Jonesborough, TENN. — On May 3, the International Storytelling Center (ISC) will launch the 2016 season of its popular Storytelling Live! series, a six-month showcase of the country’s top storytellers.

Now in its 15th year, Storytelling Live! brings a new “teller in residence” to the town of Jonesborough each week to host a week’s worth of performances. The program runs through the end of October, and includes special guests in November and December.

Sprinkled throughout the season is a variety of workshops, evening shows, children’s programming, and other special shows sponsored by ISC in downtown Jonesborough.

“We started the Teller-in-Residence program as a way to introduce some of our most talented entertainers from the National Storytelling Festival to a broader audience,” says Susan O’Connor, ISC’s director of programs. “Having a full week with each of our 26 tellers creates a balance of breadth and depth that gives more people the opportunity to come join us for an afternoon of first-rate storytelling.”

The full lineup of master storytellers will pull from a wide array of oral traditions, including traditional tales, personal stories, mountain music, folk songs, and the blues. Fan favorite Bil Lepp, a West Virginia teller known for his tall tales, will open the season with a weeklong run from May 3-7, including a special evening concert on Thursday night.

Other returning favorites include Tim Lowry, Andy Offutt Irwin, Sheila Kay Adams, Donald Davis, and Minton Sparks. Irish teller Clare Muireann Murphy and musical talent Don White are among this season’s new voices.

Special features have been scheduled throughout the season and extend into November and December, including Dolores Hydock’s piece on the USO Entertainers of World War II, Debra Ehrhardt’s autobiographical show, “Jamaica Farewell,” and a series of holiday shows with featured performers Kim Weitkamp, Bil Lepp, Andy Offutt Irwin, and Tim Lowry.

All Storytelling Live! performances are in ISC’s intimate theater in Mary B. Martin Storytelling Hall.Tickets for all matinee performances are just $12 for adults and $11 for seniors, students, and children under 18, and ticket holders will receive discounts at many downtown establishments on the day of the performance.

Season passes that offer nearly half off the price of regular admission are still available (only as supplies last).

Information about all TIR performers, as well as a detailed schedule for 2016, is available at www.storytellingcenter.net. The premier sponsor of Storytelling Live! is the Heart & Soul program of Mountain States. Media sponsors include News 5-WCYB, FOX Tri-Cities, Tri-Cities CW, Johnson City Press, Kingsport Times-News, Herald & Tribune, Cumulus Media, The Laurel of Asheville, Plough to Pantry and Foster Signs. Additional funding comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Tennessee Arts Commission, the East Tennessee Foundation, Eastman Credit Union, the Mooneyhan Family Foundation and the Niswonger Foundation.

The International Storytelling Center is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. For more information about Storytelling Live! or to make a group reservation, call (800) 952-8392 ext. 222 or (423) 913-1276.