For fans of storytelling festivals, the title of this blog is verging on blasphemy. Andy is very well-known, in certain circles. And for good reason. But we’ll get to that in a minute.
Andy Offutt Irwin is on his East Coast Tour, and he’ll be dropping in to perform with us, on June 9th at The Auld Shebeen in Fairfax, VA. Doors open at 6:00pm and the live show starts at 7:00pm EDT. If you can’t join us in-person, don’t worry – we’ll be live streaming the show and all ticket holders will get a link to watch for 2 weeks after.
Nick Baskerville will emcee. Jessica Robinson and Andrea Young will share opening stories.
Over the past 4 or so years, since I performed at the Exchange Place Stage at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, TN, I’ve been trying to bring a touch of the festival life to Fairfax, VA. The Women’s Storytelling Festival is the most obvious example. (Look ma – we have our own festival!) I met so many fantastic storytellers through the NSF and other festivals and programs I’ve performed in – and I want us, here in Northern Virginia, to get to experience some of that too.
If you haven’t see this extraordinary style of storytelling before, come to the show on June 9th and see why my Father-in-law proclaimed Andy the best storyteller he’s ever seen. (yeah, I know) Or, if you have seen Andy before, then you know not to miss this show.
Now, for that part where I lay out how awesome Andy is. I think I am just going to let this excerpt from his resume speak for itself.
Andy Offutt Irwin
With a silly putty voice, hilarious heart-filled stories, and amazing mouth noises (arguably, the greatest whistler in the world) one-person-showman, Andy Offutt Irwin is equal parts mischievous schoolboy and the Marx Brothers, peppered with a touch of the Southern balladeer. One of the most sought after performing storytellers in the United States, Andy is a perennial favorite of the Teller-in-Residence Program at the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, Tennessee, and he has been a Featured Teller at the National Storytelling Festival nine times (as of 2017).
Along with being a vagabond storyteller, Andy works as an arts educator, keynote speaker, theatre director, songwriter, comedian, newspaper columnist, camp counselor, and Shakespearian actor.
Among other gigs, Andy has been a Guest Artist at La Guardia High School of Art, Music, and Performing Arts in New York (The “FAME!” School); he has been a Keynote Speaker/Performer at the Library of Congress-Virburnum Foundation Conference on Family Literacy; a Guest Writer Performer with the Georgia Tech Glee Club; and a guest composer with the Amherst College Men’s Double Quartet.
Andy has held a few almost-real-jobs that include: Artist-In-Residence in Theatre at Emory University’s Oxford College from 1991 to 2007. (He continues serving at Oxford from time-to-time as Artist-in-Just-Passing-Through). A very long time ago, Andy spent five years as a performer, writer, and director for SAK Theatre at Walt Disney World.
Andy has also been gainfully employed as …
a garbage man, a carpenter’s flunky, a church youth director, a political satirist (as show director of the Georgia Cracker Crumble for the Georgia Press Association (1996 – 2007), an assistant water plant flunky, a deputy voter registrar, a ditch digger, a bullfrog tadpole catcher, and a camp counselor.
Andy is the recipient of many awards, but he is tickled as can be to have been patted on the head by his sweet community of peers as they bestowed upon him the Oracle 2013 Circle of Excellence from the National Storytelling Network.
Also, when he gets around to buying a frame he will hang upon his wall:
a Special Congressional Recognition – For outstanding and invaluable service to the community – from Rep. John Lewis.
Andy lives in the town where he grew up –
which is the same town where his mama grew up, which is the same town where his mama’s mama grew up, which is the same town where his mama’s mama’s mama grew up, which is the same town where his his mama’s mama’s mama’s mama grew up – Covington, Georgia.
He thinks he is funny.
Join us, on June 9th, and see for yourself. In-person or online.
