention the kitchen? Our host and emcee for the concert, storyteller Don "Buck" Creacy, met us at the doors, ushered us into the spacious galley kitchen and served up incredible pulled pork, baked beans, broccoli slaw and his own handmade yeast rolls for supper. Our pizza from earlier in the day long gone from hours of driving, we were famished, and went to work with serious intent on this feast. How we were able to perform an hour later is still in question, but we did, and with pleasure.

A nice crowd of eager listeners attended that night, including storyteller Mary Hamilton, and her husband Charles. Some who were there had never been to a storytelling concert and came out of curiosity; they left eager to hear more as our story-seeds began to take root, and grow in their hearts and minds. This intended result was a part of what inspired several of us to plan this journey, as the notion of planting story-seeds along our path through four states was a significant part of the mission.

Speaking of inspiration: while we raised funds for the trip, and performed "free," we asked each venue to provide a meal for the seven of us.  While not everyone went as far as Buck and his church did, all did what they could, including taking up love offerings on our behalf. As a result, we got to know the people for whom we performed, and made fast friends everywhere we went, listening to their stories as we shared the blessing of a shared meal.

Highlights from our trip journal - Corbin, KY

As mentioned in last weeks' post, Corbin, KY was the ideal lift-off for our storytelling journey. Empty with the exception of a barebones staff and those directing the summer school program; spruced up for the beginning of school, floors shiny with new wax, walls freshly painted, and with sage slogans decorating the walls, the small school welcomed us with arms opened wide. Those clean walls and floors echoed when we first entered, as summer's students were still on a field trip when our energy expanded into their library.

In my experience, school libraries are almost always special places. Not only are their shelves filled with ideas and information; the surroundings nurture the mind, allowing imagination to take flight. At Corbin Elementary, the library fulfilled its promise to the letter with delightful and cooperative staff as eager to hear our stories as their students.

An interior gazebo proved to be our performance arena as we played and warmed up while awaiting our audience. By the time they arrived, we were stoked and ready, already nurtured by our environs. Our listeners immediately engaged, they sat as close as they dared to the gazebo, something most storytellers welcome. While distance isn't necessarily the enemy for those using voice as their primary communication tool, being up close and personal is highly valued by most of us.

At first, the teachers were nervous as their students grew actively engaged and interactive with what we were doing, but as things progressed, they,  too, merged into the experience with the children, which is always magical for us.

One of our guild troop members, Delanna Reed, PhD from East Tennessee State's storytelling program ascended the platform and before she could speak, the children begged her to sit down. It's a bit unusual for the audience to be demanding like that, but in this case the reason became obvious the moment she entered their space - they wanted to be close to her, see her eyes, and become a part of what she was doing. I can assure you she has never told that story to a more engaged and attentive audience!(Delanna is seated in the middle of the front row.)

And so it was throughout the entire performance as the stories wove their magic, and the storytellers allowed it to happen. Storytellers serve as conduits for what our stories wish to share with listeners, and it takes a certain amount of finesse and skill to be willing to allow this mystical experience to occur. When it does, both listeners and tellers enter into what is called a "liminal" space during the telling. It's almost a spiritual thing, and one reason really good storytellers select their stories with the greatest care.

Taking to the road from Corbin, we were all aware of the honor they had paid us. Yes, we knew our reputation as a premier performance guild preceded us, and yes, we knew the work we had just done was as good as we could make it, but what they gave us was their complete attention and a sweet portion of our hearts. Such a treasure.

Storytelling Journey across mid-America

The much-touted Kansas City Here We Come Road Trip is an accomplished fact, and we’re home after traveling over 2,000 miles to Kansas City, MO and back.      Unfortunately, I was unable to transmit reports during the trip, but this remarkable success story unfolds now and in the following weeks as I reprise the most unusual trip ever undertaken by a storytelling guild.

 Imagine seven disparate people, whose main tie was initially storytelling performance, melding into a cohesive performance troupe. For ten days, we traveled and ate together, sharing motel rooms and personal space, all with one goal – planting story seeds along the path. Breaking new ground in the world of storytelling, we are the first guild in America to undertake such a mammoth journey. Ask any one of us and you’ll find that after the initial discomfort of being so close, our differences became less important as dedication to our goals grew more dear.

 We left Jonesborough, Tennessee’s oldest town, after a raucous send-off by our fellow storytelling friends, sponsors and the local newspaper, the Herald & Tribune. Driving away in a comfortable van loaned to us by the Ford dealer in Erwin, Tennessee, we were in high spirits, eagerly anticipating what lay ahead.

 Beginning at Corbin Elementary School in eastern KY, with each performance came revelation, joy, and confirmation for the journey, as response to our gift of story grew. Met by  enthusiastic staff as eager to hear our stories as their summer school students, we regaled them with tales of wonder and woe, success in the face of certain failure, and the knowledge that dreams can come true.  It was the perfect gig from which to begin our storytelling travels, and we headed towards Georgetown, Kentucky, stoked by their obvious enthusiasm.

 As the week goes on, I will add to this journal, providing anecdotes for those of you who faithfully followed our preparations prior to departure and those who have just now found us.

Saundra Kelley - The Road to Story's Journey

Use of the voice is one of Saundra's favorite things about the oral tradition. Some years ago, engaged in commercial voice-over work, she sought to erase her lyrical Southern accent, but not now. Her voice is compelling, radiating a mesmerizing aura of enchantment. Sharing stories from her extensive repertoire, she tells original Southern Gothic and ghost stories, tales from ancient literature, myths and personal narrative.

Reverence and appreciation for mother earth are a part of every piece she tells or writes. She is the author of three books with more in the hopper, and can be found at www.saundrakelley.com

Jeff Stratton - traveling talk show

Storyteller and humorist Jeff Stratton was practically born in a suitcase, and his tales testify to a broad life experience. His family were government employees, stationed overseas, and while English was a part of his accumulated language collection, it was liberally mixed with a rich blend of the places he had lived. Thus, when the family returned to America to live, he and his brother found it necessary to relearn what should have been their native language just to survive.

As a result of this and Jeff's varied life-experiences, those who hear him find an intriguing lifepath engaged by very few. He's an ex-cop, former teacher, railroad man, world traveler and he's telling tonight at the Jonesborough Storytellers Guild weekly concert at the International Storytelling Center beginning at 7pm.

This is your chance to let me prove what I'm saying about this natural-born showman is the gospel truth... see you there.

Fundraiser Concert at Willow Tree Coffee House and Music Room in Johnson City

		Left to Right: Linda Poland, Libby Tipton, David Claunch, Saundra Kelley, Delanna Reed, Jeff Stratton. Not pictured is Judy Butterfly Farlow   Members of the Jonesborough Storytellers Guild in Concert KANSAS CITY HERE WE COME   Friday, July 17, 7 PM Hosted by Willow Tree Coffee House & Music Room  216 E Main St, Johnson City, TN Suggested Donation $10

 

Delanna Reed - professor and storyteller

Delanna Reed, PhD, a professor in the Masters in Storytelling program at East Tennessee State University, is a long-time performing member of the Jonesborough Storytellers Guild. A native of Texas, she tells not only stories with a western flavor, such as one of our favorites, Silver Heels, but also personal narrative and folk tales. Delanna is a member of the guild's performance troupe heading out to Kansas City July 24th, and will also perform at our fundraising concert July 17 at the Willow Tree Coffee House and Music Room in downtown Johnson City. Located on Main Street, Willow Tree is fast-becoming the go-to place for good food, music, and now, storytelling. A suggested donation of $10 is requested for an evening of entertainment that begins promptly at 7pm.