We’ve all spent a lot of time cooped up in our homes these last few months. The usual winter weather, compounded by lockdown restrictions, means we are now very familiar with the interiors of our respective domiciles. Isn’t it time we broke free from those confines and breathed a little fresh air?
Well, Better Said Than Done is here to inspire you to do just that! This Saturday, April 24th, we’re presenting The Great Outdoors! It’s a night of tales about finding, exploring, and communing with wide-open spaces. The show starts at 8 P.M. EDT. You can get your tickets right here!
Host Nick Baskerville will be your guide to these uncharted territories, navigating you to our seven wonderful storytellers for the evening. Here are those intrepid explorers…
Milbre Burch is a GRAMMY-nominated recording artist, a nationally known storyteller, and an acclaimed teaching artist and story coach. She has been featured eight times at the National Storytelling Festival, and performed across the US, in Europe and Asia. She has released numerous award-winning storytelling recordings on the Kind Crone label and is a storytelling studies scholar. Off stage, she’s a Georgia girl who married a Mississippi boy living in New England. Groomed as a girl-child to stay indoors lest she attract danger, Milbre went on to explore parts of the Appalachian trail, wilderness camp at the Cumberland Island National Seashore, and take regular hikes in the woods near her home.
Via Goode has been a professional storyteller for more than 10 years, but has been “telling stories” (her mother’s synonym for lying) for many more than 10! Her specialty is sharing folk tales with younger audiences, headlining in more than 850 performances in public and private schools, libraries, and recreation centers. In addition to storytelling, Via also conducts workshops and professional development trainings. She is a former preschool teacher, teacher’s aide, and substitute teacher, and is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the National Storytelling Network, and is the membership chairperson for the Virginia Storytelling Alliance.
Michael Guinn is professional performance poet, events coordinator, published author, award winning actor, community advocate and veteran residing in the Dallas/Fort Worth Texas area. He holds a masters degree in social work and works full time as a permanent supportive housing coach in Dallas. Michael has more than 22 years of stage and open mics, and is known locally and internationally for his work with global anthologies. He works with both youth and adults via poetry slams, virtual events, films, radio and public speaking events. He hosts live performances and open mics in and around Dallas/Fort Worth.
Arthuretta Holmes-Martin was a featured storyteller at 2020 National Association of Black Storyteller’s Festival, the Women’s History 2020 Maryland Chautauqua, and the Women’s Storytelling Festival in 2021. She is also a performing artist with the Washingon Revels Jubilee Voices. Arthuretta teaches public speaking and storytelling workshop at Compass Homeschool Enrichment. She is an advocate for human and civil rights, and inspires her audiences with her personal stories of healing and transformation. Last year, she performed on Friday the 13th, but the audience at the Auld Shebeen realized her story made it their lucky day.
Lou Novak was born abroad into a military family. There was always American TV available on the bases and consequently lots of storytelling took place under street lamps on base. When Lou was scout aged, he joined scouts and enjoyed hearing tales around the campfire. As an adult he went to sea and learned a whole different genre called sea stories. After some time Lou was able to provide instruction using cautionary tales to sea scouts and budding mariners. After some classes with Story District provided by the Armed Services Arts Partnership he was able to perform on stage.
Rocky Ross is the host & curator of The Reboot • Storytelling ReImagined, a live story showcase that, in the B4 times, drew standing-room-only audiences to their garden theater under the stars on California’s central coast. The Reboot features seasoned and novice tellers sharing true personal stories around the monthly theme, with a sometimes dash of spoken word, improv, sketch and impromptu audience participation thrown into the mix. Rocky also does improv with the Central Coast Comedy Theater and coaches people of all ages and backgrounds to bring new voices to The Reboot stage.
Sarah Snyder is a writer and storytelling living in northern Virginia. She blogs about self-care and retreats at Luna River Voices. She’s an avid lover of the outdoors and the author of four books of nonfiction, including a memoir about living in Scotland and a travel guide to Montana, which you can learn more about on her website. Her latest book is coming out in June: “DIY Solo Retreats: A Handbook for Creating Your Space, Setting and Intention, and Getting the Self-Care You Deserve.”
So join us from your couch, office chair, or picnic table for a celebration of far-flung skies and nature’s beauties. Things kick off at 8:00 P.M. EDT. Ticket sales close a few minutes before that and are pay-what-you-can, with a suggested contribution of $20 and a minimum of $5 (plus a $1 handling fee). All proceeds are shared among the tellers and Better Said Than Done. Beat the rush and grab your ticket now!
And don’t worry if you’re busy Saturday night enjoying the actual great outdoors. All ticket holders receive a link to the recording the next day, so you can watch when you are back inside.
