4-23-98

Contacts:
Shirley Basfield Dunlap, ISU Theatre, (515) 294-7627
Steve Sullivan, News Service, (515) 294-3720

WORKSHOP, CONCERT AND FIBBING WILL HIGHLIGHT ISU INTERNATIONAL STORYTELLING FESTIVAL

AMES, Iowa -- A master storyteller's concert, workshops and a little fibbing will highlight Iowa State University's International Storytelling Festival Saturday, May 2.

Three workshops will be conducted by the master storytellers Brenda Wong Aoki, Kevin Locke and Omofolabo Ajayi-Soyinka. Effective storytelling techniques and the stories of African, Asian and Native American cultures will be discussed at the workshops. The event also will feature a "Swapping Ground," where festival participants can share and swap stories, and a "Liar's Bench," where participants will have the opportunity to tell the biggest fib and longest lie.

Aoki, Locke and Ajayi-Soyinka also will perform at the master storyteller's concert at 7:30 p.m. in Fisher Theater.

Aoki is a storyteller, solo theatre artist, singer and actress. She is known for her intense, lyrical solo theater pieces in which she creates a wide spectrum of characters. She has performed throughout the United States, Canada and Japan.

Locke is a Lakota dancer, indigenous flute player and storyteller. His stories focus on many traditional Native American legends. Locke has performed throughout the world.

Ajayi-Soyinka's storytelling technique is movement-based and draws primarily from her Yoruba background in Nigeria and other West African traditions. She creates human and animal characters in her storytelling.

Most festival events, including the workshops with master storytellers, are free and open to the public. The concert is at 7:30 p.m. in Fisher Theatre at the Iowa State Center. Tickets are $8 for students and $10 for non-students and are on sale at Iowa State Center box office and through TicketMaster.

The festival is presented by the ISU Theatre and ISU International Resource Center. A schedule for the festival is below. For more information, call (515) 294-7627.

ISU International Storytelling Festival
Saturday, May 2

8:30 am - Registration, ISU Memorial Union

9-11 a.m. - Workshop session, Great Hall, MU

Noon - 2 p.m. - Workshop session, Great Hall, MU

2- 4 p.m. - Workshop session, Great Hall, MU

2:30 - 5 p.m. - Swapping Ground, Campanile Room, MU

2:30 - 5 p.m. - Liar's Bench, Gallery, MU

7:30 p.m. - International Storytelling Concert, Fisher Theater, Iowa State Center,

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Revised 4/23/98