Chattanooga Times Free Press - ChattanoogaNow
Barbecue & Tall Tales
Bil Lepp has been called “The Wonder Bra of Storytelling” for his ability to take “something small or insignificant and push it into something big and mighty interesting.”
Lepp is such a convincing teller of tall tales that he has won the West Virginia Liar’s Contest five times.
The humorist is coming to Spring City, Tennessee, this weekend for two events to benefit the Tennessee Valley Theatre.
› On Friday, May 31, the TVT is hosting a storytelling workshop led by Lepp at 6 p.m. at the theater, 184 W. Jackson St.
Lepp will coach participants through the steps of creating a good story. That entails helping tellers develop characters, themes, jumping-off points and on-ramps.
Class fee is $20; participants should bring paper/pens or their laptops to take notes.
Reservations are required due to limited space: 423-365-7529.
› Lepp will be the featured entertainment for a barbecue fundraiser at the theater on Sunday, June 2.
Growing up in a family “where the truth was fluid,” Lepp became adept at spinning tales and exaggerating circumstances at an early age. Be it a hunting trip, a funeral or a visit to the dentist, Lepp could find the humor in any situation. He explains that while his stories “may not be completely true, they are always honest.”
His books and audio collections have won the PEN Steven Kroll Award for Children’s Book Writing, Parents’ Choice Gold awards, awards from the National Parenting Publications Association and the Public Library Association.
He performs at storytelling festivals around the nation and is a regular at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee.
Sunday’s barbecue lunch with beverage and dessert will be served at 1 p.m. followed by Lepp’s performance at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $22 per person for lunch and show; $12 for the show only.
Reservations are required by Friday, May 31. Call 423-365-7529.