February – October 2023 Feb – Oct 2023
In Person – Speak Story Series @ Sheperdstown, WV
Connie Regan-Blake is telling stories for two, back to back, in-person, live concerts in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. One evening she is performing "From Another Time: Celebrating the Legacy of Ray Hicks." In this new piece, Connie interweaves tales of her own storytelling journey along with personal stories of her mentor and dear friend, Ray Hicks. Ray was a respected and revered traditional Appalachian Mountain storyteller who became the face of the American Storytelling Revival. Connie is part of the 10th season of 'Speak Stories' Series.
In early 2013, a few friends sat around a red wooden table chatting about art in the community. "I wonder if we could get people to come to a storytelling event in Shepherdstown?"
Founder, Adam Booth says:
"Would anyone show up? Would tellers want to come to West Virginia? Would an anti-festival model work?"
Calls were made to story artists, tickets were printed, fliers posted, and the community showed up to listen and to work. Over time, the series grew.
In the course of nine seasons, Speak has presented sixty-eight storytellers (sharing stories in sixteen languages) in over eighty concerts for adults, provided dozens of school and community-outreach shows, crowned two youth tellers as story champions, and worked together with over a dozen local organizations. During the fifth season, we moved from our loving original home in the Shepherdstown Community Club across the street to Reynolds Hall, a larger venue with sloped seating for better visibility. We became a program of Shepherd University under the Appalachian Studies Program, and a volunteer community committee began to steer Speak into its future. In our eighth season we faced new challenges relating to the coronavirus pandemic, but we rededicated ourselves to presenting quality storytelling programming to the world. We moved out of our home at the Center for Appalachian Studies and Communities and have become our own 501c3 nonprofit organization. Our ninth season was presented entirely online and our audience grew to include people from three continents around the world. Join us as we continue to grow!
Categories: Featured Performances
In-Person Workshop Intensive: Taking Your Story to the Stage, 3-day storytelling intensive @ Asheville, NC
Apr 21 – Apr 23 all-day
The focus of this "Taking Your Story to the Stage" 3-day workshop is on storytelling performance. Each participant is asked to come with a story that is almost "stage-ready." Participants gather at Connie's home, tucked in the beautiful mountains surrounding Asheville, NC. This workshop intensive provides a supportive, affirming atmosphere to nurture each storyteller's performance skills and confidence. "Taking Your Story to the Stage" is open only to those who have previously studied with Connie. If you have not had this opportunity and/or Connie has not heard you tell a story, a private coaching session may be required. Registration is limited so if you'd like to add your name to the list of participants now, contact Connie. For more details, click here.
And if you can't make the workshop, mark your calendars now join us as listeners for an enchanting evening of storytelling in "A Slice of Life: An Evening of Stories" on April 22, 2023 at Black Mountain Center for the Arts.
Categories: Featured Workshops Tags: Asheville Asheville NC NC
In-Person Group Performance: A Slice of Life – A Telling of Stories in Black Mountain, NC @ Black Mountain Center for the Arts
Join nationally celebrated storyteller Connie Regan-Blake as she welcomes her storytelling students to the stage for "A Slice of Life: An Evening of Stories." Enjoy a great lineup of tellers to be announced.
Saturday, April 22, 2023. Tickets $18 in advance, $20 at the door.
Connie is emceeing this evening of unique voices. The last four "Slice of Life" shows have been sell-outs – so get your tickets early!
"The Round Robin of storytellers at Connie Regan-Blake's "Slice of Life" show gave me a rare listening treat. Each story was as unique as the voice that told it. What great fun to hear a mountain art form so well-spun!" –Donna Marie Todd, storyteller, singer and story workshop leader
Categories: Featured Performances Workshops Tags: Black Mountain Black Mountain NC NC
Virtual Workshop – "Cooking Up Stories" @ Zoom
Aug 5 @ 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Join Connie Regan-Blake Saturday, August 5, 2023 from 9am-10:30am MST (UTC -7) / 11am-12:30pm EST for a virtual workshop, "Cooking Up Stories." Telling stories is as natural and vital as taking a breath! This workshop welcomes everyone: writers curious about the oral word, those who want to explore their personal experiences and those who simply love stories. Connie Regan-Blake generously shares tools she has developed and learned throughout her trailblazing storytelling career that has taken her around the world. More details coming soon.
Categories: Featured Workshops
And if you can't make the workshop, mark your calendars now join us as listeners for an enchanting evening of storytelling in "A Slice of Life: An Evening of Stories" on October 21, 2023 at Black Mountain Center for the Arts.