Gary Carden, Storyteller

WNCC Presents Appalachian Storyteller Gary Carden August 23

SCOTTSBLUFF, NE <August 20, 2012> - Western Nebraska Community College presents Gary Carden, an Appalachian storyteller, performing "Blow the Tannery Whistle" this Thursday, August 23 at 7:00 p.m. in the WNCC Theatre. 

Carden will be joined by WNCC Dean of Instruction Garry Alkire, depicting a story from the life of DB Wood, first publisher of the Gering Courier.    

Bluegrass music group Green Valley Homesteaders, which includes Bill Snocker, Lynn and Terri Buehler, Jackson Heggem, and John Jessup will also entertain the audience.

Gary Carden is a story teller, novelist, historian, screenwriter, and playwright. Carden is known for giving authentic voices to historical and fictitious Appalachian characters. He is one of a small handful of career wordsmiths born, bred, and still living in Appalachia - a rare combination of academic insight and authentic mountain-folk brio. Gary has made it his mission to evoke the rich culture he holds dear through his various art forms and preserves it historical juices without the "Hee-haw" stereotypes that often plague depicting Appalachia. Carden believes he is a product of a culture in which storytelling is a way to communicate. 

Carden, a native of Sylva, North Carolina, is a retired English teacher and a full-time storyteller who has worked with Elderhostels nationwide. He was awarded the North Carolina Literary Award for 2012. He was also awarded the Brown-Hudson Folklore Award in 2006 and received an Honorary Doctorate from Western Carolina University in 2008. Carden is the founder of the Liar's Bench, a traditional storytelling and drama presentation group that has been an audience pleaser throughout the Appalachian. His works have been produced for North Carolina Public Television and across the country. Outlander, his latest play, was presented in July 2012 at the Parkway Playhouse in Burnsville, NC.

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