Stage East’s inaugural StorySlam,“The Canned Sardine”, made for a funny and heartfelt addition to the Eastport ArtWalk’s inaugural Passport Weekend. Part of a larger slate of events, the storytelling competition drew a sizable crowd and included eight storytellers covering topics from flouting no-pet rules in Florida hotels to chasing UFOs in Massachusetts. Emcee Mark Macey opened the event with his story of traveling 2,708 miles to arrive back in Eastport just two hours before the event began. “It was a great way to come home, if just a little a bit frantic,” he said.

Dan Alcott accepts his 1st place prize, a gift card to The Commons, from Mark Macey, as an appreciative amphitheater audience looks on. Thanks to EAC/Stage East volunteer extraordinaire Bernie Cecire for taking these and the photos below.

Prizes from The Commons, Seaside Stones, and Shear Creations were awarded to Dan Alcott (first place) for his story about six shooters and the wild west, Oen Kennedy (second place) for his story about the strange transformation of loons into a seal and Susan Alcott (third place) for her story about that most famous of South American dishes, Spaghetti-Os. All storytellers received two complimentary tickets to any one performance in Stage East’s 30th Anniversary Season, which will be announced in July.

“I come from a family of story tellers reaching back to my Greek-immigrant grandfather, noted Slam champion Dan Allcott, a summer resident who leads an alternate life in Tennessee. “My wife, Susan Capron, encouraged me to attend. She shared a touching story that included a childhood memory of her recently deceased father.” In addition to being regular participants in the center’s Moose Island Follies, with his entire family, Alcott has long been connected with Eastport Strings, and memorably performed as cello soloist with Passamaquoddy Bay Symphony Orchestra in June 2019 concerts. “As a musician, I tell stories for a living!”

  • Mark Macey relives his recent cross-country travel
    with partner Emily and parrotlet, Reggie
  • Levi regales the audience with tales from Florida
  • In a story dedicated to her father, Susan Capron recalls mistaking Spaghetti-O’s for Latin American cuisine

  • Dan talks run-ins with six-shooters in the West
  • Oen Kennedy ponders a commune with nature via transforming loons
  • Jane Elliot recalls chasing UFOs with her father
  • Pam Kristan talks moving, transitions, and grief as a gift

July 24th and August 28th present two more chances for aspiring storytellers to participate in “The Canned Sardine”. Those interested in receiving coaching are welcome to attend the workshop at 2:30pm at the Eastport Arts Center before heading down to Sutherland Amphitheater at 4:00pm for the event.

Stage East is a constituent group of Eastport Arts Center. More information about this event may be found at eastportartscenter.org, or by emailing organizer Mark Macey, mark@eastportartscenter.org.