Tickets will go on sale for the 2010 Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival (January 29 and 30) at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 30 at Rue’s Antiques in Brundidge or by calling 334-735-3125.

The Dean of Storytelling Donald Davis will be back by popular demand. Joining Davis will be nationally acclaimed storytellers, Kevin Kling, Barbara McBride-Smith and Elizabeth Ellis.

The storytelling festival will open on Friday night, Jan. 29 at the We Piddle Around Theater in Brundidge and will continue with three storytelling concerts at 10 a.m. and 2 and 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30 at the Trojan Center Theater on the campus of Troy University in Troy.

Tickets for the concert at the We Piddle Around Theater are $25 and include pre-show music by the WPA Scratch Band and a full family-style supper. Tickets for the Saturday morning and afternoon concerts are $10 each. Night concert tickets are $15. All-day Saturday tickets are $30.

Saturday concerts include pre-show music 30 minutes prior to the storytelling concerts and a folk art exhibit.

After Jan. 2, tickets will be available at Rue’s or by calling 334-735-3125 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Other times call, 334-670-6302 days and 334-735-3675 nights.

Davis, Kling, McBride-Smith and Ellis are all regulars at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee. They also perform at major festival across the country and beyond.

“You won’t go to a storytelling festival anywhere and find any better storytellers than the ones on stage at the Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival,” said Mernette Bray, a member of the sponsoring Brundidge Historical Society’s storytelling committee. “I’ve seen all four of this year’s tellers at Jonesborough and other festivals and it just doesn’t get any better than them. They’ll make you laugh and make you shed a tear or two and I can guarantee that you’ll have a good time. If you’re not a fan of professional storytelling when you get to the Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival, you will be when you leave.”

Donald Davis was born in a Southern Appalachian mountain world rich in stories, surrounded by a family of traditional storytellers who told him simple and silly Jack tales and mountain lore and most importantly, nourishing, true-to-life stories of his own neighbors and kin. Davis is also known as a prolific author, producer of books and tapes and as a guest host for NPR’s “Good Evening.” “I could have listened all morning to Donald Davis …his stories often left listeners limp with laughter at the same time they struggled with a lump in the throat.” –New York Times.

Kevin Kling, best known for his storytelling concerts and popular commentaries on NPR’s “All Things Considered,” delivers hilarious, often tender stories. With stories born of the Midwest, he has performed all across the United States and in Europe and Australia. His autobiographical tales are as enchanting as they are true to life – hopping freight trains, getting hit by lightning, growing up in Minnesota and eating things before knowing what they are. “Kling’s stories fall somewhere between David Lynch’s perversity and Garrison Keillor’s home-spun humor.” —Denver Post.

Barbara McBride Smith is recognized internationally as a storyteller of time-honored tales mixed with comedic idioms. Her colorful voice, along with its native Texas twang, remind listeners of a fire and brimstone preacher, carnival barker, used car salesman or Butterfly McQueen. “Barbara McBride-Smith’s stories will make you laugh, break your heart and give you a new take on the struggles of ‘we mortals’ to live our lives on this earth — New Directions for Women.

Elizabeth Ellis grew up in the Appalachian Mountains in a family filled with stories. As a child, most of her best friends were imaginary. In some ways that’s still true. Living now in Texas, Ellis travels constantly, sharing personal stories, folktales and stories of heroic women. Both witty and wise, her stories are often about seeing the extraordinary in our every day experiences.

“Filled with hilarious and poignant honesty, her personal stories deliver down-home wisdom, Southern style.” The Azalea Storytelling Festival.