At the cocktail pre-party for the Coyote Tales storytelling event held recently at the Center for the Arts at Kayenta, an attendee asked, "Why is it that we've all paid $20 for tickets just to see a bunch of our friends and neighbors stand up and tell a story for five minutes?"
Coyote Tales is special in that the stories told on stage are spoken live. They are true experiences and real-life situations told in the authentic and unpolished voice of the teller. There is a certain vulnerability, rawness and charm to each telling, and hearing them is a magical experience.
The evening's varied participants included a Utah's poet laureate, a young woman who recently graduated from the theater department at Utah Tech, a Goshute elder, and a Kayenta resident whose unusual talent saved the day after a long train ride.
All told, eight storytellers shared their uniquely personal tales on stage, and it was clear theatergoers felt a strong connection to each of them. Alone at the mic, brave tellers shared their tales with truth and sincerity. Some storytellers stuttered, paused to remember details, or briefly choked up with emotion while speaking; others shared their stories fearlessly with conviction and self-assuredness. The unpredictability of the evening only added to the excitement.
The evening was overseen by Coyote Tales self-appointed "Master-of-Sharemonies," Doug Caputo, who expertly guided the evening with his usual charm and good humor.
Paula and Joe Ferrario debuted their toe-tapping original Coyote Tales theme song at the pre-party hosted by the generous folks at Kayenta Homes and Properties and Petite Feast. Steve and Naomi from KH&P deftly manned the bar while cheerfully chatting with theater goers. Behind the scenes, Miranda Wright and the staff at CFAK executed every aspect of production with ease and professionalism. Coyote Tales surely would not happen without their involvement.
I am deeply grateful for this community's embrace of Coyote Tales and their unending belief in the power of sharing our stories.
Coyote Tales events are funded by Petite Feast, Utah Humanities, Utah Division of Arts and Museums and Kayenta Homes and Properties. We are grateful for the in-kind support of Desert Dweller Realty, SB Dance and The INN at Santa Clara.
The next Coyote Tales event is scheduled for September 7 as part of the Ivins City Heritage Days Festival. It will take place outdoors at Ivins City Park and is a FREE event. Everyone is welcome. The evening's theme will be, FIRST. Coyote Tales founder, Victoria Topham says, "Sharing our stories and listening to our neighbors encourages better understanding, respect and compassion for other viewpoints and beliefs."
Storytelling is a powerful means of entertainment, education and cultural preservation. Coyote Tales hopes to perpetuate the art of storytelling while entertaining the listener with a unique and intimate experience.
If you have a story to share, get all the details at coyotetalesstories.com or contact Victoria at coyotetalescontact@gmail.com