OLD CAPITOL STORYTELLING FESTIVAL MARCH 22-26
“CLAIM YOUR TERRITORY”

Five-Day Event Features Free Performances, Tours and More

More than 30 seasoned storytellers will join forces with professional musicians, dancers and other collaborators to host the first-ever Old Capitol Storytelling Festival in the Central Utah communities of Fillmore, Delta and Snake Valley March 22 – 26. Most events are free.

“The Old Capitol Storytelling Festival is a rare opportunity for people to enjoy unforgettable live performances that reflect the Utah Territory of the 1850s all the way up to the present day,” said Clive Romney, one of the event’s key organizers. “Whether attendees come for the entire festival or just an event or two, they’re sure to be entertained, enlightened and enlivened.”

The Old Capitol Storytelling Festival is named in honor of Fillmore’s Utah Territorial Statehouse — the original seat of government for the Utah Territory. The festival’s theme is “Claim Your Territory.” The event is organized and sponsored by Friends of the Territorial Statehouse and Museum, Utah Pioneer Heritage Arts and Great Basin National Heritage Area, with support from Millard County Tourism, Delta and Fillmore cities, Division of Utah State Parks and Recreation, and Division of State History. Event co-sponsors include high speed internet and digital TV provider CentraCom and Central Utah radio conglomerate Mid-Utah Radio.

Highlights of the festival include:

10 headliner concerts (eight concerts are free, two featuring the One Voice Children’s Choir cost $5).

Performances by “Utah’s Storyteller” / KUED & PBS producer Ken Verdoia, singer/songwriter/storytellers Sam Payne and Clive Romney, award-winning One Voice Children’s Choir, John Lennon Songwriting Competition winners Cherie Call & Lyndy Butler, Native American Storyteller / flute player Nino Reyos and former Daughters of Utah Pioneers International President Maurine Smith.

Tours of historic sites including the Territorial Statehouse State Park Museum in Fillmore, the Topaz World War II Japanese-American Internment Camp in Delta, the Great Basin National Park and the community of Eskdale.

Open mic sessions where attendees can “claim their territory” by sharing and recording audio of their own favorite stories.

School assemblies reaching more than 2,000 students in Central Utah.

Student storytelling contests — with winners earning cash prizes and the opportunity to appear on stage with headliners.

Screenings of KUED-TV and other historical documentaries.

Live streaming video broadcasts of performances Friday night and all day Saturday (accessible by subscribers of CentraCom).

For more information and a detailed schedule of events, visit the website.

Schedule:

FRIDAY, MARCH 23

DELTA HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM
50 W. 300 North
Delta, Utah

7:00 – 8:30 pm (Concert #1)
Free
Theme: “Prisoners in Their Homeland”
Pre-show by Old Time Fiddlers. Emcee Deb Haveron. Youth Storytelling Contest winner (to be announced). Featured musicians, storytellers and other artists: Cherie Call & Lyndy Butler, Maurine Smith, Nino Reyos, Clive Romney, Scott Bassett, Ken Verdoia, Sam Payne.

SATURDAY, MARCH 24

MILLARD HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM
200 Eagle Avenue
Fillmore, Utah

9:00 – 9:45 a.m. (Concert #2)
Free
Theme: “Great Basin Blues” (And how to beat them)
Pre-show by OId Time Fiddlers. Emcee Carl Aldrich. Youth Storytelling Contest winner (to be announced). Featured musicians, storytellers and other artists: Old Time Fiddlers, Folkdance Utah, Clive Romney, Dean Draper, Sam Payne.

10:00 – 10:45 a.m. (Concert #3)
Free
Theme: “Native America Speaks” (Who will listen with the heart?)
Pre-show by Legacy First Nations. Emcee Shirlee Silversmith. Featured musicians, storytellers and other artists: Native Dancers, Eileen Quintana, Darren Parry, Nino Reyos, Delaine Spilsbury.

11:00 – 12:00 Noon (Concert #4)
Free
Theme: “The Outlaw Trail” (It’s not where you think)
Pre-show to be announced. Emcee Darin Bushman. Featured musicians and storytellers: Sam Payne, Mark Allen, Clive Romney, Joe Hickey, C.R. Wood.

1:00 – 2:00 p.m. (Concert #5)
Tickets $5
Theme: “Claim Your Territory” (Utah’s terra stories)
Pre-show video by One Voice Children’s Choir. Emcee Brad Westwood. Featured musicians, storytellers and other artists: Maurine Smith, Sam Payne, Nino Reyos, Ken Verdoia, Cherie Call & Lyndy Butler and special guest One Voice Children’s Choir.

2:15 – 3:15 p.m. (Concert #6)
Tickets $5
Theme: “Claim Your Territory” (Utah’s terra stories)
Pre-show video by One Voice Children’s Choir. Emcee Brad Westwood. Featured musicians, storytellers and other artists: Clive Romney & John Memmott, Nino Reyos, Sam Payne, Ken Verdoia and special guest One Voice Children’s Choir.

3:30 – 4:30 p.m. (Concert #7)
Free
Theme: “Snake Valley Water Fight” (David vs. Goliath)
Pre-show by Luke Maurer. Emcee Ken Verdoia. Featured special presentation by Warren Cook.

4:45 – 5:30 p.m. (Concert #8)
Free
Theme: “Tales of the Old Spanish Trail” (Why does it go through Utah?)
Pre-show to be announced. Emcee Chad McWilliams. Youth Storytelling Contest winner (to be announced). Featured musicians, storytellers and other artists: Clive Romney, David Ogden, Leo Lyman.

SUNDAY, MARCH 25

ESKDALE HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM
1000 Circle Drive
Eskdale, Utah

6:00 – 7:00 p.m. (Concert #9)
Free
Theme: “Monuments of Faith” (Tangible expressions of communities of faith)
Pre-show by Eskdale Orchestra. Emcee Ron Draper. Featured musicians, storytellers and other artists: Richard Crosby, Clive Romney, John Conrad, Doug Childs, Lois Faber, Sue Whetmore, Eli Chiaches.

MONDAY, MARCH 26

ESKDALE HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM
1000 Circle Drive
Eskdale, Utah

7:00 – 8:00 p.m. (Concert #10)
Free
Theme: “Community-Community-Community” (We must all hang together or …)
Pre-show to be announced. Emcee Lori Drew. Youth Storytelling Contest winner (to be announced). Featured musicians, storytellers and other artists: Clive Romney, Dave Tilford, Denys Koyle, Delaine Spilsbury.