Welcome!

The Northstar Storytelling League is a group of storytellers and listeners who have joined together to form a non-profit organization. Our mission is to promote and support the art of storytelling. The Northstar Storytelling League serves Twin Cities storytellers, listeners and the storytelling community. To learn more about membership, browse our member directory.

September 12, 2008.  7:30 p.m.  Through September 28.
BAD JAZZ returns! in Tickled Pink
Open Eye Figure Theatre, 506 East 24th Street, Minneapolis, MN  55404.

With Kevin Kling, Michael Sommers and Loren Niemi.  Twenty-fifth Anniversary! Conceived on the banks of the Mississippi River in1983, Tickled Pink, serves up the old familiar with three men playing to the best of their abilities, both rare and well done.  An evening of Americana arriving from another time packed with stories, street corner preaching, catfish recipes and bad jazz.  Limited run.  Opens  September 12 playing through Sept 28.  7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, 4:00 p.m. on Sundays.  For info or to order tickets, call 612.874.6338 or go to www.openeyetheatre.org. 

September 13, 2008 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Northstar Storytelling League’s Annual Meeting
Meeting room, St. Paul Public Library – Hamline Midway location, 1558 West Minnehaha Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55104.  651-642-0293.  Maps, Directions & Bus Routes

S is for September.  And Story.  In Abundance.  There are so many things going on in storytelling in September it’s been hard to keep up with them all.  But here is one we want to make sure you attend.    Food, fun and strategic planning!  Plus the convenience of renewing your overdue membership right on site, before rates increase!  What could be more enticing?  Don’t know if your membership is overdue?  Don’t worry - we do!  We just haven’t had time to nag you!   So come help us be community.  Yeah, there’s the usual annual meeting stuff.  There’s also theater games courtesy of Past President Katie Knutson.  And beverages and snackies courtesy of Chefs Bill Eisenmann and Pam Schweitzer.  When the meeting is done, we hope folks will want to socialize a bit more, go out to dinner, and then check out Stories of the Heart at 7:00 p.m. at Peace Lutheran Church, or the second night of Bad Jazz at Open Eye Theater. 
 
Plus here’s a bonus feature:  If you’re a Northstar member, come to the annual meeting and get a $5 discount over the normal member discount for the Northstar sponsored workshop on Telling Personal Stories by Elizabeth Ellis at the Black Forest Inn on September 15, which she has agreed to do for us before her gig at Two Chairs Telling with Nothando Zulu on September 16.   Not a member yet?  Come anyway and check us out!  RSVP to info@northstarstorytelling.org, or go directly to the Evite and add your name to the mix.   
 
S is for September.  And Story.  In Abundance! 
  

September 13, 2008 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. 
Stories From the Heart presents “U-turns:  Stories about path changing events.”  
Peace Lutheran Church, Lauderdale, 1744 Walnut Street, Lauderdale, MN 55113.  Directions.  

Storytellers Tina Rohde, Gene Van Massenhove, Duke Addicks, and David Greenlund.  Hosted by Bill Eisenmann.  There’s a reason most highways prohibit U-turns; they are scary, unpredictable and can cause serious accidents. But what about the times when life throws us 180 degrees in the opposite direction? Our storytellers will bring insight and humor to life’s U-turns. 

Stories from the Heart is still looking for tellers for the 2008-09 season.  “Stories from the Heart” is a nondenominational venue sponsored by Northstar which encourages the exploration of the mysterious and spiritual nature of life. We challenge both audience and tellers alike to consider the faith journey; how our paths are so alike and yet so very unique. What better way to explore, share and celebrate the mysteries of our hearts than through story?  We will be sharing stories at Peace Lutheran Church in Lauderdale (close to the fairgrounds) on Saturdays, Sept. 13th, December 6th, March 7, 2009 and June 6, 2009 from 7:00-9:00.  The remaining themes for this quarterly venue are as follows:  December 6, “A Home Within.”  March 7, 2009, “Rebirth.”  June 6, 2009, “Shalom” (Stories of war and peace).  We are looking for featured tellers to tell stories of about 10-15 minutes in length which speak to the theme of the evening. Each evening will also include an open mic portion where anyone may share a 5-7 minute story. Featured tellers share the tip jar.  If you would like to tell at one of the “Stories From the Heart” concerts contact Pam Schweitzer at pls [at] isp.com, or call 651-487-3376.    

For more storytelling events in the Twin Cities, click here.

 

Listen the MPR’s latest Story Slam, ”Taking Sides”

Recorded at the Minnesota Public Radio booth on August 23, broadcast August 24, 2008. The final broadcast version of the Slam features Northstar storyteller Diego Vasquez, as well as Curt Lund, Katherine Glover, Linda Lee, Gabe Heller, Dawn Brodey,  Holly Davis, Allegra Lingo and Sarah Martin, along with new songs from Jeff Horwich and The Smarts.  Download the MP3 of the show.  (help with downloading).  Click here for background and suggestions for preparing a story for In the Loop’s Story slams.  

Listen to other Northstar tellers…

 

NEW REVIEW:

Fearless Girls, Wise Women and Beloved Sisters:  Heroines in Folktales from Around the World.  Edited by Kathleen Regan.  Reviewed by Nan Montgomery. 

Go to Reviews

Have you read a storytelling book, or listened to a CD or tape, that you are particularly impressed with? Share your impressions with the rest of us by sending a review of under 750 words to info@northstarstorytelling.org . Please include the name of the publisher, the ISBN number and a phone number to contact the publisher if provided. If you are an author and/or performer who would like a book, CD, or tape considered for review, please send a complimentary copy of your materials to Northstar Storytelling League, P. O. Box 581154, Minneapolis, MN 55458-1154.