Jonesborough TN, The International Storytelling Center, April 9, 2016
The International Storytelling Center's vision is becoming a reality through the generous contributions of individuals, corporations, foundations, and government agencies who believe in organization and mission.
National Storytelling Festival 2012
In October, historic Jonesborough, Tenn., celebrated 40 years of storytelling that started in the tiny East Tennessee town and has become an international movement. This report on the storytellers and the National Storytelling Festival features some of the prominent artists who practice the profession — and MTSU alumna Christi Underdown-Dubois, a relative newcomer — as well as the founder of the festival, Jimmy Neil Smith. He conceived the idea of a storytelling festival in a conversation with his students in the early 1970s after listening to comedian Jerry Clower. The first festival was held around a wagon on the courthouse square; today, the National Storytelling Festival features multiple venues in and around Jonesborough. For more information about the event, visit
Storytelling Festival kicks off in Jonesborough
Storytelling Festival kicks off in Jonesborough
Jimmy Neil Smith, founder of International Storytelling Center
Located in historic Jonesborough, Tenn., the International Storytelling Center is one of the few places to experience some of America's best-loved, internationally renowned storytellers.
The 39th annual National Storytelling Festival is scheduled Oct. 7-9, 2011.
Comedian Visits Historic Story Town
Johnson City, TN is about 6 miles away from Jonesborough, TN. Jonesborough is the oldest town in the state and home to the International Storytelling Center. Comedian Ron Placone enjoys visiting the historic town to celebrate the oral tradition of storytelling and performance that eventually lead to stand-up comedy and other art forms. This segment features Ron Placone. This series is meant to serve as a video journal of his life on the road. Footage is direct from his flip-cam, stream of conscious, and at the exact moment. Editing will be little to non-existent, and never at any point does Ron plan to ready himself for the camera...it ain't always glamorous folks!
Seven billion stories, seven billion dreams: Jimmy Neil Smith at TEDxFurmanU
In 1973, Jimmy Neil Smith founded the National Storytelling Festival in the tiny Tennessee town of Jonesborough—the first public event anywhere in the world dedicated exclusively to the celebration of the ancient tradition of storytelling. The event ignited a national, even international, revival of appreciation for collecting, crafting, and sharing stories. Two years later, Smith founded the organization that would become the International Storytelling Center. In 2002, ISC opened in Jonesborough the world's first facility dedicated to storytelling. For over 40 years, Smith has been a prime mover in the advancement of the performance, preservation, and professional practice of storytelling. Retiring as president of ISC in 2012, Smith is now devoting his time to helping people around the world unleash the power of their stories to build a better future and achieve their dreams. His current project is working with the United States Department of State through its Embassy in Madagascar to assist the small African nation of Comoros in building a community storytelling program to enhance the country's quality of life and enrich its infant tourism-development program. Smith lives in Jonesborough, Tennessee.
About TEDx, x = independently organized event
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)
Brigadoon Reborn (Part I): National Storytelling Festival
Video documentary about the forming and performing of culture at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, TN. Created as part of a doctoral dissertation at Arizona State University. All footage filmed within a month following the tragedy known as 9/11.
Jonesborough Home of National Story Telling Headquarter and Festival
We attended the 2014 Festival. As it has been each time we've attended, refreshing and good fun. It is a family event each year, but fosters the art of story telling throughout the year. Make your plans to attend this cultural experienc.
ETSU and Area Community Gathers for 2015 National Storytelling Festival
The National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tenn. is a beloved tradition of the local community and of the ETSU community alike. From local yarns to foreign tales, the stories told at the festival provided attendees with tears, laughter and a whole lot of memories.
Videographer: Katie Parks, East Tennessean
Big Wheel Race @ Quiero Cuento Storytelling Festival
Storyteller Kristin Pedemonti performing her own original story Big Wheel Race with help from fellow Storyteller Rammses Moctezuma.
Available In HD.
Calvin Sneed, PM Magazine, WATE-TV Knoxville: United American Bankruptcy
A University of Tennessee student has come up with a board game played like Monopoly, that's modeled after the failure of the United American Bank of Knoxville, Tennessee in 1983. The game is featured by Calvin Sneed with PM Magazine on WATE-TV, Knoxville.
Brigadoon Reborn (Part II): National Storytelling Festival
Video documentary about the forming and performing of culture at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, TN. Created as part of a doctoral dissertation at Arizona State University. All footage filmed within a month following the tragedy known as 9/11.
1stNight•2014 traditional stories
Storytellers from massmouth,inc. hosted a day long festival of local-lore and traditional stories at First Night, 2014 Time(s): 1-6pm at Family Festival and 8 and 9:30PM at the evening festival followed 1st Person story slams. Location: Hynes Convention Center 900 Boylston. Boston MA Nonstop stories from the world over told by master storytellers are featured at the Family Festival, First Night, 2014.
* Story in Action room is for 2-6 year olds and hosted by award winning storyteller, Andrea Lovett, co-founder of masssmouth,inc.
Anna Adler has been telling stories for over 7 years Anna began storytelling as part of ReadBoston's Storymobile, a citywide summer program that travels throughout Boston. annafranny@yahoo.com or visit ReadBoston.org. Liz Buchanan is a musician, songwriter and educator with more than fifteen years of experience leading creative arts for children, including family concerts, music classes, and interactive theater. Reach Liz at antelopeliz@gmail.com; antelopedance.com Karen Chace is a storyteller, teaching artist, and author. She is the recipient of the LANES Brother Blue-Ruth Hill Storytelling Award and the National Storytelling Network's Oracle Service and Leadership Award. Nicolette Nordin Heavey weaves together stories she was told, with stories she has read and those she imagines. preschools, libraries and bookstores. nicolettestory@gmail.com; nicolettestory.com Andrea Lovett is the co -founder of massmouth. She has performed for national and international audiences. love2tell2@aol.com Laura Lovett brings her unique style of fun and stories to her young story listeners. Laura grew up around stories and storytellers . Laura is an author and middle school English teacher. She has told stories at Read Boston sites throughout the city as one of their many storytellers. Lauralovett7@gmail.com
Kerri Schmidt is the Manager of Early Literacy and a storyteller for ReadBoston's popular Storymobile program (ReadBoston.org). (zone6studios.com).
ToRena Webb is a Boston native and on the roster of storytellers for ReadBoston. She has been a featured storyteller for massmouth as well as a guest emcee for story slams around Boston. Torena was the host of Wiggles and Giggles at the Cambridge River Festival. Just next door to the kinesthetic rumpus Norah Dooley, storyteller and children's author will host Story Dreamers where featured tellers Alan White, Jackson Gillman, Andrea Kamens, Alicia Quintano and Norah Dooley will present traditional stories that take listeners to far away places with 'theater of the mind'.
STORY DREAMS:Alan White is an actor and storyteller. Recent roles in the Commonwealth Shakespeare summer production and this fall with Wheelock Family Theater delighted Boston audiences, as he has for over 20 years. thealanwhite.com Andrea Kamens Writer, tutor, community volunteer and mom of five, Andrea creates magical presentations of original material. andreakamens.com Jackson Gillman has thrice been Teller-in-Residence at the International Storytelling Center and regularly features at regional and national festivals. He also teaches at Springboards for Stories workshops jacksongillman.com Alicia Quintano - From First Night Boston to college campuses around the United States to theatres, festivals, elementary and secondary school classrooms and libraries Alicia brings a unique combination of humor and dramatic interpretation to her performances. AliciaQuintano.com Norah Dooley, Norah Dooley is an ... entrancing storyteller (Boston Globe), author, performer, and keynote speaker on literacy and storytelling. She's been a featured storyteller at festivals and conferences and in fall 2013, she appeared at the Exchange Place of the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, TN. Norah is the co-founder of massmouth,inc. and project director of StoriesLive®. norahdooley.com
Contact: Norah Dooley, Executive Director E-mail: stories@massmouth.com
Office: (617) 942-2553 Norah's Cell: (617) 460-3544 and Paula Junn: Program Director: paula@massmouth.com
Jonesborough Tn The Oldest City in TN
Deep in the Hills of TN is Jonesborourgh the Oldest City in Tn Capital of the State of Franklin until TN became a State this historic old town has an international storytelling center that holds several conferences during the year
Motoko Award Winning Japanese Storytelling!
Award-winning storyteller Motoko enchants audiences of every age with her weaving of ancient lore, original tales, lyrical movement and traditional music. A native of Osaka, Japan, Motoko has performed professionally since 1993 in schools, libraries, colleges and festivals across the U.S. Her featured appearances include PBS' Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee, Timpanogos Storytelling Festival in Orem, Utah, Bay Area Storytelling Festival in Oakland, California, as well as CarnegieKids in Miyazaki Project, sponsored by Carnegie Hall. Her debut CD, The Promise of Chrysanthemums won a 2002 Parents' Choice Silver Honor Award, a 2003 Storytelling World Award, and a 2007 National Parenting Publications Award (NAPPA.) Her third CD, Like a Lotus Flower: Girlhood Tales from Japan was released in 2009. folktales.net
Brigadoon Reborn (Part III): National Storytelling Festival
Video documentary about the forming and performing of culture at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, TN. Created as part of a doctoral dissertation at Arizona State University. All footage filmed within a month following the tragedy known as 9/11.
Storytelling with Connie Regan-Blake & Barbara Freeman
An evening of storytelling with Connie Regan-Blake and Barbara Freeman. In the 1970s, the cousins were both working at the Chattanooga Public Library, Freeman as children's librarian and Regan-Blake as a full-time storyteller for a special outreach program called MORE. In 1973, they attended the first National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tenn. There they met Ray and Rosa Hicks of Beech Mountain, N.C., who became lasting friends and mentors. They realized they had a special gift for telling stories, and left their careers at the library to perform nationally and internationally as the Folktellers. Regan-Blake and Freeman pioneered tandem telling, a type of duet storytelling performance. In addition to performances, the Folktellers have produced three albums and a play, Mountain Sweet Talk.
Speaker Biography: Storyteller and author Connie Regan-Blake established the traveling storytelling team the Folktellers with her cousin, Barbara Freeman, in 1973. She was a founding member of the National Storytelling Network or NSN (formerly the National Association for the Preservation and the Perpetuation of Storytelling or NAPPS). Regan-Blake served as the group's artistic director from 1975 until 1983. She was awarded the Circle of Excellence in 1996 by the National Storytelling Network. The Folktellers also toured across the country, performing at folk festivals, including the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington D.C. Regan-Blake and Freeman eventually moved on to solo careers, and both are internationally recognized storytellers.
Speaker Biography: Barbara Freeman established the traveling storytelling team the Folktellers with her cousin, Connie Regan-Blake, in 1973. Freeman and Regan-Blake eventually moved on to solo careers, and both are internationally recognized storytellers.
For transcript and more information, visit
Jonesborough Tn Aerial Tour of Historic Downtown
Music by Relaxdaily N°005 relaxdaily.net
Shot with a Gopro Hero3 camera on a Turbo Ace Matrix UAV.
All recreational video, shot in accordance with FAA AC 91-57
For information visit: Hummingbirdaerial.com
Bus To
Beginning in the Fall of 2010, Community Performance International, the International Storytelling Center, and the Town of Jonesborough collaborated to develop the StoryFire Films Project. This year-long program brought togethera group of high school students from around the Tri-Cities in eastern Tennessee to learn the basics of film history and theory, screenwriting, production, and post-production - skills difficult to learn outside the major media capitals of the United States. The program's goal was to begin the process of developing a new generation of locally-based filmmakers practiced in visual storytelling and interested in creating a distinct aesthetic model.
Bus To is the final project of StoryFire Films' first year. Based on a series of true stories from the Tri-Cities, it tells the story of Julia, a multi-racial girl growing up in Jonesborough and straining to fit in. Through her friendship with the reclusive Raymond, whom she meets on her daily bus travels to work, Julia gains an appreciation for her own uniqueness and her ability to make the changes the she needs in the world.
Besides the film's director, cinematographer, editor and musical director, all crew positions for Bus To were held by members of the StoryFire Films Project.
Malaysia International Storytelling Festival 2012 Promo
This inaugural festival will bring together 1000 teachers, parents and children over two days of storytelling workshops and performances. The power of the spoken word enriches the mind, touches the heart and takes listeners on a journey of the imagination. It's educational. It inspires. It transforms.