Trained in physical theatre, GRAMMY-nominee Milbre Burch will offer an intensive on creating characters with stories to tell. She has spent the forty-plus years using research and simple performance techniques to perform the narratives of folks from life, legend and lore, whose lived experiences differ from her own: newly arrived immigrants, the previously unhoused, the bereaved, the imprisoned, the disenfranchised, the saintly, the fossilized, the awe-struck, and the grateful! Join her to explore the use of your body, voice, and heart to share stories that need telling from otherwise-unheard voices, and explore applied uses and ethics of performance.

A GRAMMY-nominated performer, a nationally known touring and teaching artist, a published writer and produced playwright, Milbre Burch is a storyteller in every sense of the word. Also an archivist of the American storytelling revival, she has been featured at festivals across America, in Europe and Asia, and now online.

Take a journey exploring death and life through stories, conversations, music, and other creative practices. Traditional stories serve as the seeds to spark conversations and personal reflections around facing our own death, grief, the fear of dissolution, and how to leave loved ones behind. Join the journey to discover your current feelings and inner state, open difficult conversations, and hopefully uncover a space of stillness and peace to hold whatever storms may come.

Jim Brulé is a transformational storyteller, healer, and end-of-life doula. His international storytelling school, accredited by NSN, has been operating for seven years. Jim serves on the boards of NEST and ASST, and is an interfaith chaplain and integrative therapist in homes for the dying, hospitals, and incarceration facilities.

Fringe Festivals are a global phenomena, with dance, theater, storytelling, comedy, puppetry, and more all happening at once. They are a great way to get your work into the world. This practical, hands-on intensive includes an overview of fringe festivals; how it differs from storytelling festivals; how to apply; what kinds of shows work; how to craft a show for a fringe that will draw an audience; and how to market it. We’ll dig deep into what to expect, how to make it great, and what to do afterwards. Please bring an idea for a show, and some marketing images.

Laura Packer is an award-winning storyteller and author. She has won Best in Fringe in many festivals and is a member of the NSN Circle of Excellence. She has told, taught, coached, and consulted around the world for almost three decades. She believes that challenging times require audacious art.