Hi Guys,

Some more special storytelling events just popped up and I want to pass on the info to anyone who’d like to attend.

The first is a storytelling fundraiser for NAMI that’s produced by one our own FGS tellers, Bill Bernat. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and even though we aren’t partnered with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) we do get a lot of stories at our show that focus on recovering from mental health issues. NAMI is one of the organizations working to make it ok to talk about this stuff more openly so I try to do anything I can to help them.

Naturally, I’m super happy NAMI asked Bill to help them with their first Seattle storytelling show and I’m honored that he asked me and another FGS teller, Jenny Heddin, to perform at this show along with the NAMI tellers. Below is an email straight from Bill with more info.

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Hello,

In celebration of mental health month (May), Seattle’s Great Wheel will be lit green for three days leading up to the NAMI WA premier event: Mental Health Stories: The Brainpower Chronicles.

I have held a series of workshops with six amazing storytellers selected by NAMI. The tellers have been working extremely hard to prepare–it will be a riveting show with a strong message of recovery and hope. I’ll be hosting.

The show is May 20th at 7pm at the beautiful Taproot Theater in Greenwood (Seattle). You can get more information here:

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Seattle-Great-Wheel-Going-Green-for-Mental-Health-Month.html?soid=1119340035877&aid=xucg-VPaqFc

Because it is a fundraiser, pricing is between $50 and $100. For those who would like to attend but would have difficulty at those prices, please call or write NAMI at 206-783-4288 or office@namiwa.org and they will work with you to make it doable.

If this interests you, I look forward to seeing you there!

Cheers,
-billb
Bill Bernat

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If you can’t make it to the NAMI show there are two other places to hear some great personal stories in the next couple of weeks.

This Friday, “Something to Tell,” Tacoma’s only storytelling open mic will start at 7pm at the B Sharp Cafe.

Big Tim, who you might have heard tell at FGS, just started running it and he’d love to see some folks from Seattle come down and tell a story. I’ll be there this week along with anyone I can get from Olympia to come with me.

Also, on the 26th, Folklife is happening and I think it’ll be the first time they’ll be doing personal storytelling like the kind you here at FGS and The Moth. David Schumer, FGS’s official doctor, will be telling a story about The World’s Most Hateful Llama. That may not be the actual title but that’s how I always remember it.

Tantalizing Tales Showcase

http://sched.co/AbUF
Fri. May. 26th
8:00 PM – 8:25 PM
Folklife Café

That’s all the news from the Seattle storytelling world. If I hear about anything else I’ll just put in on our Facebook page so you can just check there once in a while.

Paul