The Brundidge Historical Society will present the fifth annual Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 28 and 29, at the We Piddle Around Theater in Brundidge and the Trojan Center Theater on the campus of Troy University.

The Festival will feature four of the top master storytellers in the country, Donald Davis, Kathryn Tucker Windham, Barbara McBride-Smith and Michael Reno Harrell.

Tickets go on sale Wednesday, Jan. 5 at Rue’s Antiques in Brundidge or by calling 334-735-3125 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. W-S and 334-735-3675 other times.

“The lineup of storytellers that we have this year is again outstanding,” said Johnny Steed, a member of the BHS storytelling committee. “They bring to the stage a wide range of appeal and this is a great opportunity to hear storytellers who are in demand at major storytelling festivals across the country.

Donald Davis is the dean of American storytellers and is a favorite all across the country, as he is at the Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival.

Steed said Donald Davis will have his audience belly laughing one minute and trying to hold back tears the next.

“Donald will be with us for the fifth year and we want him back every time that he will come,” Steed said. “He has a unique style that appeals to almost everyone. He’s comical and he’s serious. He’s Donald Davis.”

Windham is Alabama’s supreme storyteller and she would get her feathers ruffled if anyone said that she is a legend in her own time – “but she is,” Steed said. “She is not just an Alabama treasure. She’s a national treasure. She has no equal as a storyteller and we are so honored to have her back with us this year.

McBride-Smith was the featured teller at the 2010 June Buggin’ summer storyteller at the We Piddle Around Theater. She was so good that the BHS invited her back. Laughter and a few salty tears are her trademark.

“Barbara McBride-Smith is a high energy storyteller who will keep your interest from start to finish,” Steed said.

A new voice this year will be Michael Reno Harrell, a tall-teller from the hills of Appalachia. Harrell’s causal, down-home style is complemented by the story songs that “complete” his tales.

“Storyteller Andy Irwin said Harrell is his kind of storyteller so he’s got to be good,” Steed said.

The Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival kickoffs on Friday night, Jan. 28, with supper and stories at the We Piddle Around Theater and continues with three storytelling concerts at the Trojan Center on Saturday. All concerts feature all tellers and each concert is different.

Tickets for the Friday night concert are $25 and $10 for the 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday concerts and $15 for the 6:30 p.m. concert. All day Saturday tickets are $30.

Pre-show music is by traditional musicians and warms up the audience for the great time to come.