Monthly Archives: October 2026

Local Favorite Paul Strickland to Emcee The National Storytelling Festival

Photo by Mikki Shaffner.(Covington, KY) Cincinnati’s favorite storyteller, Paul Strickland, has been invited for the second year in a row to serve as Master of Ceremonies at the prestigious National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee. The popular three-day event is the largest and oldest storytelling festival in America and draws thousands of visitors from all over the globe.

This year, in addition, Strickland will teach a storytelling workshop entitled “Funny Is A Skill.” Covington resident Strickland is the founder of Tell Stories Better, an online teaching resource to help people do just that. “Funny Is A Skill” is one of Strickland’s most popular offerings, and drew a record number of registrants when he offered it online earlier this year.

As a featured teller at the 2023 National Storytelling Festival, Strickland performed for audiences of up to two thousand people at a time, and drew standing-room only crowds to his tale-telling tents. It is experiences like this that inspired him to found a storytelling festival right here in Cincinnati, and the thriving sixth-year Cincinnati Storytelling Festival will be held this November in the heart of OTR.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL STORYTELLING FESTIVAL
Every October since 1973, thousands of travelers have visited Tennessee’s oldest town. They come for one purpose–to hear stories and to tell them at the National Storytelling Festival. This celebration of America’s rich and varied storytelling tradition, the oldest and most respected gathering anywhere in America devoted to storytelling, has in turn spawned a national revival of this venerable art.
https://www.storytellingcenter.net/festival/main/

ABOUT PAUL STRICKLAND
Cincinnati audiences know and love Paul Strickland for his award-winning performances at the Cincinnati Fringe Festival, including Ain’t True & Uncle False (2013 All-Access Pick-of-the-Fringe Award winner) and Balls of Yarns (2017 Critics’ Pick-of-the-Fringe Award winner).

Paul is also one of the co-founders of the Cincinnati Storytelling Festival which has brought nationally-recognized storytellers including Bil Lepp, Sheila Arnold, Adam Booth and Charlotte Blake Alston to Cincinnati audiences. The Cincinnati Storytelling Festival will be returning for a sixth year this November 12-14, featuring national storytellers Kevin Kling and Motoko Dworkin. https://www.cincystoryfest.com/

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Auditions Announced for THE MOST FABULOUS STORY EVER TOLD at Parade

Show Description:

“God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.” The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told ponders what it would be like if the opposite were true. In this comedy about the struggle for faith- from Mesopotamia to Chelsea- Adam and Steve and Jane and Mabel- Earth’s first two couples- seek God on the ark, beside the pyramids, and at K-Mart on Christmas Eve.

Act One is a comedic look at faith and history through the eyes of Earth’s first two same-sex couples (Adam and Steve, and Jane and Mabel) Along the way, Mabel and Adam invent God, but Jane and Steve are skeptical.

Act Two jumps to modern day. Adam and Steve are hosting a Christmas party in their New York apartment. Jane is nine months pregnant even though she always thought of herself as the butch one. Jane and Mabel want to use the Christmas party as a chance to get married. The ceremony is interrupted as Jane gives birth.

We are looking for physical and dynamic actors with a willingness to play to bring this text to life. A strong range is a must. As you may be asked to play multiple contrasting parts. Please apply for any role which speaks to you regardless of gender expression, ability, race, or body type.

Audition Information

Contract Details

Performances are December 11,12,18,19 at 7:30pm and 13,20 at 2:30pm. Rehearsals will be dependent on actors’ availability. We are looking to start rehearsals early November. Weekdays. 6:30-9:30. Actors will be receiving a stipend at the end of the run, dependent on ticket sales. 

Characters

  • Stage Manager: (Any Gender, Any Age, Any Race) Headset on and prompt book at hand, cues the creation of the world. Throughout the play, she’s in control of everything. In other words, she’s either God, or she thinks she is.
  • Adam:  (Any Gender, 20s-30s, Any Race) One half of the first couple alongside Steve. Enthusiastic, curious and wide eyed. Adam is prone to asking deep existential and theological questions that ultimately drive the narrative.
  • Steve:  (Any Gender, 20s-30s, Any Race) Adam’s devoted partner through the ages. He contrasts Adam’s bubbly nature by being more grounded and realistic. This being a point of contention in their relationship, but also being why they work.
  • Jane:  (Any Gender, 20s-30s, Any Race) Skeptical, sharp-witted, and irritable. She helps start civilization. A real roll up your sleeves and do the hard work kind of gal. She would do anything for her partner Mabel, including but not limited to, getting pregnant so she can live out her dream of being a mother.
  • Mabel:  (Any Gender, 20s-30s, Any Race) Jane’s loving partner and Adam’s best friend. Energetic and community-minded, she participates in the foundational moments of human history. She oftentimes is believed to be delusional, but her heart is always in the right place.
  • Sharon: (Any Gender, Any Age, Any Race) A wheelchair-bound, Jewish lesbian Rabbi from cable access TV, who arrives to officiate Jane and Mabel’s Wedding. (Actor will be playing other roles as well)
  • Cheryl: (Any Gender, Any Age, Any Race) A small town Mormon woman who Adam works with at the school. She’s a bit naive, but she makes up for it with spirit and a willingness to help wherever she can.  (Actor will be playing other roles as well)
  • Kevin: (Any Gender, 20s-30s, Any Race) A gogo dancer. The life of the party. Everyone loves Kevin and accepts his constant tardiness. (Actor will be playing other roles as well)
  • Trey: (Any Gender, Any Age, Any Race) A sophisticated, upper-class Connecticut WASP with biting comic timing  (Actor will be playing other roles as well)

Director Ellis Quinne (they/them) local artist. They have written and directed plays and musicals. Some of those being, Ordinary Days, Ride the Cyclone, Fire Bringer, and an original play they premiered in New York City this summer called Imaginary. As a director, Ellis specializes in physical acting. First, establishing the character through table work. What are their wants and desires? Then finding how that character moves and letting every other choice come from that foundation. Ellis strongly believes that theatre is a collaborative medium and their directing style reflects that.

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2026-2027 Season Announced by Xenia Area Community Theatre

LADY WINDERMERE’S FAN 
Oct. 23-Nov. 1
Directed by Elizabeth Burns

SANTA PHOBIA
Dec. 4-13
Directed by Melissa Baughn

A DOLL’S HOUSE
Jan. 29-Feb. 7
Directed by Anna Blaire

WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?
Jan. 27-Feb. 7
Directed by Connie Strait

A NIGHT OF FAIRYTALES
May 14-23
Directed by Josie Johnson

For more information visit www.xeniaact1.org

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