Interview with a Storyteller

Since I am asked the same questions often, here is a snippet of an interview from 2000.

Interviewer: How did you become a storyteller?

Carol: I moved to Arizona to study theatre at Arizona State University. It was during my MFA I discovered the South Mountain Community College Storytelling Institute. One class led to another and soon I was even teaching a few classes for them. Through those courses and the mentorship of excellent storytellers, I began to perform at libraries and schools. That led to other bigger performances which gave me the courage to market myself as a teller.

Interviewer: What does a storyteller do?

Carol: There are many styles of storytelling, so it is difficult to describe all of the styles of telling, but I will describe what I do. I am a blend of traditional storytelling and dramatic telling. I normally do not move around a whole lot which means I stand and tell folklore, personal stories, or other tales I have learned or created. However, I do incorporate theatrics if telling for young audiences. I often use puppets or audience members to act out portions of the stories. Basically, I tell stories!

Interviewer: What do you enjoy about storytelling?

Carol: Normally, I am not playing a character which allows me to connect with the audience through eye contact and banter. When I am telling a story, the reaction of the audience will influence my telling or even the selection of stories I tell. This connection is so personal for me. After performances, audience members want to share their stories and that is incredibly meaningful. It's as if we have journeyed together.

Interviewer: What is your favorite story to tell?

Carol: There are so many! Although I really like being funny and getting laughs, I am most proud of Emma Edmonds, a Civil War Spy. While a student at South Mountain Community Theatre Storytelling Institute, I began to learn the epic tale about Sarah Emma Edmondson, a Canadian woman who dressed as a man and fought for Lincoln during the Civil War. The process of learning such a long story (ranging from 45-60 minutes) was a personal challenge. The greatest reward is after the performance when audience members wish to talk to me about Emma and the Civil War. The affirmation that my performance connected with multiple people of various ages and that Emma's story is still heard makes me very proud of the hard work that I put into the learning of the story.

Interviewer: Do you just memorize stories and tell them?

Carol: I wish it were that easy! Memorized stories sound memorized and stale. I try to find ways to connect the story to my life or travels. The personal connection allows me to insert more of my personality and "frame" the story with an introduction that will hopefully connect the story not only to me, but also to the listener. Sometimes I change up the story quite a bit and sometimes the story remains close to the original I read, but I always try to make the story mine. Think of what a singer does with a cover song. You want the song to be recognizable, but also your own. The same is true with storytelling.