Now Hear This

Think back to your youth: How did you learn the difference between right and wrong? How did you find out about manners? And tolerance? Chances are, you were taught these valuable life lessons through stories. But what tales have you heard lately? Just because you're grown doesn't mean that you're finished learning or that the storyteller has nothing to offer you. It's time to reopen your ears, and the 29th annual St. Louis Storytelling Festival, held Wednesday through Saturday (April 30 through May 3), can help. During these four days, raconteurs from far and wide (including Heather Forest, pictured) fill a variety of local venues — from the Gateway Arch to Laumeier Sculpture Park (12580 Rott Road, Sunset Hills) and from Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (30 Ramey Street, Collinsville, Illinois) to Trinity Lutheran Church (812 Soulard Street) — with an assortment of narratives for all ages (with special adult programming happening at five different locations at 7 p.m. on Thursday). To check out the schedule and to learn more about the storytellers, call 314-516-5961 or visit www.umsl.edu/storytelling; all events are free, which should also be music to your ears.
April 30-May 3, 2008