Tellabration is a worldwide benefit evening of storytelling. It creates a network of storytelling enthusiasts bonded together in spirit at the same time and on the same weekend.
Tellabration originator J. G. Pinkerton envisioned this international event as a means of building community support for storytelling. In 1988 the event was launched by the Connecticut Storytelling Center in six locations across the state. A great success,Tellabration extended to several other states the following year, and then, in 1990, expanded nationwide under the umbrella of the National Storytelling Network (then called NAPPS, and later the National Storyelling Association).
In 1995, for the first time, there was a Tellabration in Japan, brought there by Japanese storyteller Masako Sueyoshi, who had been a part of Tellabration when she lived in Connecticut for several years. By 1997, there were Tellabration events on every continent but Antarctica. (Anyone know any good penguin storytellers?)
Tellabration is traditionally held on the Saturday night before Thanksgiving. Some events, however, may be at an alternate time during the same weekend.
Anyone can produce a Tellabration event: storytelling organizations and centers, schools, libraries, colleges, museums, performing-arts centers, story-swap groups, story enthusiasts, and others.
NSN serves as a facilitator to producers and a clearinghouse for information. NSN also publicizes Tellabration events worldwide and offers an updated, camera-ready, Promotional Kit for $10.00. For new sites, a Manual and Guidebook is available for $25.00. Both of these are also available on the National Storytelling Network (1-800-525-4514).