Now in its tenth season, “StoryTown Radio Show” is a monthly, scripted production, based on local stories and regional music, and performed by an inter-generational, multi-cultural cast of local actors, storytellers, and musicians, to create an audio patchwork quilt of what it means to be home in the mountains.
The Jonesborough StoryTown performance has traditionally taken place at the International Storytelling Center in Downtown Jonesborough, but due to COVID-19 we now broadcast from our McKinney Center Facebook page HERE and subscribe to our YouTube channel HERE to watch also. The performance is also broadcasted monthly to the Tri-Cities region on the local NPR station 89.5 FM, WETS. These productions celebrate the culture, history, and stories of the people of Jonesborough and the Southern Appalachian Region.
Real stories, real people. This one-hour storytelling program is filled with true-life adventures of people past and present from Jonesborough, Tennessee, and the surrounding Southern Appalachian Region. Each program presents stories built around a common theme. All of these stories, which are collected from the hills and hollers, and sometimes up in the mountains of East Tennessee, are scripted into a show that explores the culture, heritage and history of these diverse voices. Home to the town of the first Abolitionist Newspaper in the Country. Home to the state that made Women’s Suffrage a reality. Home to Warner Institute, training Freedmen and Women as teachers beginning less than a decade after the end of the Civil War. Surprising, heartwarming and often hilarious stories of the independent East Tennessee people come to life with a voice and accent that can be found nowhere else.
The Jonesborough StoryTown is a community building group and open to anyone who would like to participate. Everyone is welcome, from all ages and backgrounds, regardless of experience. If you live here, you belong! If you have a story to tell, this is the place! For more information contact Jules Corriere at 423.794.6320.
2021 Season Line-up
| Date | Story |
|---|---|
| January 25 | MUSICAL TRADITIONS |
| February 22 | BLACK HISTORY IN WASHINGTON COUNTY |
| March 22 | WOMEN IN MOTION – Stories of Women Educators |
| April 26 | THE GREAT OUTDOORS |
| May 24 | NATURE CALLS |
| June 28 | OUR PLACE IN HISTORY |
| July 26 | CELEBRATING OUR VETERANS |
| August 23 | CUSTOMS, TRADES AND CULTURES |
| September 27 | APPALACHIAN FOOD WAYS |
| October 25 | CURIOSITIES |
| November | HOLIDAY TRADITIONS |
For tickets to the live production, held the fourth Monday of every month at the International Storytelling Center, call 423.753.1010. Some shows do sell out so advance purchase is recommended. Note: The November performance is at the McKinney Center.
In addition to the live performances and the local broadcasts, the production is also streamed online by the local NPR affiliate WETS FM 89.5 on their HD channel 1, so the world can listen to and be inspired by the stories of Jonesborough, Tennessee, and the people of Appalachia. The radio performances are aired the last Wednesday of the month on HD Channel 1.
In lieu of ticket sales for 2021 we will be broadcasting all performances free to the public. If you are interested in finding out ways to help the StoryTown Radio Show or to make a donation please check out our StoryTown Fundraising Campaign to show your support HERE
