National authors to headline year's first storytelling night

Two nationally acclaimed storytellers, Bil Lepp and Kevin Kling, are headlining Cape Girardeau's first humorous storytelling night, the third such event in the year.

Cape Girardeau welcomes storytellers and story lovers in April for a three-day festival and in October for a night of ghost stories. The Afternoon and Evening of Humorous Storytelling will take place at 2 and 7 p.m. Jan. 20 at the Rose Theatre, inside the Graul Building on Southeast Missouri State University's campus.

Kling is an author, playwright and storyteller, as well as a regular commentator on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered." His stories are nostalgic and autobiographical. He had already graduated from college with a degree in theater and was a playwright by trade when fate stepped in with some changes.

"I was at a party at someone's house ... I was in the kitchen just talking to some people, telling a story, and one of them, who happened to be a theater producer, asked me if I wanted to do this for an audience," Kling said.

That was 30 years ago, and he's been telling his stories across the country ever since.

Kling and Lepp met in 2003 at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesboro, Tenn.

"It was like I'd met a kindred spirit," Kling said.

Telling stories is a family tradition for Lepp, a five-time champion of the West Virginia Liars Contest, who grew up listening to his grandfather, father and brother weave tall tales at the dinner table.

"The truth in my family is a very fluid event," he said. "My grosspapa -- that's grandfather in German -- had a fascinating American story, but the way he told it was always a little bit different."

Lepp's brother Paul has won the West Virginia Liars Contest six times. Lepp's son has won the under 17 division three times, and his daughter has won the division twice. As a professional storyteller, Lepp is no longer eligible to enter the contest but still participates as a master of ceremonies and judge.

He also has plenty of other opportunities.

"I'm doing a show for Comedy Central in March in Hollywood," Lepp said. "Comedy Central has theaters where they bring in 100 people as audience members and Comedy Central films it professionally. The performers don't get paid and the audience doesn't pay admission, but if the audience seems to like it my show gets passed along to the next person in the decision-making process, so I guess we'll see what happens."

The storytelling festival in April celebrates its fifth anniversary this year, and the ghost storytelling event in October turns four. The humorous storytelling event was added to "keep storytelling fresh in people's minds," according to Stacy Lane, public relations director of the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"If you've never been to a storytelling event, this is the one to go to," Lane said. "These guys are hilarious, and it's a great opportunity to see both of them at the same time for such an affordable price. I wouldn't miss it."

Dr. Joel Rhodes, a board member of the CVB, called Lepp and Kling "giants in the storytelling community" and said they excel at telling 30- to 40-minute stories.

"And their stories are more narrative than going to see a comedian," he said. "It's storytelling with a humorous focus."

Rhodes said the stories appeal to families but also more mature audiences.

"They're not really for elementary-age kids," he said. "I would say middle school and up would get them, but they're not little-kid stories."

Rhodes has been instrumental in bringing much of the talent to the CVB storytelling events and said he believes the art of storytelling is getting a lot of interest nationally.

"There's something of a renaissance for storytelling going on in this generation," he said. "People are becoming turned on by this ancient art form."

Tickets for the two shows are available at the CVB, at 400 Broadway, by calling 335-1631 or at www.visitcape.com. Matinee tickets are $7.50 in advance and $10 at the door. Admission to the evening performance is $10 in advance or $12.50 at the door.

Shuttles will travel from the Centenary United Methodist Church lot, at 300 North Ellis St., and at the university parking lot at the intersection of Broadway and Pacific Street. Shuttles will run from 1:15 to 4:45 p.m. and again from 6:15 to 9:30 p.m.