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Posted by: Kim_Hamilton on 10/15/2014 06:40 PM Updated by: Kim_Hamilton on 10/15/2014 06:42 PM
Expires: 01/01/2019 12:00 AM
:



Mother Lode Storytelling Guild Welcomes the Public to "The Sierra Story Winds" Evening Storytelling Concert!

Murphys, CA...The Mother Lode Storytelling Guild welcomes the public to the Sierra Story Winds evening storytelling concert, featuring Grammy-Nominated artist Milbre Burch. Stories will flow this coming Saturday, October 18th, beginning at 7pm, at the First Congregational Church of Murphys, 509 Algiers St. Concert tickets are $12, and doors open at 6:30pm....



The Saturday night concert is one of three public performances being held during “Sierra Story Winds: Sierra Nevada Storytellers' Retreat,” which received the 2014 Pacific Spotlight Award from the National Storytelling Network. “One goal of this retreat is to give our local area a healthy glimpse of the Art of Storytelling, and so we planned these great public events,” says B.Z. Smith, retreat director and president of the Mother Lode Storytelling Guild. “Milbre Burch provides a rich opportunity for all of us to experience storytelling at its finest.”

Dr. Milbre Burch is widely recognized as one of the strongest storytelling performers in the world, and has been inducted into the National Storytelling Network Oracle Award's “Circle of Excellence,” which is an honor reserved for only the most influential storytellers. Burch has toured internationally, and is deeply respected for her work in the storytelling community. “The first time I heard Milbre tell stories I was drawn in to her power,” says Smith. “Since then I have felt personally nurtured and strengthened by her words every time I've seen her.”

“Burch has an amazing gift to choose the perfect tale, and tell it with impeccable grace and elegance,” says Cynthia Restivo, a local storyteller who serves on the retreat committee and will also be the emcee for Saturday night's event. “She gently holds entire audiences from 2 in a small room to 2000 in a huge concert hall. Her stories provide deep sustenance for anyone's soul.”

While still touring extensively throughout the nation and Europe, Burch also teaches in the Theatre Department at The University of Missouri in Columbia, MO. Her classes in spoken word performance and story analysis are very popular. Smith notes, “Milbre is flying home immediately from 'Sierra Story Winds' because she teaches on Monday!” In addition, she has written several award-winning plays and monologues, and has faired well in the Kennedy Center's annual short play competitions, including The American College Play Festival. Last October Burch was featured at the 2013 National Storytelling Festival where she presented a performance piece, based on her doctorate research, to a packed house at the International Storytelling Center's theatre: “Changing Skins: Folktales about Gender, Identity and Humanity.”

Joining Burch on Friday night will be nationally-acclaimed storyteller Steven Henegar, who is well-known for his folksy, laid-back style of telling. “Steven has an easy way with words, and manages to capture the most precious moments in a life,” says Smith. “Everyone will enjoy his light-hearted approach, but he'll still take us deep into our hearts.” Henegar, who lives in Salem, Oregon, also serves on the Board of Directors of the National Storytelling Network (NSN) as the Liaison for the Pacific States' Region. During the weekend retreat Henegar and Smith, who serves as NSN Liaison for the Sierra Nevada, will host a round-up session, designed to connect storytellers from many walks of life. “We want people to leave this retreat with a true sense of what 'networking' means; to have real-life contacts, exchange of ideas and resources, and new collegial friendships,” Henegar explains.

“The Sierra Story Winds” Retreat takes place in Murphys this weekend with workshops and coaching sessions for regional storytellers. “This is our first such gathering,” says Colleen Dolan, co-founder of the Mother Lode Storytelling Guild. “Our workshop sessions are now all filled up. But we urge people to catch our three public performances to get a taste of what this 'storytelling thing' is all about.”

In addition to the Milbre Burch concert, there are two other public performances. On Friday evening, October 17th, audiences can attend the first “Sierra Story Winds' Story Slam,” a contest where partcipants tell original stories based on the principles of “Murphy's Law:” If things can fall apart, they most certainly will. The free “Story Slam” begins at 7pm, in Murphys' Old Schoolhouse, 65 Jones St., Murphys. It is presented by Gold Country Roasters and the Murphys' Business Association. Then on Sunday afternoon from 1pm to 2:30pm children and parents can enjoy “The Mother Lode Tale-Tellers' Medley,” a family storytelling concert, sponsored by Umpqua Bank. The event will be held at the First Congregational Church, 509 Algiers St., Murphys, and will feature folksinger/storyteller Bill Roberson, storytellers Cynthia Restivo, Colleen Dolan and Claudia Tonge. B.Z. Smith will serve as emcee and storyteller. Tickets are $5 for ages 3 and up. Tickets are available at Sustenance Books in Murphys, Mountain Bookshop in Sonora, and Charley's Books in Jamestown.

Throughout all three concert events, The Mother Lode Storytelling Guild will host an opportunity drawing with a list of high quality gift items available. “We've organized four extraordinary gift baskets, says committee member and fund raising chairperson Charley Marangio. “We have a special gift basket, featuring items from Murphys, and two others that highlight Sonora and Jamestown. Plus, we a have another gift basket especially for families.” In addition, two quilts will be given away. One is a patchwork lap quilt, created by storyteller Donna Porter and entitled “Taste of the Mother Lode,” that depicts life in the Sierra. The other is an exquisite quilted wall art piece, created by the “Goatanglers” of Murphys, and inspired by the retreat's logo design and an idea from Barbaranne Zem. This quilt is based on an art discipline called ZenTangling, an approach that explores creation of image as a form of intentional meditation, drawing on artistic intuition where the artist creates design in the moment. Proceeds from the concerts and the opportunity drawings will benefit the Mother Lode Storytelling Guild's future activities, the National Storytelling Network (a 501c3 nonprofit), and the First Congregational Church's Community Needs Fund.

For more information on the retreat and its concerts, contact B.Z. Smith at 209.532.7697 or visit www.sierranevadastorytelling.org/retreat.html. “Just come,” says Smith. “You'll be glad you did!”


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