Two Open Tellings (Story Swap) in March 2018

The Mother Lode Storytelling Guild hosts two options for Open Telling events in March:

1. Saturday, March 17, 4pm-6pm at Sonora Joe’s Coffee Shoppe, 140 S. Washington St.
   (Historic Downtown Sonora) and
   
2. Sunday, March 25, 4pm-6pm at Sonora; Manzanita Arts Emporium, 1211 S. Main St.
   (Historic Downtown Angels Camp).
   

 
These events help existing storytellers strengthen their skills, encourage new tellers to find their voices, and build appreciative audiences for the art of storytelling. Whatever your family history or muse might be, storytellers of all ages and levels of experience are welcomed to participate in Open Tellings. As always, these are family friendly and informal events, and those who prefer just to listen are important and necessary.
 
March 17 will be St. Patrick’s day, so Guild members will feature stories from Celtic lands. “My ancestors came to the Gold Rush from Cornwall and from Ireland,” says Claudia Tonge, host of the Sonora Open Telling, “and I would never miss an opportunity to share a few of my favorite stories from those traditions on this holiday.”
 
On March 25, the Guild is looking forward to hosting an Open Telling event in Calaveras County. The first bi-monthly “Story Swap” afternoon was held on January 28, 2018, and was very well received. The next is scheduled for March 25th. This free public program will follow the same ‘Open Mic’ format as the popular Sonora event. “This is an attractive venue and location for both Calaveras and Toulumne Co. residents” says Kathy Martinez, host for the new program. “We are hoping that teachers and students of language and theater arts will participate in open storytelling as a way to explore and develop skills through this increasingly popular art form.” For information about the Angels Camp event please contact Kathy Martinez mailto:baskettree@sbcglobal.net.
 
Although the events are free to the public, the Guild does accept donations that are used to support the Guild’s many activities in the central Mother Lode. Coffee and other refreshment will be available for purchase from Joe’s.
 
The mission of the Mother Lode Storytelling Guild is to help existing storytellers strengthen their skills, encourage new tellers to find their voices, and build appreciative audiences for the art of storytelling. For information about these and other upcoming storytelling events in the Mother Lode contact Claudia Tonge (209) 588-1698, , or visit www.sierranevadastorytelling.org/mother-lode-storytelling-guild.html.
- Claudia