Stories and storytelling have always been at the heart of the human experience. Since the beginnings of humankind, we have shared through stories the events, beliefs, and values that make us who we are and form our families, communities, and cultures. Some of these stories have been collected in myth and canonized in scripture. Others have become literary classics. Still others have become tall-tales and humorous yarns.

Today, storytelling is in the midst of a vibrant and exciting revival; Garrison Keillor’s storytelling on “A Prairie Home Companion” comes immediately to mind. But he’s just one of a growing list of both professional and amateur storytellers all over the country. Every year thousands of excited people attend storytelling performances and festivals.

Good storytelling in live performance is powerful, transporting, and magical. Storytelling is strongly dependent on the power of personal presence — of the sometimes trance-inducing interaction of live performer with live audience, and the direct transfer of narrative imagery from mind to minds. Whether within a traditional community or a contemporary performance context, storytelling tends to be prized precisely for its immediacy.