2022 Susquehanna Folk Festival Liars Contest
About This Event:
We are pleased to announce this year's storytelling finalists. Come to the Susquehanna Folk Festival and see who's the most convincing liar of the bunch!
"Ms Sheila" is a historic character interpreter, teaching artist and "Professional Imaginator" with a passion, vision and ministry of healing hearts, unifying communities and reminding people to share their stories.
We are pleased to announce this year's storytelling finalists. Come to the Susquehanna Folk Festival and see who's the most convincing liar of the bunch!
Our judges have selected seven finalists from an outstanding field of applicants, who hail from Central PA and as far away as Florida. Each finalist will have 7 minutes to tell a short, funny, family-friendly story. Stories with a creative frog theme get a scoring bonus! Judges will rate performances on story development, originality and telling skill.
The top three liars will receive cash prizes: $100 for first place, $50 for second and $25 for third. Prizes are thanks to a generous donation.
Learn more
Our 2022 Finalists
David Smith
Dave is very happy to be back telling stories to a live audience and plans to be Zoom-free by 2023. Dave is a video producer by day and storyteller by night, and is working on a World War II detective novel in between.
Gary Buchanan
Gary started storytelling in 2000 at age 50 when he placed third in the West Virginia Liar’s Contest. Over the years he has participated in storytelling events/liar’s contests in WV, Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.
Ryan Roe
Ryan is a law student from West Chester, PA, and a family-friendly stand-up comedian. He's performed in comedy clubs, churches, and festivals around the country including being named "Best of the Fest" at the Burbank Comedy Festival in Los Angeles. He loves local storytelling shows and has won storytelling competitions such as The Moth in Philadelphia and the York Story Slam.
Walt Belcher
A former newspaper reporter, Walt has been teller at the Florida Storytelling Festival 2018. He has told at events in Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando and South Carolina where he was a new voice at the 2022 Stone Soup Festival. He lives in Safety Harbor, Florida. where he hosts a monthly storytelling night at the Art & Music Center. See Walt Tales on Facebook and walt-tales.com
Steve Seitz
After a career in the mental health field, Steve has entertained thousands of folks in churches, schools, and retirement communities in the Mid-Atlantic region via his and his wife’s Puppet and Story Works company. Steve, a recovering Pennsylvania Dutchman, tells stories as his alter ego, John Klump, an 85-year-old Pennsylvania Dutch farmer, his youth, home town, and his convoluted understandings of the Bible.
Janel Behm
Janel is an award-winning storyteller from Ohio who currently calls the Gulf Coast of Florida home. She lives with her husband Dennis and their dog David and can often be found creating community around a campfire by sharing her passion for the ukulele and her gift of storytelling.
Dennis Boyne
Dennis is a seasoned storyteller, a winner of the Scranton Story Slam and Lancaster Story Slam. He is also the Executive Director of Lehigh Valley Story Slam. In addition, Dennis was a former member of the improv group Improvolution in New York. He is the past artistic director of Philemon Productions in New Jersey and the creative consultant for the New Jersey Public Theater.
Our judges are:
JJ Sheffer
JJ is the producer of York Story Slam, York: Crafted, and several other arts & humanities programs in York County, Pennsylvania that focus on storytelling.
Mina Edmondson
Mina has her dream job: she is the director of Martin Library in downtown York, PA. She thrives on the energy of the City of York. Story Slams provide her opportunities to connect with her community.
Jim Lewin
Jim is the proprietor of the York Emporium, a used book and curiosity shop. He is a published author of four books and a number of science fiction short stories... assuming the bio he sent is true.
Doug Henderson
Doug is the Director of Everything's Fire, an independent film studio in York. He sees his career (whether directing, acting, or writing) as storytelling with a team, building a connection between the audience and the film.
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