Here is the lineup for the 2012 OOPS 1st Weekend of May Conference!!

Our Featured Storyteller will be Elizabeth Ellis.

Yes, this is that fine, outspoken storyteller from Texas with the heart as big as her state. A frequent headliner at Jonesborough and major festivals and conferences all over the US, Elizabeth will bring to the OOPS! Conference her wisdom and quick wit in her ʻdown to earthʼ ʻjust telling it like I remember itʼ and folksy manner. She does not avoid those very difficult stories either. She is co-author of a very useful and challenging book with Loren Neimy, Inviting the Wolf In: Thinking about Difficult Stories, available through August House.

Check out her website: www.elizabethellis.com

Featured Teller

Bio, Elizabeth Ellis

Well, you already have her bio on our site.

Workshop description

Artist-Craftsperson-Businessperson

No Matter where we are in our storytelling journey, we wear many hats.  Join Elizabeth Ellis for a practical look at all our different identities and their importance. Let your imagination help you create a strong support group for your work and how to balance the different demands made on your time and energy.

Bio, “Granny Sue”

Susanna “Granny Sue” Holstein’s performances often include British and Appalachian ballads.  She is equally comfortable with young, family, or adult audiences, incorporating participation opportunities in her “front-porch” telling style.  A published writer, she is a frequent presenter of programs and workshops at conferences, festivals, schools, and libraries.  Holstein obtained her BS(Education) in 1991 from WV State University and MLIS from the University of South Carolina in 1995.

Read more about Granny Sue at www.grannysu.blogspot.com

Workshop description

Short Stories Anyone Can Tell

Take 3 short, easy-to-tell stories home with you!  Puppets, props and audience participation highlight this program with storyteller Granny Sue for those who want to tell to children.  Print copies of stories and a bibliography for other resource provided.

Bio, Geraldine Buckley

With her trademark with, warmth and humor, Geraldine Buckley has been involved in storytelling, performance poetry, preaching and conduction creative workshops for over twenty years in the US, Canada, England, Holland, South Africa and Spain.

Until Jan. 2010 Geraldine was the Protestant Chaplain in the largest men’s prison in Maryland – a medium security facility – where she used stories in every aspect of her work.  Now a full time storyteller, speaker and teaching artist, Geraldine was inspired by her prison work to create her true, hilarious, one woman storytelling show “Destination?  Slammer!” which has received critical acclaim at festivals – both mainstream and fringe – and many other venues.

Geraldine has an MA in communication from Regent University; she is an ordained minister and lives in Frederick, MD.

For more information visit www.geraldinebuckley.com.

Workshop

Rocking the Flock With Stories

This workshop is especially designed for preachers, Sunday school teachers, counselors, prison chapel volunteers and anyone who want to change people’s lives through story.  It explores

• The power of personal stories in communicating with a faith based audience
• Using humor to transform lives
• Shaping a personal story

The workshop is part lecture, part group discussion – but it also has an interactive element and you will be telling stories before the time is through!

Come prepared to be challenged and inspired!

Bio, Lorna Czarnota

Lorna has spent the last seventeen years using story to mentor at-risk youth in runaway shelters, detention centers, residential treatment centers, group homes and one-on-one.  Lorna’s book, Dancing at the Crossroads:  Stories for Mentoring At-Risk Youth is forthcoming with Parkhurst Brothers.

For more information visit www.storyhavenstudio.com

Workshop description

Dancing at the Crossroads:  Mentoring At-Risk Youth through Story and Metaphor.

During Lorna’s workshop participants will hear stories used in Lorna’s award-winning program, experience firsthand some of the activities used, and gain a better understanding of what it means to work with this population.

Bio, Stephen Hollen

Stephen Hollen is an award winning Humorist, Storyteller, writer and Motivational Speaker.  He grew up in the hills of Appalachia where his family has lived since the 1760s.  He is considered by many to be one of the foremost Humorist and storytelling voices of Appalachia. 

Read more about Stephen at www.stephenhollen.com

Workshop description

The Business of Storytelling.

This workshop is hands on and will allow you to not only learn innovative marketing ideas to grow you “business”, but will help you develop programs and markets that you might not have explored.  Participants will work together with a calendar to develop PROGRAMS of storytelling to fit several possible programming “needs”.  The approach is a little different.  The group will discuss venues that might be a bit “out of the box” for them, but will come to understand that by marketing PROGRAMS rather than storytellers they not only do not compete with other storytellers, but also can turn a one engagement venue into a multiple gig venue, or perhaps even one that has them back year after year.   Participants will leave with great marketing ideas, worksheets they can use in their business planning and specific plans for your calendar year.

Bio, Kevin Cordi

Kevin shares stories with a highly energetic, animated and interactive style and is considered by many storytelling professionals as one of the most influential and dynamic storytellers and teachers today. With each story he tells, the audience connects with Kevin—his passion shines through. His work is a must see for adults and kids alike.

Read more about Kevin at www.kevincordi.com

Workshop description

Playing Inside Your Story: Exploring playful techniques to change or rethink your story directions.

This highly interactive intensive will demonstrate how to use play and process drama as a method to improve story structure.  It is not designed for developed stories, but instead for stories you wish to revisit and re-imagine.  Participants will have the opportunity to engage in the restructuring process to work on his or her story.  Kevin will mediate the stories and show how a co-constructive process can build new direction for story awareness and development.

Concert Presenters

The Saturday evening concert on May 5th,2012,it completed with three delightful OOPS! storytellers, nationally known from their own frequent tellings at festivals and conferences across America.

Lyn Ford:  Nationally recognized storyteller Lyn Ford is a fourth-generation story-artist and teller of Afrilachian tales.  She calls these stories “Home-Fried Tales” to honor her father, the best storyteller she ever heard, and the worst cook in the family.

Find out more about Lyn at www.storytellerlynford.com

The story Lyn will tell at the Concert is “Ol’ Man Turtle” – an “Afrilachian” folktale.

Harold Wright:  A native of Dayton, Ohio, Harold Wright tells stories from his life, as an Ohio Appalachian; and as a Japanese Scholar, who lived many years in Japan.  In addition, he has a large repertoire of folk, historical and scary tales.  Harold tells solo, and in tandem with his wife, Jonatha. 

Find out more about Harold and Jonatha at their website: http://www.jonathaandharold.com.

The story Harold will tell at the Concert is “A Gift for You” – a new translation of a Japanese tale.
 

Rich Knoblich:  After bringing home 8 ribbons from the WV State Liars Contest, Knoblich combines his tales into the book “Talking ‘bout the Relatives.”  He currently is Storyteller in Residence for Marashall Co. Puiblic Library and is a tour bus guide for Oglebay Resort. Find out more about Rich and his writing at www.storytellerwv.tripod.com/id22htm

The stories Rich will tell at the Concert are “Working with the grounds crew to set up the Festival of Lights displays has it’s miraculous moments.” And “A Fathers Day personal story from Africa.