The Apple Seed

A collection of stories and songs for the month of love performed by Sam Payne, The Acting Company alumni Noah & Leah Kershisnik and director Suzanne Christensen, and musician Emily Brown. Featuring readings of Beauty & the Beast & Cyrano de Bergerac, and original songs by Emily Brown.

Sam Payne & the Apple Team can be found poking around various events with their microphones and recorders. This episode includes some great stuff gathered from house shows, storytelling festivals, and local storytelling events. Segments in this episode include performances by Bil Lepp & Sam Payne at a recent local house show in Provo, Utah, folks at the Weber Storytelling Festival, and a Hans Christian Andersen tale recorded here in the Studio with members of The Acting Company.

Stories incuded in this episode: 

Story: Stanley Easter

Teller: Donald Davis 

Website: www.ddavisstoryteller.com

Story: Voices

Teller: Alton Chung

Website: www.altonchung.com

Story: The Thirteenth

Teller: Susan Klein

Website: www.susanklein.net

Note: The story of Sleeping Beauty as told by the 13th fairy. 

Song: Hush Little Baby

Teller: Diane Ferlatte

Website: www.dianeferlatte.com

Note: A classic lullaby sung by a teller with a tremendous voice.

Story: The Wise Little Girl

Teller: Odds Bodkin

Website: www.oddsbodkin.net

Note: The wisdom of the morning flavors this story.

Story: Maternal Instinct

Teller: Allison Downey

Website: allisondowney.com

Note: Anyone who's ever tried to sleeptrain a toddler will be able to relate.

A celebration of groundhog lore, Winter, and the anticipation of Spring. 

Stories included in this episode: 

Story: The Gift

Teller: Doug Elliott

Website: www.dougelliott.com

Note: From Doug Elliott's fantastic album, "Groundhogology and Marmotobilia: Of Whistlepigs and World Politics."

Song: Oh Groundhog

Teller: Doug Elliott 

Website: www.dougelliott.com

Note: A little bluegrass about a little creature. 

Poem: A Drumlin Woodchuck

Author: Robert Frost 

Story: Pebone and Sanguin

Teller: Brian "Fox" Ellis 

Website: www.foxtalesint.com

Note: A story about winter and spring. 

Story: Old Man Winter

Teller: Len Cabral

Website: www.lencabral.com

Note: On the origin of the four seasons.

Story: The Fisherman (and His Wife)

Teller: Megan Hicks

Website: www.meganhicks.com

Note: A groundhog is just one of the many twists in this classic story. 

Story: Gluskabi and the Wind Eagle 

Teller: Joseph Bruchac

Website: josephbruchac.com

Note: Grandmother Woodchuck shares her wisdom with the hero in this story.

Andre Marques is our highly talented and charismatic audio engineer. Andre is originally from Brasil, was recently married, and his hobbies inlcude pop culture, graphic design, and fashion. Usually spending time behind on the other side of the booth making sure that all sounds well, he joins Sam Payne in the studio to talk about his favorite stories and tellers. 

Stories included in this episode: "High Dive" by Bill Harley, "Joey, Chloe and the Swamp Monsters" by Bill Harley, and "Rumplestiltskin" as told by Rosie Cutrer.

Story: Politics

Teller: Jay O' Callahan

Website: www.ocallahan.com

Note: You're never too young to get involved in politics.

Story: The Swan Tenor

Teller: Bob Reiser

Website: www.bobtales.com

Note: A temperamental tenor sings the swan song for his singing career.

Story: The Sleeping Porch

Teller: Jane Stenson

Website: janestenson.com

Note: Through beautiful imagery, Jane Stenson paints a whimsical portrait of summer.

Story: The Magic Fish 

Teller: Heather Forest

Website: www.heatherforest.com

Note: A classic and magical Heather Forest treatment of a popular folk tale.

From orientation to graduation: stories from Bill Mooney, David Holt, Robin Schulte, Syd Lieberman, and a little advice from Mark Twain.

Stories included in this episode: 

Story: Do You Know Who I Am? 

Teller: Bill Mooney 

Note: A lesson in humility. From the album "Spiders in the Hairdo" with David Holt.

Story: The Bluebook Scam

Teller: David Holt 

Website: www.davidholt.com

Note: A lesson in cleverness.

Story: My Little Accessory

Teller: Robin Schulte

Website: www.robinschulte.com

Note: A lesson in parenthood. 

Story: Harvard Man Redux

Teller: Syd Lieberman

Website: www.sydlieberman.com

Note: A lesson in ... lessons. 

Also included in this episode: a reading of "Advice to Youth" by Mark Twain, and a few words from Sam Payne himself.

Like a good jambalaya, the ingredients of this episode are good together and stand out on their own. Featuring tellers Ruth Halpern, Bill Gordh, Dan Kelin, Ingrid Nixon, and a special story from Sam Payne.

In this episode, Sam Payne sets the scene for the annual Four Corners Storytelling Festival featuring tellers such as Susan O'Halloran, Dovie Thomason, Joe Hayes, Len Cabral, and Sid Hausman. On this episode enjoy stories from Susan O' Halloran, Len Cabral and a little music from Sid Hausman. 

To learn more about the annual Four Corners Storytelling Festival, visit this website: www.infoway.org/storytelling