Most of the storytellers you saw on the  storytelling stage at the Festival of Books were members of the storytelling network, Tellers of Tales (TOT).  Their website explains, “Branches of TOT are located in Tucson and Phoenix.  Storytelling is alive and well in Sierra Vista and Flagstaff although there are no TOT branches.”

The Tucson group usually meets on the first Saturday of every month at the Himmel Library, 240 South Treat, at 9:15 for some socializing and 9:30 for the program.  April is an exception because they’ll be telling stories at the Mini Time Machine – Tucson Museum of Miniatures for their program.  You do not have to be a member to attend their meetings.

Tellers of Tales members regularly tell stories at libraries, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, churches  and other places where storytelling is welcomed. Members also organize and participate in many local and community events.

Their website is a resource for other Arizona and national storytelling events and activities including the South Mountain Community College Storytelling Institute in Phoenix.

The Tucson Poetry Festival celebrates its 28th year with the theme  Poetry Where You Are. They plan on addressing the questions, “Where does poetry reside? What makes it vital to our everyday lives? How can we bring poetry out of the classroom and the library and into the world around us?” I would add, how do we tell our stories with poetry?

Friday, April 2, opens with readings at the Club Congress followed by the Grand Slam, billed as” the biggest Slam Poetry event that Tucson has ever seen”.  If you’ve never been to a slam (or even if you have), be prepared to be amazed!

Saturday, April 3, brings more readings and workshops with poets  Manuel Paul Lopez, Gypsee Yo, Linda Russo, and Sonya Renee, and a panel moderated by Paul Fisher.  See the schedule of events for times and locations.

Events are at Club Congress, Tucson High Library and Casa Libre.  You can buy a festival pass at the venues for the whole weekend for $25 or pay for individual events.  The High School readings and panel discussion are free.

The Festival is co-sponsored by Ocotillo Literary Endeavor and POG. For more information, contact mewakamatsu@msn.com

“Once upon a time…there was a traveler between worlds, a wandering-wondering minstrel, a maggid of sorts, a high-energy professional storyteller…and his name was Jordan Hill.”

That’s how you’ll be greeted when you go to Jordan’s website. Not only is he a storyteller with specialties in astronomy and Jewish stories, he’s also an educator in Jewish studies & math, plays a number of instruments in jazz, rock & klezmer bands and can do it all in 3 languages!

His versatility is showcased in the range of offerings he has listed on his website: party storytelling, storytelling workshops, custom story creation, living history, group drama activities and group musical improv (jam sessions / drum circles).  He even has a weekly Jewish storytelling segment on “Too Jewish Radio”, on KVOI AM 690.

Tucson is now the home of this world traveler. Sheila Wilensky chronicled some of his history in her April 3, 2009 article in the Arizona Jewish Post. You might have caught him telling on the storytelling stage of the Festival of Books and you’ve got some other opportunities to see him in action coming up.  He’ll be performing at the following venues:

March 27, 1 p.m. –  Water Tales at The Water Project

April 10, 2 p.m.,  Green Tales for a Blue Planet: Old Stories to Guide our New Way with the World Biosphere2

April 11, 1 p.m., Wandering Animal Tales throughout the zoo, Reid Park Zoo

April 17, 11 a.m., Animal Stories for Earth Day: Reid Park Zoo

Be sure to stop and say hi from another story lover.