~ A Story Parlor Signature Event ~
Come to laugh, come to grieve, come to share in the journey of being.
This Story Parlor Signature Series, produced by storyteller Chuck Fink, features local tellers practiced in the art of delivering stories that are true to the human spirit and experience.
Featuring:
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When Becky and her husband moved from her hometown of Philadelphia, PA. to Fairview, NC 48 years ago, she was already a part-time vocalist and actor.
The last 48 years have given her time to raise 4 kids, teach theater, help Pat publish GreenPrints magazine, and to become a nationally recognized storyteller and a Chautauqua scholar.
Becky researched and developed six characters – Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray, Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, Maya Angelou, Josephine Baker, and “Stagecoach” Mary Fields. And yes, it is a challenge to keep the characters straight, but it’s not as hard as you might think.
Storytelling is still her first love. And with every foray onstage to tell a story, she learns more about the art, the listener, and herself.
Becky tells stories that speak to her heart from any culture. She’s fearless that way.
Becky will be a featured storyteller at Tellabration 2026 at The Folk Arts Center on November 22nd .
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Wallace Bohanan was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. He lived in supportive community and enjoyed participating in sports and reading books. His love of reading enhanced his appreciation of stories.
His father was a Cub Scout Master and Wallace was both a Cub Scout and a Boy Scout. He ran track in High School where he graduated with no distinguishing merits.
He joined the Army immediately after High School to try and miss the coming war in Indo China.
A year before he got out he was sent into combat in Vietnam. After he returned home, unrecognized Post Traumatic Stress led to anti-social behavior and drug use.
He was arrested and jailed three times in one year. This prompted a change of heart and mind, so Wallace decided to get degrees in education and counseling.
His public speaking began as the Pastor of “The Church of Tomorrow”. This was a group of adolescents at a Spiritual Church of which he was a member.
He later joined and became President of a Toastmasters Club in Baltimore. Wallace has enjoyed the privilege of telling stories for about 5 years.
He has told stories on Video, at the Weaverville Center, at The Asheville Story Telling Circle, and at various venues in and around Asheville NC.
When not Storytelling, he is engaged in practicing and teaching Buddhism.
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Vocalist Kelle Jolly is proud to be an Afrilachian. Kelle is a storyteller, musician, and cultural connector whose work celebrates the richness of Appalachian traditions.
Passionate about building resilient communities and rooted in Appalachia, she continues to shape and amplify the voices of those who call Appalachia home.
She is also the founder of the Women in Jazz Jam Festival, a member of the Jonesborough Storytelling Guild and The Asheville Storytelling Circle.
She is a National Association of Black Storytellers 2023 Black Appalachian Storyteller Fellow.
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Ray is a nationally recognized storyteller, awardwinning podcaster, Fulbright Specialist, and narrative strategist whose work bridges scholarship, lived experience, and the transformative power of personal story. Raised in the urban South and now living in rural Appalachian North Carolina, he brings a rare perspective shaped by 20 years of military service as an Army Paratrooper, academic rigor, and decades of work amplifying marginalized voices.
His award-winning podcast, What’s Ray Saying? has been celebrated for its deep historical grounding, emotional resonance, and innovative use of narrative as a tool for social understanding.
His stories have been featured on numerous radio programs and podcasts, including Articles of Interest, Death, Sex & Money, Snap Judgment, Spooked, and The Moth, as well as numerous appearances at the National Storytelling festival and other major festivals, earning national recognition for his craft and cultural impact.
Dr. Christian holds an M.A. in Public History and both an Ed.S. and an Ed.D. in Education, and has taught history, storytelling, and narrative strategy at the university level.
His work centers the Black American experience, rural life, and the intersections of identity, memory, and place. As a practitionerscholar, he integrates archival research, personal testimony, and immersive sound design to create stories that challenge dominant narratives and expand public understanding.
Living on a small homestead in the mountains, he raises animals, writes, teaches, and consults with organizations seeking deeper and more equitable approaches to storytelling.
He is committed to supporting independent audio makers, especially those whose voices, backgrounds, and paths fall outside traditional media pipelines.
He was recently featured as a subject in the HBO documentary series “The Man Will Burn”
Hosted by Chuck Fink
Local storyteller Chuck Fink (producer and host) began telling stories as soon as he could talk, although he learned the true craft for performance by taking a class on Personal Storytelling at OLLI in 2012. Chuck tells personal story filled with comedy, drama, and most of all hope. He teaches classes on personal storytelling for performance at OLLI and The Weaverville Community Center. Chuck is past president of The Asheville Storytelling Circle, The North Carolina Storytelling Guild, The National Storytelling Network and other regional storytelling groups.