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Performance Schedule
VOICES FROM THE EDGE
Thursday, March 27 - 8:00 p.m.
LOVE
stories of love, in its many forms
Tamara Madison - Sharon Mathis - Betty Ann Wylie
Friday, March 28 - 8:00 p.m.
COMING OUT
showing the world who and what you really are
Reginald Jackson - Scottie Rowell - Wayne Smith
Friday, March 28 - 10:00 p.m.
OPEN MIKE - Come and tell your favorite story
Saturday, March 29 - 7:00 p.m.
GENERATIONS
tales of timeless relationships
Janice Butt - Ann Ritter - Elise Witt Saturday, March 29 - 9:30 p.m.
POWER
making ourselves and our world happen
Lesly Fredman - Hannah Harvey - Lisa Lacey - Renee Pattillo - Andrew Puckett
Sunday, March 30 - 4:00 p.m.
NEW AMERICANS
what it means to be in and to think "America"
Corey-Jan Albert - Audrey Galex - Phillip Justman - Kristi Israel Rivas
Sunday, March 30 - 7:30 p.m.
CROSSING BOUNDARIES
getting there from here
Greg Garrison - Katye Jordan - Barry Stewart Mann - Alka Roy

MAGIC FROM THE EDGE
Saturday, March 29 - 10:00 a.m.
magic for the very young (children ages 3-5)
Christy Foelsch - Spring Mason
Saturday, March 29 - 11:00 a.m.
magic for the young (children ages 6-9)
B. J. Abraham - Yolanda Hernandez
Saturday, March 29 - 1:00 p.m.
elementary magic (children ages 10-12)
Veronica Byrd and Bert Tanner - Jerry G.
Saturday, March 29 - 2:00 p.m.
magic words (children ages 13-16)
Cristina deVallescar - Celeste Miller

THE ART OF STORYTELLING
two workshops on keeping your stories alive
Saturday, March 29 - 11:00-1:00 p.m.
Family connections: storytelling in everyday life
Barry Stewart Mann: Stories are the tissue that connect us. Veteran storyteller Barry Stewart Mann in an exploration of approaches and strategies for mining the rrichness of storytelling in everyday life and relationships. Adults, teens, and children old enough to understand and talk about 'what happened' are welcome to this interactive workshop that will investigate both how we relate experiences to each other, and how we can use them as strands for spinning webs of the imagination.
Sunday, March 30 - 1:00-3:00 p.m.
From cavemen to computers: preserving your stories for future generations
Christy Foelsch: Using basic technology, this workshop will show how you can create a present day record of your family stories to last through future generations. Computers, iPods and easy-to-use software will be available for hands-on use.

Tickets for all VOICES FROM THE EDGE programs are $15
Tickets for all MAGIC FROM THE EDGE are $8 for adults, $6 for children (One MAGIC FROM THE EDGE will admit you to two MAGIC programs)
Admission to each workshop is $10
A Festival Pass, good for admission to all events (except workshops) is $75
FOR TICKET INFORMATION PLEASE CALL or E-MAIL
404 297-0904 or atlantastorytellingfestival@yahoo.com

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Directions
To get to the Academy Theatre, take 285 to Exit 41 (Memorial). Turn right at the top of the ramp (if you're coming from the north; from the south, turn left) and go about 3/4 of a mile to Mountain Drive (you'll see a sign that says "Decatur") which veers off to the right. At the top of the hill, about three long blocks, turn right onto Covington Highway. Go about 3/4 of a mile to Clarendon, a major intersection. On your left will be the clock tower, and a short block ahead, on your right, is the Towne Cinema. Immediately past the Towne is a tiny street; that's Center. Turn right onto it and go about 100 yards. You'll see signs for the Academy. You can turn right into the parking area and park anywhere that doesn't say "reserved," or you can park on the street.

About the artists

B.J. Abraham
B.J. Abraham is a member of the National Storytelling Network and a charter member of Southern Order of Storytellers of Atlanta.

B.J. grew up Lebanese in the Mississippi Delta and has incorporated into her stories some of the voices and dialects she heard growing up. She enjoys telling humorous stories and heartwarming tales!

She received her Master’s Degree in Storytelling in 1998 from East Tennessee State University. While at ETSU, she developed an unusual version of the sinking of the Titanic, told from the perspective of the ship. Chuck Larkin, who was a well-known storyteller across the U.S., said of her story, “It was one of the great story experiences in my 30 years of listening.”

In May, 2001, Audrey Galex, Jewish storyteller and B.J. created “Tapestry, An Arab-Jewish Storytelling Dialogue,” which they have performed in tandem in seven states and in Petra, Jordan.

B.J. has told stories in such far-away places as Canada; Beirut, Lebanon; and at numerous festivals, bookstores, schools, retirement homes, and libraries throughout the Southeast. Her CD for grownups called “Almost Live at the Azalea,” features stories she told at the Azalea Storytelling Festival, including her Titanic story.
Website - Buy CD Online - Travel website

Audrey Galex
Audrey Galex is a professional storyteller and personal historian/video biographer currently serving as Director of Volunteers at the William Breman Jewish Home, a nursing home. She is the founder of Roots & Wings Life Stories, a service that preserves personal stories and community histories through workshops, video, and story performance. She is co-creator of “Tapestry: An Arab-Jewish Storytelling Dialogue,” co-founder of Atlanta’s “Interfaith Women’s Baking Circle” and producer of Atlanta’s annual “Winter’s Light” interfaith storytelling and musical event. Audrey is a past president of the board of Southern Order of Storytellers and is currently a board member of the Friends of the Arava Institute, which supports the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies (Israel,) the premier environmental studies institute in the Middle East focusing on sustainable development to promote Arab-Israeli coexistence. Audrey co-led the 2006 World Pilgrims pilgrimage to Spain and Morocco, the 2006 Jewish teen ambassador mission to Minsk, Belarus and accompanied a group of Christian theology students as part of the 2005 Middle East Travel Seminars tour of six Middle Eastern nations. She is a member of Congregation Bet Haverim, a Reconstructionist synagogue founded by gay men and lesbians. Audrey lives in Atlanta with her husband and three children. She holds a B.A. in international relations from The American University and a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University. She spent her junior year of college at The American University in Cairo and is delighted to have, in the past two years, reconnected with the Bedouin family with whom she stayed for an extended period during her college years, in Petra, Jordan. Along with traveling and cooking with her children, Audrey enjoys drinking coffee, reading, belly dancing, singing karaoke and smoking an occasional hukkah/nargila (flavored tobacco, only.)
Website

Sharon Mathis
Sharon Mathis is fascinated by the entrance of mystery into everyday life, creating stories born from the intersection of myth and the city. A storyteller for grown-ups, she performs locally at private events and public venues from bars to churches, including the Academy Theatre, Southern Order of Storytellers’ Tellebration and Winterfestival, Ladyfest South, and the DeFoor Arts Center. She directed the Open Invitation Theatre in Candler Park for seven years, presenting dramas, musicals, and staged readings emphasizing diversity and themes of importance to women. She also consults with nonprofit organizations on developing stories to support outreach and marketing. Sharon has been a psychologist in Atlanta for 25 years, honing her skill at tuning into the rhythms of the human voice and heart. She presents workshops integrating storytelling with psychotherapy at national and regional professional conferences.

Ann Ritter
A native of the South Carolina Lowcountry, Ann Ritter had made her home in Decatur, Georgia, for 28 years. She is a mother, performer and business woman. An independent consultant, she writes, teaches and does skill building with clients in the Atlanta area. Her areas of expertise are communication planning, and personal health through movement, body awareness and meditation.

As a business professional Ms. Ritter is a part-time faculty member in the marketing department of Georgia State University’s Robinson College of Business. As a yoga teacher and therapist, she is on the faculty of Callanwolde Fine Arts Center as well as practicing privately in Decatur.

For the past three years, Ms. Ritter has pursued the integration of narration, and healing through movement and performance with Fieldwork, a national program co-sponsored locally by Several Dancers Core and Emory University’s dance department. She is currently the co-facilitator of Fieldwork in Atlanta.

She is on the board of Beacon Dance Company, where she has performed for four seasons with Beacon’s “Mapping Project” and with “1906/2006/2106.” She also sits on the board of the Friends of Theatre at Emory.
Website

Wayne M. Smith
Choreographer, dance performer, educator and founding director of SmithWorks company is a native of Memphis, Tennessee. Wayne’s experience involves a range of dance, improvisation, theatre and music. Smith has collaborated with a variety of nationally recognized artists in various disciplines including dancer/drummer/master teacher Sherone Price, contemporary painter Hugh O’Donnell and performance artist/dancer Ismael Houston Jones. He has taught at a number of colleges and universities in the US including Spelman College, Emory University, both in Atlanta, GA and Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. Wayne has been an active part of the contemporary dance community in Atlanta for about 10 years. He does extensive work with community dance organizations Moving in the Spirit and City Dance Ensemble both based in Atlanta. Wayne has also facilitated dance and improvisation workshops for schoolteachers and principals through Creating Pride visual art organization in Atlanta and the Center for Arts Education program based in Memphis. Wayne earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (BFA) in Theater with a Dance concentration (minor in Mathematics) from the University of Memphis and a Master of Fine Arts degree (MFA) in Dance/Choreography from the Ohio State University (OSU). At OSU, Smith performed, assisted coordination and costuming for the Ohio State University Dance Company under artistic director Rosalind Pearson. Wayne continues to perform, teach and choreograph in Atlanta in addition to working periodically with Project: Motion dance collective, contemporary modern dance company based in Memphis.

Betty Ann Wylie
Betty Ann Wylie recently received a standing ovation for her performances at The Carter Center in Atlanta and the Junior League's "Holiday Luncheon" in Columbus, Georgia!

Would you like to find out why these audiences were on their feet and cheering?

Or why Celestine Sibley wrote an article for the Atlanta Constitution years ago declaring, "Betty Ann Wylie tells tales to send chills down your spine, make the hair rise on the back of your neck and convulse you with laughter. She is mesmerizing and beguiling with the dramatic gestures and voice changes of a born actress."?

Order your CDs today! The price is $15.00 per CD, plus $2.00 shipping & handling (per CD) for mail orders. You may call or email Betty Ann directly to place an order: 404.355.3951 bettyannwylie@gmail.com
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