Stories will take center stage at Eastport Arts Center when local storytellers relate true tales in a bid for cash and prizes.
“I’m very excited to see these (StorySlams) come back to Eastport,” said Joan
Lowden, whose ArtFests included the area’s first StorySlams post-Covid, and who will serve as this StorySlam’s master of ceremonies. “It’s so wonderful because everything is fresh and innovative. That’s super-exciting for an audience.”
StorySlam, the final event in this year’s Stories We Tell Festival, will be held
Saturday, October 5, at 7 pm. The free event is being sponsored through a partnership with EAC, Sipayik Museum, and The Quoddy Tides. Donations will be gratefully accepted and used to sustain programs like these.
Those interested in telling a story can either sign up at the event or register ahead of time by email to eastportstories@gmail.com.
Eastport’s Sam LaRusse is one of the storytellers who has already signed up to
present. They offered to perform at the event because they’re drawn to telling stories in many ways—from poetry to orally.
“I’ve done something like this before and it was really fun,” they said, adding that hearing the stories of others was also powerful. LaRusse will tell a comedic story but emphasized that all types of stories are appropriate for a StorySlam.
Specially selected judges will be on hand to select the top three winners, who will receive cash prizes for their tales. The first-prize winner will take home $150, the second-prize winner $100, and the third-prize winner $50.
Although the StorySlam will be fairly informal, there are a few rules by which all storytellers must abide. First, the stories must be true and must involve something experienced by the storyteller and not another person. Second, the stories cannot be read; they must be told from memory. And, third, stories must be between four and five minutes in length.
The stories will be judged on their length, a story under four minutes will receive lower marks and one over five minutes will be disqualified from the competition. They will also be judged on their strength: whether the tale has a good beginning and ending.
Kevin Raye has agreed to be one of the three judges for the StorySlam. He said he’s excited about participating and hopes everyone will come out to either present their short story or just listen to the stories told by their neighbors.
“This will be fun! I grew up in Eastport and Perry listening to stories from my
grandparents and other people,” Raye said. “It’s an important part of our local culture and tradition. I’ve always loved it and I’m thrilled that the EAC is featuring it!”
Eastport Arts Center is at 36 Washington Street, Eastport, and at www.eastportartscenter.org, and is handicapped-accessible.
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