Wednesday, May 13, 2009
(Last modified: 2009-05-13 08:49:26)
 

Source: The Greeneville Sun

Young storytellers will share the spotlight with several seasoned storytellers at the 15th annual Iris Festival this Saturday and Sunday.

The festival's hours are Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

The storytelling will take place on the lawn of the Andrew Johnson Home on College Street, directly across from the Andrew Johnson Historic Site.

Saturday's schedule is: 11 a.m., Larry and Gayleen Kelley; 11:30, Rocky Churchwell; noon, Kate Agmann; 12:30 p.m., Connie Gill; 1 p.m., Daniel and Elizabeth Dotson; 1:15 p.m., Noelle Sibley; 1:30 p.m., Larry Kelley; 2 p.m., Kate Agmann; 2:30 p.m., Connie Gill; 3 p.m., Daniel and Elizabeth Dotson; 3:35 p.m., Noelle Sibley; and 3:30 p.m., Gayleen Kelley.

Sunday's schedule is: 1 p.m., Larry Kelley; 1:30 p.m., Gregg Harrell; 2 p.m., Hannah Smythe; 2:30 p.m., Gregg Harrell; 3 p.m., Hannah Smythe; and 3:30 p.m., Larry and Gayleen Kelley.

Larry Kelley, a full-time storyteller from Chuckey, has a knack for getting people to fall in love with the art of storytelling. He has been entertaining and educating audiences for more than 15 years.

In 1996, Gayleen Kelley began sharing stories and has performed regularly in churches, schools, nursing homes and at storytelling festivals. She is vice-president of the Jonesborough Storytellers Guild.

Kate Agmann was born and raised in northeast Texas and currently lives in a log cabin on the banks of the Nolichuckey River.

Connie Gill was born in Montana and raised in northern Idaho.

She lives on a 38-acre farm in Limestone with her husband, Mike, and sons, Bryce and Curtis.

Rocky Churchwell was born and raised in central Florida where his family goes back seven generations.

Gregg Harrell is a local boy who tells stories about the South and country folk stories.

Hannah Smythe has been a three-time National Youth Storytelling Showcase finalist and a Youthful Voice teller at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough.

Daniel and Elizabth Dotson are third-grade home-schooled students who enjoy playing with their siblings, riding their bicycles and reading.

Noelle Sibley is an 11th-grade student at Providence Academy in Johnson City. Noelle was the grand champion at the 1990 Christian Storytelling Festival in Johnson City.

For more information, call the Greene County Partnership at 638-4111.

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