Nashville Performance fast approaching

February 27th, 2010

I am getting excited for my performance of Who Am I Again? at the Nashville Brain Injury Association annual conference.  The piece has been undergoing some major re-wrights and some new performance choices, and I’m excited to reveal this newest draft.  It will be interesting to see how the audience receives it.  I anticipate a good response, but the level of response is unknown.  I do recognize that I’m dealing with sensitive, emotionally charged material, especially with an audience of TBI survivors and caregivers.

I do feel slightly nervous, but I also feel ready.  I have worked with the script to an extent I have never done before, and feel confident in the performance.  I have a feeling that Nashville will be a great trip!

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

It’s been a good week.

February 22nd, 2010

Hello friends.  Put simply, lately I’ve been having some really great days, involving a lot of improvement with my storytelling, primarily concerning my piece Who Am I, Again?  I’ve been working with several friends and mentors and have begun to look at the work in a new manner.  My friends and mentors are helping me find what the “universality of the story” is.  I’ve begun to look at more spiritual (not religious, but spiritual) aspects of the story, and I feel I’m beginning an interesting journey with the work.

Now, in just a few days, I’ll be performing at the Nashville Brain Injury Association Annual Convention, and we shall see what happens there.

And tonight, to cap off an artistically exciting week, I performed for a teen audience at the Jonesborough Public Library, and it was a GREAT show.  We were all laughing and smiling and having a great time.  This was the first time a storyteller performed for the teenage groups, but I have a feeling it won’t be the last time.

This has been a good week.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Blogs and blogs and blogs

February 17th, 2010

Today I’m thinking about blogs and posts on the internet, so I’ll make a post about that.

And you will read this post (if there is anyone reading this post, then that is you), or perhaps no you will read this post.  For me, the only person I really want to read this post is you.
The internet takes the idea of free speech to the extreme - on the internet, when we say something we are free to say what we want, and many times free from recognizing the consequences, and often free of identity.  We are part of the inter-ether, a world where we are voices are equal to those who have a similar skill at computers.

But who do we listen to?  What is true?  While almost anyone can now say almost anything via the internet, so many people take advantage of it that there seems to be less and less actual content in what is put out on in posts, instead of content there is a lot of fowl language and egotistical ramblings.  Mind you, I recognize that I am taking part in this mass of ramblings with the posts on my blog, and I don’t pretend to be better than everyone else.  Also, I don’t know if anyone will read my posts, which raises the question, if no one hears (or reads) our free speech, is it speech at all?  With so many blogs and posting sites out there, I find it hard to believe that they all actually get read.  I don’t even know if mine is read, but it seems to be what is expected of contemporary performance artists - you need to have something out there for people to read, if they would like to.

I think I’m just still trying to figure out exactly where I stand on the whole blog trend.

I also recognize that there are no major revelations in this post, nothing I haven’t heard from various other sources (though I can’t name them, I know I’ve heard all this before), but it’s on my mind because I’m working on a new storytelling where I use the nonsense of internet postings for some humor.  It’s what I’m thinking about, and I suppose that’s what a blog is for, to state one’s thoughts, whether the thoughts are actually viewed by anyone seems almost secondary.  The important thing is that they’re out there.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Obsessive Dedication

February 15th, 2010

I’ve been watching the Olympics over the past couple days, and I’ve been thinking more about the obsessive dedication that it takes to be at the very top of your athletic field.  I’ve also been doing some reading about one of my favorite rock musicians, Trey Anastasio of the band Phish, and I’ve been recognizing his obsessive work with music – if he’s not working on material for Phish, he’s working on one of his other seventeen projects.  Trey is also inarguably at the top of his field (I won’t suggest he’s the best, but he is among the top).

This is all making me think about my storytelling.  I want to be one of the top in my field, and I find the idea of an obsessive dedication exciting, in an artistically romantic sort of way, but I’m looking at my life and trying to decided if and how I can make that commitment.  There are many things that I like in my life that aren’t related to storytelling, and I like these aspects of my life a lot, but if I am to achieve my goal of becoming one of the top in my field, how many of these can I continue to allow to take my focus?  Could I, as a person, give any of these “other” (non-storytelling) things up?  If I can give anything up, will I be able to be even more focused?  Will I become a better storyteller?  Is it possible that my storytelling might suffer?

I’m not looking for answers by this blog, just putting out some thoughts that have been running around in my head.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Romance Day

February 14th, 2010

Today is the national day dedicated to romance, much of it commercial, but I like to think that there does tend to be some real romance that does tumble out of the day.  As part of that, I will place my romantic contribution as this poem, written for the wonderful woman who is my girlfriend.  May your day be filled with joy.  And chocolates, because yes giving chocolates is part of the commercial aspect of Valentines day, but chocolates are just good, what ever the reason.  But now the poem:

Let Me Tell You About Her

She smiles with grace.
Lips curling up to meet sparkling eyes,
Laughs rolling out,
Joy filling the room,
Responding to a compliment
that is nothing but the truth.

She speaks with melody.
Words intertwining to create song,
Tones comforting,
Verses inspiring,
If concerned, cadences questioning,
The chorus, I love you.

She seduces with lust,
Every aspect of her arousing,
Words implying,
Gestures suggesting,
Evenings bliss,
Concluding as she closes her eyes,
Gentle breaths,
Drifting to sleep next to me.

Bliss.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

A weekend to relax and read, with some Olympics

February 13th, 2010

Hello Friends,

A wonderful opportunity floated my way this weekend.  A friend was in need of a house sitter, so she called upon me, and it just so happens that her house is beautiful and located in the country.  This has given me the opportunity to place myself in the perfect location for some story research.  I’ve been taking some time to read and work on stories for several storytelling travels I have coming up.  This is a weekend that will help me be fully prepared for the series of Traveling Tales performance that are quickly approaching.  Right now, the snow is falling, the sun is setting, some smooth jazz is playing in the back ground, and I have a book of stories laying open on a nearby table.  And there are two great dogs I’m taking care of that are lounging near me.  Times such as these leave can’t help but leave a smile.  I hope smiles are finding all of you as well.

Personally, it’s been a while since I’ve had an opportunity to perform some stories, but I have several exciting gigs coming up, starting at the end of the month, and I’m looking forward to what tales tumble out for those.

I also hope you all have a magical valentines day.

Best,
Lethan

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

My current artistic status

January 13th, 2010

I’m writing today to begin getting myself in the habit of writing in this blog, so we’ll start today by giving an update of where my artistic status.

Having finished my work towards a master’s degree at East Tennessee State University, I’m now looking to make a positive mark upon the performance world as a storyteller.  I’m currently trying to do this in four manners.

1)      Family performances at schools and libraries.  While working as a graduate assistant at ETSU’s University school, I gained a lot of experience in this sort of work.  With these performances, I work with traditional folk tales and present them in a manner that is easily understandable by contemporary audiences.  Adaptations of Appalachian Jack Tales and the Grimm Fairytales have been some of my favorites to work with, though I have had great success with other tales from cultures around the world as well.  Some of my favorite multicultural tales include the Anansi stories from West Africa, Native American folklore,and some of the adventures of Till Eulenspiegel.

2)      Historical Storytelling.  History is filled with exciting stories.  Unfortunately, often times the excitement of these stories is lost by the dull, dry nature of many scholastic text books.    While working at the University School (above), I had the pleasure of helping students find and tell the stories they are supposed to learn as part of their history curriculum, and we had FUN doing this.  I intend to continue to pursue this avenue of both performance and workshops throughout my career.  It’s fun and educational for both the students and me.

3)      Work with Traumatic Brain Injury.  In 1999 I was in an automobile accident and received severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).  Fortunately, I had an recovery process that surpassed medical expectations, and since that incident, I received a bachelor’s degree with honors and a master’s degree.  As part of my work toward a master’s degree, I was revisited the story of my accident, as well as looked at what is the story of TBI.  What emerged from this exploration is the storytelling piece Who Am I, Again?  This is a verbal collage of stories about the experience of TBI from the perspective of survivors and care givers.  As a storyteller, I hope to use this piece as a way to raise awareness about TBI and to provide hope for fellow survivors.  I’m also beginning to explore the possibility of finding ways to collect more stories from TBI survivors as a way to help share information and experiences with a disability that is more common that many people recognize.  I have a few opportunities to share this story coming up, but more on that in future posts.

4)      Psychedelic Humorist: This is a side project I’m exploring as a way to introduce myself to the stand-up comedy scene.  My former storytelling professor suggested the title, and I believe it appropriately describes the work that I do.  This material is a series of humorous pieces, heavily influenced by the late Lord Richard Buckley that satirizes different parts of the human experience.  The pieces are composed in a rhythmic manner intended not only to for a humorous effect, but also a musical experience.  The term humorist is used because, while the pieces are intended to bring about laughter, I don’t aim for the laugh line every ten seconds.  Instead, these pieces are intended to touch a deeper, extended form of humor, allowing the audience to become enveloped by the humor as it sinks into their soul.  The conscious attempt to pursue this style of performance was inspired just about week ago when I was out with several friends and I was recognized and praised by five different groups for my humorous performances, often performed on the street whenever I can grab an unsuspecting audience.  That night inspired me to begin looking at this work in a slightly more formal manner.

All these styles of performance are shows that I love to do.  Ideally, I will be able to pursue all these venues of performance, but what will be will be.  And for now, I can and will continue to develop all these performance styles, and try to put my material out there the best that I can.

I will also try to post on my blog with more regularity, so you can all stay informed as to the path of this work.  It’s gonna be a wild trip, so hold on.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Who Am I Again?

December 4th, 2009
March 4, 2010

At: Brain Injury Association of Tennessee Annual Conference Club Hotel

Nashville 2435 Artrium Way

Nashville, TN 37214

Time: TBA

Posted in Uncategorized, Event | No Comments »

Theatrical training and storytelling?

September 21st, 2008

So I joined an internet google discussion group for Professional Storytellers, and a question was raised I felt was worth responding to: Do you need theatrical training to be a storyteller.  My response is below, and I would love to hear your thoughts on my response.  As I try to establish myself in the world, I am currently questioning what it is I do do and what it is I want to do.  I know I want to be a storyteller, but how is that done is the question.  Well, that’s my question, I hope all is well for you and all the best finding the answers you need, cause I’m sure you have a lot of questions as well.  Enjoy it all!

David, thank you for bring a good question to the forum.  And thank you to everyone who has responded, it reads as if a lot of thought has gone into these responses, and I would like to add my own thoughts as well as build on the question by asking another question.

First my thoughts on theatrical training and storytelling:  In brief, NO, theatrical training is not necessary (Kathryn Windham, Ray Hicks, and so on…).  Does theatrical training help with storytelling?  As has been mentioned in several previous responses, yes, it can.  I began my exploration of the performance arts through theater, and it was through the theater that I was introduced to storytelling.  There are many technical skills that a theatrical training introduces that are bennificial in storytelling (ie. stage presence, stage vocal work, diction, physical stage movement if your into that).  I also feel, as Rivka (I love your name) mentioned, that theatrical training can become a burden to storytelling.  While storytelling is a performance, it is also about dismantling that “forth wall.”  I have found in theater, even one person shows, there is a barrier between the performer and the audience.  If the character is speaking to the audience, it feels as if they are not speaking to you directly, but to the character they have defined you as representing.  As I study storytelling I am recognizing the importance of not performing for the audience, but giving the story to the audience.  There seems to be an undefined technique (at least not clearly defined as far as I know) to storytelling that is about transcend the immediate performance and move into (for lack of a better location name) the realm of the story.  So, in answer to the first question, I suggest theatrical training can help as long as you recognize it is Theatrical training, and not storytelling – I feel it is essential to differentiate (as a side note: I highly recommend watching Jay O’Callahan [on DVD is he isn’t planning any Icelandic Tours] for a performer who masterfully walks the line between theater and storytelling).

And now for the second part of my response, the question:  In the digital discussion that has been inspired by this question, it seems we are all beating around the bush of an essential question to contemporary storytelling: what is it?  How do we define “a storyteller”?  I read several responses suggesting storytelling comes from having the passion, the fire for stories burn inside you, and frankly, those sorts of answers bother me.  The definition is too unspecific; open to such subjective interpretation that it loses all meaning.

I believe it was Rachel who cited how loosely the term “storyteller” is tossed about Hollywood, and I think until there is a clear defining of what it means to be a storyteller we cannot reasonably criticize the overuse of the term.  Personally, if I am told “Oh, Stephen Spielberg is such a great storyteller,” I will quickly respond “Hell no he isn’t.  Spielberg is a film director, be he great or be he not so great, that’s a preference issue, but he certainly isn’t a storyteller.”  The Spielberg advocate may then counter my impassioned response with, “Well then, what is a storyteller.”  I have no recourse at this point.  If “to be a storyteller” is not defined, I cannot argue what I feel is a misuse of the term.

I do have some thoughts on that question, and it may soon be time to articulate those.  First, however, I’d like to open the question to all here:  What is a storyteller?  It seems we can agree that you don’t need theatrical training, so what does it mean to be trained as a storyteller.  Are there any defined techniques?  Is there a sort of “method storytelling” (ie. “I subscribe to the Claflinesk technique, as I have this strange fascination with the imbecility of mooses” or “I tend to take a Windhamian approach to my work”)?  Please note, I mean those examples only half satirically.  I feel a storytelling technique or techniques should be in some way defined so we, as artists, can better communicate with mainstream culture as a whole and interact with critics on a clearer level.  Just my thoughts.

Lethan Candlish
www.travelingtales.net

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

A humorist

September 14th, 2008

Hello friends,

It has been a long while since I’ve had a chance to write you, so, instead of trying to fill you in on all my adventures - the task would take novels - I will tell you where I’m at now.

After a sucessful tour in Pennsylvania, I’ve returned to Tennessee for my last year of graduate school, and I’ve moved to the storytelling capital of the world, that’s right friends, I know live on Main Street in Jonesborough, TN, about 100 yards away from the international storytelling center.  I’m still working out a few details (financially, I’m anxiously waiting for my student loans), but am starting to get settled and learn my routine.

As for my storytelling projects, there are three primary ones that I will bring to your attention:

1) I have begun working at the University School again, only this time I will be telling to grades K-5, so it will be a BUSY year with that - fortunately I have a month before the concerts begin, so I can work on expanding my repetoir, so I have a lot of folklore books I’m reading and working to discover what stories speak to me.  Hard Hard Hard, but its fun and its what I do.

2) I am currently doing an independent study on Lord Buckley as a storyteller.  Some of you may have seen the performance this summer with Crystal Newby at Bloomsburg University (a great success, thank you to all involved, especially Crystal and my father), and I am continuing with that work.  I will be working to learn more about Lord Buckley’s philosphy, life, and style as well as better mastering many of the pieces I already perform - improving the diction and the natural feel of the performance.   It’s nice because much of the labor was already done this summer, so I can now work on ironing out the details, though I do plan on learning at least one new piece (when my student loans come in and I can purchase the recording I need to study from).
3) I am working to explore the relation between comedy and storytelling.  I feel a need to popularize storytelling among my generation (20/3o somethings) and help people to realize both its importance and the pure joy that comes from it.  I have decided I will attempt to craft a series of fast paced, humorous pieces, heavily influenced by Lord Buckley, aimed at this demographic.  From there, I will attempt to get some gigs in some comdey clubs where I will perform these pieces, and acknowledge that I am not a comedian, but something new (to the audience), something different.  My teacher, advisor, and mentor, Dr. Sobol, suggested I publicize myself as a humorist (think Mark Twain) as a way to let the audience know this is something different, but not fall into the stereotype of “a storyteller” (by this steotype I mean someone who tells simple fairytales to children in a calm, soothing voice - I do that, but I also do my alternative, fast paced humor stuff and that’s what young adults want).  If I then gain recognition for my work, I can reveal myself as a storyteller, and hip the crowd to what that can be.  If anyone has any thoughts on this, I’d love to hear them.

So that’s, in brief, where I’m at.  I’m pushing forward and learning how ere I can, and suceeding at some things, other things, not so much (maybe I’ll tell you those stoires someday, or maybe not), but that is life.  I hope all is well with you.  I’d love to hear your thoughts on these projects - particularly about labeling myself to young adult audiences as “a humorist.”

Also, as we all know, I’m not the best about keeping a regular blog going, but I’ve been in the process of putting myself on schedules, and I’m hoping to put myself on the schedule of posting each Sunday and tell you my adventures of the last week and/or  my plans of what’s to come.  Also, if something exciting happens, I may post mid week as well, but I WILL make it a plan to post at least once a week.  I hope this works, but whatever happens, until we meet again, may all the best adventures tumble your way.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

« Previous Entries