7:00-7:30pm 

Opening & Welcome Activity

Join us to (re)connect, meet fellow attendees, and hear important conference information.

7:30-8:30pm: Performance

by Adam Booth

A new story about the oldest question: Who am I? The Heron's Journey uses spoken storytelling, quilting, and paper sculpture to tell an allegory filled with magic, challenging opposition, and transformatio. Meet the title character in various forms of self-discovery and take part in giving the story wings.

See Adam Booth’s bio on our Featured Guests page. 

Location: Ballroom B/C (Whipple Roberts) and Live-Streamed Online

9:00 - 10:15am: Keynote

Dare to Create: Ambition Addition, Volition Condition, Tradition Cognition, Position Technician, Rendition Fruition, and Mission Transition

Keynote speaker Adam Booth

Storytelling allows for incredible freedom in the range of style, content, presentation, and venue. Worldwide approaches show this to us. But why does storytelling in America seem to follow a few limited notions of what our art form can be? Adam will discuss beliefs around the idea, look at inspirations from other art forms, and lead a call for greater creativity, exploration, and freedom within our storytelling practices. 

See Adam Booth’s bio on our Featured Guests page. 

Location: Ballroom B/C (Whipple Roberts) and Live-Streamed Online

A Rose by Any Other Name: the Erotic in Stories

Workshop leader Loren Niemi, he/him

We are not talking about porn or cliche. This is about the Erotic as the “spell of the ordinary” – the effect of light and shadow, taste, smell, sound, which suggests intimacy and invites connection. 

Loren Niemi will explore how to find/craft the erotic image in personal and traditional stories and using metaphor as a tool for casting a “spell”. Whether reinvigorating traditional material or exploring personal story, this hands-on workshop is just that – you working your material to enliven the story.

Loren Niemi is an innovative storyteller who has been creating, coaching/directing, performing, producing, teaching and writing about stories that matter with audiences of all ages in urban and rural settings for over 40 years. He was a 2016 recipient of the National Storytelling Network’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Location:  Lear Max. 20 participants

All Levels inclusive

Traditional stories; personal stories; applied storytelling

Joining In: Telling Stories with Audience Participation

Workshop leader Fran Stallings, she/her

Storytelling is more than words! Worldwide, our traditional colleagues often invite listeners to Join In with bodies, voices, and minds. 

Together we will experience a variety of active participation stories that involve all the members of your audience, not just kids, but teens and adults. We'll discuss how, when (and whether) to add participation into a story. Then, to start your own tradition, you'll develop your own Join In version of a short fable.

Fran Stallings began involving listeners in her stories when she had to keep her little brothers ‘from killin' each other’; she has kept on inviting listeners to reinforce verbal/visual imagination by their own gesture and voice. She works nationwide and overseas, leaping language barriers with audience participation. https://www.franstallings.com/

Location: Warner

All Levels inclusive

Traditional stories; applied storytelling

Bring Your Story: Coaching Workshop

Coach Judith Black

Sign up on Friday at the registration table for one of 5 coaching slots, first come, first in. All are welcome to come watch and participate in facilitated feedback as the five individuals are coached by professional storyteller, climate activist, and expert teacher around the world for 40 years, Judith Black. If you sign up for a slot, please bring material you want feedback on.

Judith Black has taught storytelling at Lesley University for 20 years. She’s appeared 14 times at the National Storytelling Festival, and featured from the Montreal Comedy Festival, to the Art Museum of Cape Town, to Hebrew University in Jerusalem, winning storytelling’s most coveted awards. She is a founding member of Sustainable Marblehead, Climate Conversations; Scientists and Storytellers, mother of Solomon and a fanatic organic gardener.

Location: Riverwatch

All Levels inclusive

All storytellers

Fringe Double Feature: “The Sweater” & “A Motorcycle Riding Journey of Empowerment and Triumph”

Back-to-back performances by Andy Davis and Michelle Trieste, each about 40 minutes. Please stay for both performances. 

The Sweater

Andy Davis

A multi-layered story casserole which blends personal narrative, a smidgin of New Hampshire and North American history, and Scottish folklore. Expect 19th century farm life, sled dogs, the Yukon gold rush, apple tree pruning, prodigious snows, frigid temperatures, and an international love story which revolves around…a sweater.

All Audiences

A Motorcycle Riding Journey of Empowerment and Triumph

Michelle Trieste

This 40-min program is about a female motorcycle enthusiast who overcomes doubts and fears to finish a 24-hour race. A story of empowerment and triumph, reminding us that we all have the fire within us to accomplish great things.

All Audiences

Location: Woodbury

Framing Devices and Story Concepts

VIRTUAL TRACK

Workshop leader Cory Howard

What’s in a frame? 

Have a story idea, but can’t figure out how to bring it to life? Feeling stuck working on new stories? Never sure what to tell or where to start? In this hands-on workshop, storyteller Cory Howard will bring joy into the writing process, focusing on reconsidering the way you think about framing devices, points of view, and building creative challenges into your story construction that will help you create your own blueprints for transforming any story you hope to tell into your favorite story.

1:30 - 3:00pm

The Cinematic Storyteller

Workshop leader Adam Booth, he/him

Since the 1890s, the motion picture has grown to be a dominant force in storytelling, yet few oral tellers use the techniques of this medium. Many of us have vivid memories of favorite movie scenes, music, character voices, or even single lines of dialogue – and despite not having seen some of those movies in years, the elements are still fresh in our minds! Wouldn't you want your stories to have such lasting impact? 

This workshop introduces introductory elements of storytelling culled from cinematic techniques. Come prepared to participate and explore how filmic components can be used to enrich, strengthen, and transform our storytelling experiences.

Adam Booth blends traditional mountain folklore, music, and an awareness of contemporary Appalachia to create original, forward-thinking story artistry. He is the 2022 West Virginia Folk Artist of the Year, awarded at the Governor’s Arts Awards. Professional appearances include the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage and the National Storytelling Festival.

Location: Gardner                    Max. 30 participants

Early-Intermediate; Note: this workshop is for those who are already telling stories.

Motivating Change with Storytelling Programs

Workshop leader Lee-Ellen Marvin

What kinds of changes in personal behaviors are needed for health, community strength, and the environment? Can storytelling help motivate change in our everyday lives? What kinds of changes are taking place in our communities that challenge us; and can storytelling make those imposed adjustments easier?

Lee-Ellen Marvin will provide an opportunity to think about how your storytelling can be used to advocate for changes in human behaviors. The session will focus on both the possibilities and the nuts-and-bolts issues in designing effective storytelling programs with clear objectives.

Since 1977, Lee-Ellen Marvin has explored storytelling as a performer, producer, educator, folklorist, and community advocate. She founded Sharing the Fire in 1982. After telling and teaching storytelling to thousands, she earned a PhD in Folklore and Folklife. Lee-Ellen created Story Shifters, a non-competitive storytelling game.

Location:  Lear                                 Max. 30 participants

Intermediate Level

Applied storytelling; all storytellers

Professional Improv Tools for Story Creation and Performance

Workshop leader Karla Huntsman, she/her

Through the use of professional improvisational techniques, this highly interactive workshop will provide tools for beginning and advanced storytellers, teachers, business people, parents, and anyone involved with story to understand and achieve the ‘flow’ state for greater creativity, concentration, and heightened performance levels.

Karla's storytelling is said to have "a strong sense of character and connection with the audience." Her years of performing theater improv inform her work. She has taught storytelling, theatre arts, and communication skills in several universities and has presented conference workshops and presentations in local, regional, and national venues.

Location: Warner

All Levels inclusive

Welcoming the Other

Workshop leader Hears Crow, she/her

In a world increasingly filled with stress for ourselves and our fellow world citizens, we offer a powerful and interactive workshop that inspires an appreciation of and engagement with “the Other,” those with whom we find empathy. 

Consider how to view and interact with people of different backgrounds, spiritual beliefs, and languages. Recognize from the workshop journey that many people face struggles and challenges we know little about. Participants may leave able to identify their personal biases and replace judgment with empathy.

Hears Crow lives in the tradition of the Nanhigganêuck, known today as the Narragansett. For thirty years, she has primarily told Longhouse Tales. She is also an educator, poet, and writer. She is on the faculty of the Transformation Storytelling School, the Vermont State Liason to the NSN, and a Youth Mentor.

Location: Riverwatch Recommended 12 participants

All Levels inclusive

All storytellers; applied storytelling

3:30 - 5:00pm

Story Treasures: Bringing Ancient Tales to Life for Modern Listeners

Workshop leader Heather Forest

Dare to explore some of the oldest tales in the world. Through demonstration, discussion, and playful theatre improvisation, participants will build practical skills in selecting, researching and bringing ancient narratives to life for modern audiences. 

Participants will explore mnemonics (story sequencing), verbal improvisation, compositional forms, evocative description, and ways to develop true-to-life dramatic dialogue. We will examine how ancient stories preserve and transmit cultural values, how universal metaphorical themes emerge in classic tales, and how ancient tales transcend borders and can reflect the commonality of human experience.

Heather Forest is an award-winning storyteller, author, and modern-day bard. Her repertoire of world tales told in a fusion of poetry, prose, original folk music and the sung and spoken word has been featured in theatres, schools, conferences and major storytelling festivals throughout the United States and abroad.

Location: Gardner

All Levels inclusive

Traditional stories; personal stories; historical stories; all storytellers

Dare to Take a New Path with Personal Stories

Workshop leader Carol Birch

This workshop, for storytellers at any level, will provide a novel pathway towards creating personal stories. Using the theme of “Where I’m from” with lists created by poet George Ella Lyon, we will create several free verse narratives. 

Rich with vivid details, this can offer surprising paths into new stories… if we dare! And it’s fun! We will work individually and in small groups to explore details from our lives.

Carol Birch’s books Who Says? and The Whole Story Handbook, along with eight recordings, have earned multiple awards. She’s received two grants from National Endowment for the Humanities, and led five storytelling tours through Ireland, Scotland, and England. Media appearances include ABC's Nightline, CBS' Morning Show and National Public Radio.

Location: Lear

All Levels inclusive

All storytellers

Listening for the Mythology of Our Time – the Ultimate Collaborative Storytelling

Workshop leader Marin Magat, she/her

Cultures all over the world have prophesied this time of his(her)tory when indigenous and feminine consciousness would rebalance masculine culture. As with every new era, humankind’s central mythology will shift. If western culture has been living the King Arthur epic, what is the emerging story that will unite and inspire us? As storytellers and story listeners we have a unique position to listen and bring this story forth. 

This workshop is an opportunity to see storytellers’ work as world-saving, to share what we are already picking up, and to align together to encourage the emergence of this ultimate collaborative story.

For 20 years Marin has listened to prophecies of our time.  Big questions, and our creative response to them, are what her work is about as an artist, creativity coach, and teacher.  A mother, musician, poet, dancer, social entrepreneur, and storyteller, she is often called “brave”, “unique”, and “genuine.”

Location: Warner

All Levels inclusive

All storytellers

Embodied Narrative and Emerging Stories: Finding Voice Through Body

Workshop leader Meghann Perry, she/her

Sometimes, people struggle with verbal expression and finding a way through language to claim their truths and identities. The written or spoken word form of storytelling doesn’t work for everyone. So how do we help them experience the benefits of being seen and heard in the way we know heals deep parts of the soul? 

Embodied Story Work provides alternative forms of storytelling, allowing participants a variety of ways to take small, safe steps forward in self-expression. This workshop will provide the opportunity to experience and explore Embodied Practice as well as a handful of exercises you can implement immediately.

Meghann Perry is an Educator in Storytelling, Theatre, and Recovery Coaching, creating unique learning, growth and performance experiences for diverse audiences. Meghann implemented her Embodied Story Practice for the MA Dept. of Public Health, and created the internationally-renowned Recovery Storytelling workshop with Andrea Lovett. Discover more at www.meghannperry.com.

Location: Riverwatch

All Levels inclusive

Applied storytelling; all storytellers

Fringe: “Becoming Baba Yaga”

Performance by Laura Packer

For Laura, Baba Yaga is far more than a distant folkloric crone, but an honored figure in family tales and a recurring part of Laura's life. Join her for a woven tale featuring Laura, Vasilisa, and the Witch of the Woods herself. Winner of Staff Choice at the 2022 Minnesota Fringe Festival!

Location: Woodbury

Audience: Adults, teens

5:00 - 6:30pm

Curriculum Connections: Origami, Storytelling & Math

VIRTUAL TRACK

Workshop leader Kuniko Yamamoto

Storytelling is a great teaching tool at school. In addition, what if you add a simple paper folding to connect with Math: fractions and geometry for K-12? Amazing fact is students LOVE origami (even grumpy 12th graders!) and your storytelling takes them to a creative learning journey.

I offer you all, in this workshop, a simple origami model to tell a story and to teach fractions and basic geometry. I will show you the model step by step. Yes, it's a hands-on workshop. No worries, no fancy paper needed – just a notebook paper or letter paper. No worries, no fancy skill needed – just be you!

Location: Online 

All Levels inclusive

All storytellers; teachers; applied storytelling

7:15 - 9:00pm

The Olio - STF’s signature juried performance

Emcee ChaChanna Simpson

What is an Olio? In cooking, it’s a stew; in storytelling, it’s a variety of tellers and tales together in one show; and at Sharing the Fire, it is our always rich and simmering Saturday night showcase!

Featured Storytellers (in alphabetical order): April Armstrong, Janel Behm, Mark Binder, Phyllis A Blackstone, Michele Carlo, Jeff Doyle & Joy Kelly Smith.

Location: Ballroom B/C (Whipple Roberts) and Live-Streamed Online

9:00 - 10:30am

Storytelling Using Image Moments

Workshop leader Thea Iberall, she/her

Compelling stories are remembered long after storytellers go home. Come learn about Image moments, an exciting process-centered technique developed by Jack Grapes. We will stretch time so that listeners are on the edge of their seats wanting to know what's going to happen next. Bring a photograph of people doing things outside.

Thea Iberall is ‘a shimmering bridge between heart and mind.’ An inductee into the International Educators Hall of Fame, Thea has taught writing since 2005. Former co-host of Expresso Yourself Coffeehouse, she authored the ecofeminist novel The Swallow and the Nightingale. Member: Northeast Storytellers, Jewish Storytellers of New England.

Location: Gardner                                  Max. 10 participants

All Levels inclusive

Personal stories; applied storytelling

Mining and Crafting Historical Stories for Oral Telling

This workshop will focus on the process for selecting, researching, and crafting historical, family or cultural stories for oral telling. How do you choose a story? How do you gather information? How do you put the pieces together to craft a story? 

Charlotte will draw upon stories from her own repertoire as models and trace the steps from research, to crafting, to telling. Her historical performances include the story of Bessie Coleman, the first American woman to earn an international pilot’s license; Six Triple-Eight, the story of the first all African American WAC unit to serve in Europe during WWII; and Voices in the Landscape, a commissioned horticultural Sound Installation.

See Charlotte Blake Alston’s bio on our Featured Guests page. 

Location: Lear                       Max. 30 participants

Experienced Storytellers

The Art of Leading a Workshop

Workshop leader Jo Radner, she/her

No matter how experienced we are as teachers and workshop leaders, it's helpful to compare notes with colleagues, gather and share tips, find some new ways to engage groups, and avoid the many pitfalls of presenting a lot of material in -– inevitably -– too short a time. 

Jo and others will share some of their favorite techniques for planning ahead, integrating participants, encouraging general discussion, handling small groups, managing time, ending a workshop, and adapting techniques for online meetings. (We'll be busy! and will laugh a lot). At the end, we'll create a group guidebook.

Jo Radner has been studying, teaching, telling, and collecting stories most of her life. After retiring from American University as professor emerita, she returned to Maine as a freelance storyteller and oral historian. She is past president of the American Folklore Society and the National Storytelling Network.

Location: Warner

All Levels inclusive

All storytellers; applied storytelling; storyteller-adjacent

Fringe Double Feature: “For Love’s Sake Only, In Spite of War” & “Stories of Comfort and Joy”

Back-to-back performances by Kathleen Santopietro and Alden Joe Doolittle. Please stay for both performances.

For Love's Sake Only, In Spite of War

Kathleen Santopietro

Love is interrupted by the Civil War and life goes on, just not in the usual way. Two classic stories engage our hearts as we get to know the lovers and unexpected outcomes.

Audience: Adult & Youth

Stories of Comfort and Joy

Alden Joe Doolittle

Join irrepressible storyteller Joe Doolittle in sharing stories that echo Christmas and bring Comfort and Joy to listeners’ ears and hearts. There will be harps and bells, a tale of space, and song, and perhaps a ride on a subway, all of which will stir your memory with gladness.

Location: Riverwatch

Audience: Adult & Youth

Fringe: EARTHSONG: A Celebration of Mother Earth

Performance by Heather Forest

EARTHSONG is a musical monologue about planetary ecology. Through storytelling, science, and original song, this work offers insights into Mother Earth’s cosmological, geological, and anthropological history. A post-show conversation with the audience about storytelling and activism follows.

Location: Woodbury

Audience: storytellers, educators, activists, environmentalists