Mount Washington Valley Storytelling Festival

Storytelling is important because it taps into our emotions, builds empathy, creates engagement, teaches us about different cultures and perspectives, conveys complex ideas in a relatable way, fosters stronger relationships, and drives action. The Friends of the Whitney Community Center in Jackson, New Hampshire, is delighted to be presenting the first Mount Washington Valley Storytelling Festival with four premier storytellers. The White Mountains in September are spectacular and Jackson is a truly classic New Hampshire village.

Mount Washington Valley Storytelling Festival Storytellers

For over 30 years Charlotte Blake Alston has graced stages in venues throughout North America and abroad. Her storytelling skills were honed in childhood when her father introduced her to the work of African American poet, Paul Laurence Dunbar. She is committed to keeping traditional folklore alive. In 2021, she was named The Philadelphia Orchestra’s Official Storyteller, Narrator and Host. In 2024 she was inducted into her High School’s Cultural Hall of Fame.

Charlotte Blake Alston

Since 1991, British storyteller, humorist and author Simon Brooks has been telling to audiences from all over the world. He re-writes and tells folk and fairy tales, myths and legends for everyone who wants to listen. From children’s stories retold so even the most jaded adult enjoys the show, to performances for grown-ups which can be funny, poignant, and/or bawdy. Simon’s goal is to spread and share the art of storytelling to a wider audience and show the power of the ‘ancient stories’ of folk and fairy tales.

Simon Brooks

Motoko has enchanted audiences of every age since 1993. She trained with master mime Tony Montanaro and renowned Appalachian storyteller Elizabeth Ellis. Motoko’s repertoire includes Asian folktales, Rakugo and Zen tales, ghost stories, mime vignettes, as well as oral memoirs from her childhood in Osaka and her life as an immigrant in the U.S. She has appeared on PBS’ Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood and has been featured in festivals and theaters across North America.

Motoko

Although he showed an early love for baseball Bill Harley began singing and telling stories in 1975, while in college. The son of a children’s writer and a law book editor, Bill is a dedicated children’s author, winning the hearts of thousands of young readers and numerous awards with picture books and novels. A two-time Grammy winner, he is vibrant, outrageous, unpredictable and genuine with songs and stories about growing up, schooling and what it is to be human.

Bill Harley

Schedule

SEP

19 Friday Evening StoryFest Opening with our Four Storytellers

Friday

7-9 pm

SEP

20 Family Show with Bill Harley and Charlotte Blake Alston -
Best for children five and older

Saturday

10-11 am

SEP

20 The Art of Storytelling Workshop for Beginners with Simon Brooks

Saturday

1-2:30 pm

SEP

20 Embody! Physical Eloquence for Storytellers Workshop with Motoko

Saturday

3-4:30 pm

SEP

20 Saturday Evening StoryFest Finale with our Four Storytellers

Saturday

7-9 pm

Doors open 30 minutes prior to the shows.

Workshops

The Art of Storytelling for Beginners with Simon Brooks. Learn the process of weaving language into a concrete narrative, with the purpose of creating rich, believable experiences. Understand the elements of storytelling, why storytelling is important, and storytelling tips and techniques that work.
Limit 20

Embody! Physical Eloquence for Storytellers with Motoko. Explore how to re-enter, deeply listen to, and engage in conscious dialogue with your body, using movement as a vehicle for insight. Through gentle hands-on experiments, you will increase your storytelling physical vocabulary, understand the connections between experience and story characters and themes, and become an embodiment of your narrative.
Limit 20

Lodging

Find your perfect comfort place by clicking Jackson Lodging

Fees & Registration

• Friday and Saturday Evening StoryFest Shows: For $20 you can attend both Shows

• Saturday Morning Family Show: FREE, but there will be a Donation Jar at the door

• Workshops: Each Workshop is $25