Storytelling

is an art form and nobody knows this better than the organizers and performers

at the Azalea Storytelling Festival.

The festival

has had the best storytellers in the nation over the last four years and

this year will be no different, with a Grammy Award winner and a national

television radio host among the six featured guests.

The festival,

in the Callaway Auditorium at LaGrange College, will feature Jane "Miss

Jane" Cunningham, Donald Davis, David Holt, Nancy Kavanaugh, Erich

Litwin and Barbara McBride-Smith.

Davis tells

stories of growing up in the Southern Appalachian mountains. He is a master

storyteller, author, recording artist and ordained minister. He spends

300 days a year on the road away from his home in Ocracoke Island, N.C.,

and is an author of eight books and numerous audio books.

McBride-Smith

began her storytelling career as a librarian. She is known for an updated

mythology. "Greek Myths, Western Style" puts a "Texas twist"

on ancient tales while preserving the essential elements of the original

myths.

Cunningham's

stories deal with growing up in Mississippi. She specializes in legends

and folk tales that were told on long childhood rides in the country.

Litwin is a

respected musician and storyteller, weaving both forms together. He specializes

in "interactive" experiences with young audiences, combining

folk tales with blues, country and children's music. Kavanaugh's work

as a teacher, writer and storyteller spans 20 years. Her fascination with

oral performance has led her to stories of ancient and modern women.

Holt is most

likely the most famous of all artists featured this year. He is familiar

to many as the host of National Public Radio's "Riverwalk" program,

host of Public Broadcasting's "Folkways" series and as the host

of The National Network's "Fire on the Mountain" and "Celebration

Express."

He also is

the founder of the Appalachian Music Program at Warren Wilson College

in Swannonoa, N.C., and can play 10 musical instruments. He is a Grammy

Award winner and was named to Esquire magazine's register of men and women

who are changing America as "The Best New Generation."

The storytelling

festival begins Friday, March 2 with registration at 5:30 p.m. A light

supper and storytelling sampler begins at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 3, registration

begins at 9 a.m. Saturday's first concert begins at 10 a.m. and features

Davis, McBride-Smith and Holt. After a break for lunch from noon to 2

p.m., conversations with the storytellers will begin.

The afternoon

concert featuring Cunningham, Litwin and Kavanaugh will begin at 3:30

p.m. The evening concert begins at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, sacred

storytelling and a sing-a-long begins at 9 a.m. and lasts until noon.

Tickets are

$30 for the full festival, $15 for Friday night, $20 for Saturday and

Sunday, $10 for Saturday morning and $5 for individual concerts. For ticket

reservations or information, phone LaGrange College at 706-880-8276.

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