We are pleased to announce that our 2021 Festival will feature:

Kevin Kling  

We are pleased to announce that Kevin Kling will be returning to the La Crosse Storytelling Festival this year. Kevin Kling is a well-known playwright and storyteller, and his commentaries can be heard on NPR’s All Things Considered.   His plays and adaptations have been performed around the world.                                                                                                             Kevin Kling, best known for his popular commentaries on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered and his storytelling stage shows like Tales from the Charred Underbelly of the Yule Log, delivers hilarious, often tender stories.  Kling’s autobiographical tales are as enchanting as they are true to life: hopping freight trains, getting hit by lightning, performing his banned play in Czechoslovakia, growing up in Minnesota, and eating things before knowing what they are.  http://www.kevinkling.com

Kim Weitkamp

“Kim is a master at seamlessly building bridges from story, to song, to story. Like all good storytellers she evokes both laughter and tears, but her impeccable timing, and dead-on anticipation of her listeners’ needs place her at the pinnacle of her craft. Then, she pulls her guitar out and you think, where did that come from, that milk and honey voice?”                        Kim’s  material is played regularly on NPR affiliate stations and on SiriusXM Radio. Kim travels the continent full time performing at theaters and at festivals. She has hosted a successful morning show and has keynoted for some of Forbes most recognized companies and high profile national non-profits. She has received the Blue Ridge Excellence in the Arts Award, the Toastmasters International Leadership in Communication Award and 7 Storytelling World Awards.  We are pleased to have Kim returning to our stage. http://www.kimweitkamp.com

Bil Lepp  

Bil’s humorous, family friendly tall-tales and stories have earned the appreciation of listeners of all ages and from all walks of life. Though a five time champion of the WV Liars’s Contest, Lepp’s stories often contain morsels of truth which present universal themes in clever and witty ways. Audiences all across the country, from grade schools to corporate execs to the Comedy Central’s Hudson stage, have been delighted by Bil’s mirthful tales and delightful insights into everyday life. Bil’s books and audio collections have won awards including the PEN Steven Kroll Award for Children’s Book Writing, Parents’ Choice Gold awards, and awards from the National Parenting Publications Assoc., and the Public Library Assoc. Bil Lepp is also the Host of History Channel’s new show Man V History. This is Bil’s first time appearing in La Crosse and we are so honored to have him on our stage! http://leppstorytelling.com
                                                                                                                                                                                    

 

 

 

 

 All of these tellers have appeared, often!, on the National Stage at the Jonesboro Storytelling Festival. This is an exciting line-up for La Crosse with the best storytellers in the country.  

Ariane Lydon

For the past 2 decades, Ariane Lydon has toured and performed at Folk Festivals, Performing Arts Centers, Listening Venues, Radio Stations, and House Concerts throughout the US and Canada. She has shared stages with such performers as John Renbourn, John Gorka, Loreena McKennit, Tom Paxton, John McCutcheon, Chris Proctor, Duck Baker, Harvey Reid, Jean Ritchie, Cherish The Ladies, and many more.  Ariane Lydon’s virtuosic touch on 12- and 6-string guitars, keyboards, Celtic harp, and bodhrán come from a long apprenticeship in music across three continents, Europe, South America, and North America. We are so pleased to have a talent such as Ariane join our festival. http://arianelydon.com

 

 

And on the FREE kids’ stage Bil Lepp will be joined by:

 

Hans Mayer

         Hans knew when he was five years old that he wanted to play the guitar, but it took until he was twelve to convince his parents to get one for him. Lessons went along with the guitar, but they didn’t last – the teacher wanted Hans to go in a classical direction, but he was already playing by ear all the songs he wanted to play off the radio and albums. Hans started writing almost as soon as he could play chords and once his younger brother Kit had learned to play guitar, it was the start of a series of bands fronted by the brothers, playing a mix of originals, Southern Rock and reggae influenced tunes.  Hans is a popular musician in La Crosse and has graced the Storyfest’s stage for many years. His performances rock! He involves the entire audience as he plays the songs we all love. http://www.hansmayer.com

 

Isaiah Foster

Isaiah began performing magic tricks for his family and friends when he was given a trick at the age of nine. He loved watching their amazed expressions as he performed and was immediately hooked on entertaining. His repertoire has greatly increased as have his audiences. In the ten years that he has been a professional magician, Isaiah has performed more than 1000 shows. His passion and love of magic has continued to grow as he adds more and more to his shows. Isaiah includes juggling and story to his performances so he is a perfect addition to our children’s stage. Be prepared to be entertained for he promises an memorable experience. http://lacrossemagic.com 

 

 

 

STORIES–It’s what we do!