That’s Our Story, and We’re Sticking to It: UA’s Creative Campus Presents Black Warrior Storytelling Festival

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama storytellers, comedians and folklorists will share their tales at the Black Warrior Storytelling Festival Friday, April 3, and Saturday, April 4, in River Road Park at McCorvey Drive and Jack Warner Parkway.

Creative Campus Initiative, a program of The University of Alabama, is presenting the festival. The event is free and open to the public.

The festival begins at 6 p.m. Friday, April 3, with a program that includes author Rick Bragg, storyteller Nina Reeves, UA staff member Brice Miller, Huntsville storyteller Bruce Walker and UA faculty member and storyteller Millie Jackson. The public is encouraged to bring picnic dinners and blankets.

The festival continues Saturday, April 4, in conjunction with the Alabama Crew Team’s Spring Regatta. The regatta starts at 8:30 a.m. The storytelling festival resumes at 10 a.m. with an open-mike time and a free workshop for people interested in learning how to tell stories.

Around noon, the day’s program of storytellers will begin. The confirmed lineup includes Steven Hobbs, professional storyteller and UA law professor; Bryant-era Alabama coach Clem Gryska; Native American folklorist Betsy Irwin; Hillcrest High drama teacher Jody Evans; local comedian Max Karrh; Huntsville storyteller Danny Turner; Birmingham storyteller Henry Lagman; Huntsville storyteller Bruce Walker; Athens storyteller Doug Wells; and Greensboro civil rights movement storyteller Theresa Burroughs. The April 4 program is scheduled to run until 9 p.m.

Support for the Black Warrior Storytelling Festival comes from the Creative Campus Initiative and Housing Residential Communities with additional support from the lineup of storytellers, Harrison Galleries, Moundville Archaeological Park and the Randall-Reilly family of companies.

To arrange an appointment with Creative Campus intern Mary Margaret Randall, the event organizer or any of the storytellers contact Alexis Clark, coordinator, at alexis.clark@ua.edu.

Under the auspices of UA’s Office of Academic Affairs, Creative Campus Initiative is a collaborative system connecting students, faculty and community to nurture innovative thinkers who turn ideas into action. Creative Campus seeks to serve as a hub of collaboration and creative activity at The University of Alabama. At the heart of Creative Campus is the undergraduate and graduate intern program. For more information on Creative Campus, visit www.creativecampus.ua.edu