UA’s Creative Campus Brings Back Storytelling Festival

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama Creative Campus Initiative’s Second Black Warrior Storytelling Festival will be from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday, March 28, at the Park at Manderson Landing at the base of Hackberry Lane and Jack Warner Parkway in Tuscaloosa.

The festival will highlight local storytellers and performers. Tellers include Steve Clark, sports enthusiast and author of Bear Revelations; Tennessee native and inspirational storyteller Molly Catron; Abigail Hardin, author of Look at Me; I Am Just Like You and founder of the Open My Eyes Foundation; Mobile civil rights author Frye Gaillard; and two members of the UA Forensics Team, Angeles Burke and Blake Williams.

Jody Evans, Hillcrest High School’s creative writing teacher and dramatic interpreter, will make her second appearance at the Black Warrior Storytelling Festival. Jack Leigh, who has been a big part of the local music in Tuscaloosa, will grace the stage telling stories about rock ’n’ roll.

Other performances include one-man-band musician Jerry Ryan and selected dances from UA student dancers. The UA Drum Circle will make its second appearance at the festival.  All audience members are encouraged to bring blankets and picnic baskets to enjoy the unique atmosphere on the banks of the Black Warrior River.

The festival is presented as part of Tuscaloosa’s Small Towns and Downtowns event that includes the Tour de Tuscaloosa bike race and the Druid City Arts Festival. The Black Warrior Storytelling Festival will conclude the weekend with interactive activities for the whole family, including painting, journaling and kite-flying.

In its first year, the festival was honored with a proclamation from Mayor Walt Maddox indicating how storytelling will enhance Tuscaloosa’s cultural arts scene for years to come. Visitors can check out the Creative Campus Web site to learn more about last year’s Black Warrior Storytelling Festival.

For details, contact Whitney Davidson, coordinator, 334/488-5896 or davidson.whit@gmail.com.

Under the auspices of UA’s Office of Academic Affairs The Creative Campus 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.