Northstar Tellers Are In the Loop
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Click here for background and suggestions for preparing a story for In the Loop’s Story slams.
August 23, 2008, “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)
August 3, 2008, “Tightening the Belt.”
Listen to Northstar storyteller Vickijoan Keck on MPR’s In the Loop story slam, ”Tightening the Belt” at the Bedlam Theater in Minneapolis. In addition to our Vicki, the broadcast features stories from Gabe Heller, Rick Burgsteiner, Lucie Amundsen, Dave Mondy, Cindy Davis, Joseph Scrimshaw, and Allan Staples. Download (or play) the MP3 (help with downloading).
May 4, 2008, ‘Achilles’ Heel.”
Listen to Northstar storyteller Kathleen Westgard on MPR’s In the Loop story slam, ”Achilles’ Heel.” Other storytellers featured include Laura Bidgood, Lucie Amundsen, Bobby Wilson, Sarah Martin, Anton Jones, and Gabe Heller. Stream it.
February 29, 2008, ”Payback.”
Northstar storyteller Nancy Donoval is featured along with Storytellers brought their A-Game, with tales from the political to the personal, raucus to heart-rending. Features stories from Mike Fotis, Amy Salloway, Talee Vang, Katherine Glover, Gabe Heller, Kate Mudge, and Lane McKiernan. With special appearances by a witch, a kidney, a Senate candidate, and Alanis Morissette. Stream the show (RealPlayer) . Northstar storyteller Vickijoan Keck is featured in Part II, along with Allison Broeren, Curt Lund, Nanci Oleson, Allegra Lingo, Lucie Amundsen, and Dave Mondy. (Stream).
October 26, 2007 - ”Disguise”
More than a dozen storytellers riffing on the topic at the Suburban World Theater, including Northstar’s own Vickijoan Keck. Stream it (RealPlayer) .
September 23, 2007 - “Losing”
Recorded live at the Bryant Lake Bowl. Storytellers cut lose on the theme of “losing.” Featuring Northstar storyteller Nancy Donoval, as well as Matt Peiken, Dawn Brody, Sam Osterhout, Dave Mondy, and Lorena Duarte. Stream it (RealPlayer) .
July 21, 2007 - “Escape”
The first Story Slam at the Bryant Lake Bowl theater in Minneapolis. People brought an amazing and surprising set of stories, from hilarious to melancholy to just plain creepy. Includes Northstar Tellers Nancy Donoval and Dwight Wilcox, as well as Lucie Amundson, Sha Cage, Bill Gurnon, Colleen Kruse, Linda Lee, Dave Mondy and Allan Staples. Stream : 32k (RealPlayer).
For more about Story Slam, or to download directly from the host site, visit www.mpr.org/storyslam. And while you are there, tell Jeff and Sanden and the rest of the In the Loop crew how much you like this new platform for storytelling in the Twin Cities!
World Storytelling Day
Listen to featured storytellers at our March 8th World Storytelling Day Prequel at JavaJack’s. The theme of World Storytelling Day for 2008 was dreams, and each of our tellers – Larry Johnson, Diego Vázquez, Phuoc Thi-Minh Tran and Elaine Wynne – have a different take on the American dream. (Click the button to listen or download, depending on your computer’s settings)
Larry Johnson tells of exploding bombs and bicycle tires, and his dream of peace. (14:05)
Elaine Wynne dreams of dancing. (12:04)
Diego Vázquez talks about fences and freedom. (8:14)
Phuoc Thi-Minh Tran dreams we might someday be able to pronounce her name. (16:12)
Fresh Air Radio Storytelling: International Women’s Day
Listen to Northstar Storytellers featured in two programs on air during KFAI’s 24 hour programming for International Women’s Day. Go to www.kfai.org/archive/03/8/2008 and click on Trickster Daughter/Trickster Mom to hear Dorothy Cleveland, Ann Reay will Miranda George with three musicians, Linda Littrell, Will Agar and Mary Stoyke in a half hour of storytelling and music. (For more music by Linda, Will and Mary, go to www.mnartists.org/work.) Farther down, you can click on My War: From Bismarck to Britain and Back to hear Dorothy Cleveland, Ann Reay and Sara Boyle Trautner present the true story of a war time diary found along with 79 letters home from service abroad. A baby boomer discovers, in their own words, the story of her mother and grandmother’s loss, service and triumph. This is the program presented at Northstar’s Tellabration! in 2006 and expanded for the Northlands Fringe in 2007. It will be featured in 2008’s Fringe Festival in Minneapolis. KFAI is an FM station located in Minneapolis at 90.3 and in St. Paul at 106.7.
Salty Stories from a Sweet Spot
The Northstar Storytelling League hosts an evening of tales once a month at Java Jack’s cafe in South Minneapolis. The first hour features a trio of professional tellers and their host. The second hour is an open mic. This month’s host was Rose Arrowsmith DeCoux. The featured performers were Heatherlyn, Sara Boyle Trautner, and Noel Labine, and we bring to you a piece from each of them courtesy of City Pages reporter Ward Rubrecht: (Click the button to listen or download, depending on your computer’s settings)
A story of love and salt, told by Rose Arrowsmith DeCoux. (2:57)
An original song called “Home With You,” by Heatherlyn. (4:24)
A story of a wedding ring and a very large fish, from Sara Boyle Trautner. (16:29)
A story called “Lovebirds,” told by Noel Labine. (11:28)
“Tales from the Edge” at Tellabration!™ 2007
Northstar’s Tellabration!, held annually at Open Book, celebrates traditional and contemporary storytellers as well as crossover artists who tell stories in a variety of genres and media. In the “Tales from the Edge” showcase, hosted by Tom Cassidy, Leigh Herrick reads “Promises,” a poem dedicated to, and written in memory of, the poet June Jordan. Text and notes for the poem are available on Unlikely Stories.
Tellabration! is a trademarked program of the National Storytelling Network, locally produced by Northstar Storytelling League.
See our members in action!
View photos taken by Northstar photographer, Ken Johnson, click here. See Northstar and other storytellers at the 2007 Tellabration! by clicking here.