The sixth annual Back Porch Stories, a storytelling event hosted by the Anson County Writers’ Club and sponsored by Uwharrie Bank, will take place at the Ansonia Theatre on April 7 beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 per person.

Featured storyteller Ron Jones grew up on a dairy farm in North Carolina in a whole family of storytellers. After 28 years as a library administrator and consultant, for the past 10 years he has been sharing stories with audiences of all ages. From traditional folktales to bilingual English/Spanish stories to original tales and legends, he strives to take audiences on an animated and high-energy ride. His series of family stories are intended to make the audience laugh with joy or tug at its heart strings, and everything between. As a storyteller, Jones believes strongly in the rich oral tradition of storytelling and the joy and mindfulness it brings to us all. He has performed in schools, libraries, museums, and at festivals throughout the southeast and in Canada and Mexico.

Also appearing at Jess Willis and Robin Kitson.

“I am an artist and storyteller currently living in South Carolina,” Willis said. “I build giant puppets and freaky/funky masks from salvaged and re-purposed materials. I tell stories to everyone from the very young to the very old, true stories, folk tales, and outright lies…whatever the occasion calls for. I am on the path of an authentic life with my longtime love and our three cats and we have no idea what will happen next.”

Kitson believes everyone starts life as happy babies sucking their toes, and blowing spit bubbles. Others are happy to clean us no matter the mess.

“We believe we are ‘all that’ with hearts bright and shiny,” she said. “As we grow we hear ‘no,’ ‘don’t,’ ‘stop that,’ and ‘don’t touch.’ Our hearts get a bit of rust til one day our hearts are completely encrusted and no longer shine. What we need is a storyteller to remind us we are still that baby who is ‘all that.’ As we travel through story our heart swells and swells and pretty soon it gets so big that boom! The rust flies off and our hearts shine again. Come on so I can show you how, ‘Stories Polish Your Heart’!”

Tickets will be sold at the box office prior to the event.

Jones
https://ansonrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_Back-Porch-Stories-2017-Ron_Jones-fz.jpgJones

Willis
https://ansonrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_Back-Porch-Stories-2017-Jess-Willis-fz.jpgWillis

Kitson
https://ansonrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_Back-Porch-Stories-2017-Robin-Kitson-fz.jpgKitson

For the Record