Calling on storytellers:  The Nebraska Storytelling Festival is Now Accepting Applications

If you know you’ve got a good story to tell, there is a stage where you can share it. The Nebraska Storytelling Festival is searching for storytellers for their event set for 7 p.m. Thursday October 24, at the Lincoln Scottish Rite Ballroom.

The theme for 2024 is Voyage and Return, inviting people across Nebraska to share a true personal story about something they’ve experienced. This is the third year of this event in Lincoln with great audiences eager to hear true stories. Each storyteller will take the stage for five to seven minutes. You must be age 15 and older to share a story on stage.

Applications close on July 12, will be reviewed and 10 storytellers will be selected. Those selected will be invited to a workshop scheduled for August 22, 6 PM at Gere Library in Lincoln.

 “Since we started this event,” said co-founder Mary Kay Roth, “We’ve been thrilled at the stories Nebraskans have shared and the enthusiasm of our audiences. Storytelling helps us understand who we are – celebrates the diversity and commonality of human experience – gives meaning to our struggles – brings us together and empowers human as well as community connections,” she said.

“Storytelling has been important in all cultures since the dawn of history to bring people together,” co-founder Randy Bretz explained. “Storytelling gives us an opportunity to learn from another person's experience – helping shape, strengthen and challenge our opinions and values.”

 Roth went on to note: “We just know the stories at the Nebraska Storytelling Festival will create memorable impact and bring people together.  We believe the stories will move, entertain, make people laugh, bring tears to their eyes, inform, communicate and connect.” Videos from the first two events are on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NEstorytellingfest

 The Nebraska Storytelling Festival has grown out of a small group of friends who want to give the people from across the state the opportunity to share stories in much the same manner as “The Moth Radio Hour” which is carried on Nebraska Public Media on Saturdays at 3 pm (Central). In addition to Bretz and Roth, others involved in the undertaking are Jan Bretz, Molly and Ryan Wieber, Doug Dickeson, Marcia White, Rich Claussen, Mark Stephens and Bill Anderson.