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Tickets on sale for Flatwater Storytelling Festival

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Rev. Robert B. Jones

The Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival in June will feature three nationally acclaimed storytellers: Lyn Ford, Bil Lepp, and Rev. Robert B. Jones.

“Well-known to audiences throughout the country for their wit and wisdom, these three performers are guaranteed to make audiences laugh, cry, and reminisce,” a press release said.

The annual festival is scheduled June 2-3 at the Historic Grove Theater in Oak Ridge.

The storytellers will perform different stories at each show. Two special workshops will be offered preceding the performances.

Tickets are now on sale at Eventbrite or in person at the Ferrell Shop in Oak Ridge (cash or check only). You can take advantage of the Early Bird Special and get a discount when you buy tickets for both the afternoon and evening shows on Saturday, the press release said.

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Tickets on sale for Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival

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The 5th Annual Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival in Oak Ridge will feature three world-class storytellers from June 2-4, 2022: Sheila Arnold, Bil Lepp, and Kim Weitkamp. (Submitted photo)

The Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival in Oak Ridge in June will feature three renowned storytellers: Sheila Arnold, Bil Lepp, and Kim Weitkamp. The festival is scheduled from June 2-4, and “early bird” tickets are now on sale. This fifth annual event will be in person with four shows at the Historic Grove Theater in Oak Ridge, and it will include the story of the Oak Ridge 85.

Early bird tickets can be purchased online at Eventbrite or the Ferrell Shop (cash or check only) in Oak Ridge. “This is a great Christmas gift for all ages,” a press release said.

The two-day storytelling event on Friday and Saturday will feature Arnold, Lepp and Weitkamp, “who are known to audiences nationwide for their wit, wisdom, and abilities to make audiences laugh, cry, and reminisce,” the press release said.

On Thursday, June 2, Lepp will lead a workshop.

Arnold will highlight the Friday night performance by telling the story of the Oak Ridge 85, the 85 brave young people who were the first to desegregate a school district in the South, the press release said.

“Few people know of this 1955 milestone event that took place in Oak Ridge,” the press release said. “Sheila will honor the Oak Ridge 85 by telling some of their stories.”

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Secret City Improv Festival announces September lineup

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The lineup has been announced for the first Secret City Improv Festival in Oak Ridge this fall.

The festival is scheduled for September 24 and 25 at the Historic Grove Theater in Oak Ridge.

Two rounds of submissions made up the qualification process for the Secret City Improv Festival, a press release said. The priority consideration period concluded on Friday, July 16. The final submission will conclude on August 13.

“We are excited to announce the first 16 teams that have been selected,” the press release said. “The selection of teams features a diverse lineup of styles, team size, and show format.”

The selections include both local improvisation teams and teams representing nine other states, the release said.

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First Secret City Improv Festival scheduled for September

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The first Secret City Improv Festival in Oak Ridge is scheduled for September.

The festival had originally been scheduled for October 2020, but it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a press release said.

The rescheduled festival will now be Friday, September 24, and Saturday, September 25, this year at the Grove Theater.

The festival is a spin-off festival from the “perennially fun and spontaneous Gatlinburg Improv Festival,” the press release said.

“Our goal for the Secret City Improv Festival is to provide an environment to foster networking opportunities and collaboration for improv teams from all around,” the press release said. “Our mission is to showcase a diversity of teams and styles on the stage and to foster growth through workshops.”

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‘A Change is Gonna Come’: Musical journeys through American race relations

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Submitted photo

Submitted

Come for an afternoon of music and a great way to end February, Black History, and Interfaith Harmony Month in Oak Ridge!

Multiple community organizations join to make this free concert available. The greater Oak Ridge community welcomes Eric Dozier to the Historic Grove Theater at 123 Randolph Road in Oak Ridge on Saturday February 29, from 4 to 6 p.m. Light refreshments will be served and a Q&A with the artist will follow. The program is free to the public, and donations will be accepted.

From the small rural town of Bakewell, Tennessee, where he was born, Dozier has brought his love of music to the world. He has traveled throughout the United States and Canada, and toured internationally since the age of 12. It was a critical encounter in the Czech Republic, a far cry from Bakewell, that prompted him to pursue his calling. This led him to recognize the true power of music to heal hearts. Of himself he says: “I am a cultural activist, anti-racism educator, and itinerant blues preacher leveraging the power of music to promote healing, justice, and racial reconciliation.”

Eric Dozier is a music educator, cultural activist, and recording artist who uses music to engage communities in dialogue about racism. Encouraging people in finding and lending their voice to the ever-emerging story of humanity lies at the heart of his work. He is committed to “Uniting the World One Song at a Time.” A graduate of Duke University and Duke Divinity School, Dozier is currently pursuing a doctorate researching the effects of Black Gospel Music on communities outside of the Black Church.

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Oak Ridge Orchestra, violist to pay tribute to trailblazing black, African American composers

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Derek Reeves

The Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra with special guest violist Derek Reeves will pay tribute to trailblazing black and African American composers in Musical Firsts on Sunday.

The concert is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. Sunday, February 9, in the Historic Grove Theater at 123 Randolph Road in Oak Ridge. Tickets are available at ORCMA.org, by phone at (865) 483-5569, or at The Ferrell Shop in Jackson Square. Tickets are also available at the door. Prices are $25 for adults, $10 for young adults ages 19-29, and free for youth 18 and younger through the Penny4Arts initiative.

The orchestra will perform music by acclaimed composers Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, William Grant Still, Daniel Bernard Roumain, and Jessie Montgomery. Reeves, the soloist, will be featured in the music by Still and also the “Viola Concerto” by Georg Friedrich Telemann before leading area viola students in a master class, a press release said.

“I’ve known Derek since he was a talented undergraduate student at Indiana University,” said Music Director Dan Allcott. “Now a seasoned professional, Derek belongs to that special category of musicians who has the ability to cross multiple boundaries and musical genres to engage all audiences. Oak Ridgers are in for a treat.”

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Free community Thanksgiving Dinner is Thursday, Nov. 28

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High Places Community Church
The Grove Theater at High Places Community Church is pictured above.

Everyone is invited to a free community Thanksgiving Dinner in Oak Ridge on Thursday, November 28, a press release said.

The dinner is scheduled from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Thanksgiving at the Historic Grove Theater, which is located at 123 Randolph Road in Oak Ridge. Reservations are not required.

“The grassroots annual tradition continues!” a press release said. “Everyone should have someone to give thanks with on Thanksgiving!”

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Storm the Grove will help young musicians, Grove Theater

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Storm the Grove Poster Sept 13 2019

Storm the Grove will help young musicians and raise money for the historic Grove Theater on Friday.

It’s a spoof of Area 51. Organizers said you can fly out to Nevada in hopes of seeing an alien—or save money, “storm the grove,” and be the alien you want to see. You are welcome to come dressed as your favorite space alien. There will be a cash prize for the best costume, organizers said.

Storm the Grove will spotlight Tennessee bands (musical earthlings): Zack Miles, Chloe Kimes, Nightly, and Drive Thru Therapy. One band is from Nashville, two from Knoxville, and one is based in Oak Ridge.

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Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival this weekend

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Pictured above from left to right are Carmen Agra Deedy, Bill Lepp, and Bobby Norfolk.

The Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival will feature three world renowned storytellers in Oak Ridge this weekend.

This annual event is led by the three Rotary Clubs in Oak Ridge, all volunteers. This second annual storytelling festival will be held at the Historic Grove Theater. Due to public demand at the 2018 performances, a larger venue and an additional performance have been added, a press release said.

Bil Lepp, Carmen Agra Deedy, and Bobby Norfolk will perform for the 2019 festival. They have achieved national and international recognition and appear regularly at festivals, including the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee, the press release said.

On Saturday, June 1, the Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival will present the art and magic of live storytelling with three performances at the Historic Grove Theater: 10 a.m. to noon, 2 to 5 p.m. (with intermission), and 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. (with intermission). There will be different stories at each session. Although the stories would be rated PG, it is suggested that the 10 a.m. performance would be most enjoyable for children five and older as it is a special family-oriented performance, the press release said. A free crafts-for-kids activity will be offered beginning at 9 a.m. at the Grove Theater.

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Writing workshop on Friday starts Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival

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Minton Sparks

Renowned writer and storyteller Minton Sparks will present another writing workshop this year as part of the 2019 Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival that starts on Friday.

The writing workshop is scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, May 31, at the University of Tennessee Arboretum Auditorium at 901 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge.

“Let Minton help you craft stories from your family history and experiences, and structure it for effectiveness,” a press release said. “Join us for this workshop that will ‘spark’ your creativity and inspire you in your writing journal. This is the first event of the 2019 Flatwater Tales weekend.”

Minton Sparks will conduct a three-hour interactive writing workshop titled “My Crazy Kin—Transform Your Family Stories into a Compelling Personal Narrative.”

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Comedy at the Grove with Josh Phillips on May 3

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Comedy at the Grove welcomes back Oak Ridge native Josh Phillips for an entertaining evening filled with laughs on Friday, May 3, a press release said.

Phillips is the headliner. The show will feature Moody Molavi of Chattanooga. Knoxville’s own Michael Sayne will be the host.

The doors will open at 7 p.m., and the show will start at 8 p.m. Concessions will be available for purchase in the lobby. You must be 18 to enter. Tickets are on sale now at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4229686.

Headliner
Josh Phillips [Read more…]

Flatwater Tales returns June 1

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Pictured above from left to right are Carmen Agra Deedy, Bil Lepp, and Bobby Norfolk.

The Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival, featuring three world renowned storytellers, returns to Oak Ridge on Saturday, June 1.

It’s the second annual storytelling festival in Oak Ridge. The annual event is led by the three Rotary Clubs in Oak Ridge, all volunteers.

This year’s festival will be in the Historic Grove Theater. Due to public demand at the 2018 performances, a larger venue and an additional performance have been added, a press release said.

Bil Lepp, Carmen Agra Deedy, and Bobby Norfolk will perform for the 2019 festival. They have achieved national and international recognition and appear regularly at festivals, including the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee, the press release said.

[Read more…]

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