Sue Searing of Minneapolis won the title of Great American Storyteller at the conclusion of Saturday night’s storytelling contest at Calvary Lutheran Church.
Searing received a check for $1,000.
The audience chose the winner after an initial round of storytelling by the WonderWeavers duo of Tina Rohde from Eden Prairie and Colleen Shaskin of Minnetonka, Paulette Friday of Alexandria and Rose van der Berg of Bloomington. The WonderWeavers won second place and were awarded $500. Friday and Van der Berg each received $250.
In addition to the two rounds of storytelling, Richard Rousseau, St. Paul, also engaged the audience as ballots were being counted. Rousseau is Minnesota liaison for the National Storytelling Network. Mike Carroll served as emcee and presented the awards.
The Park Rapids Lakes Area Arts Council sponsored the event with grants from the Northlands Storytelling Network, Itasca-Mantrap Roundup Funds and a a grant from the Region 2 Arts Council funded by an appropriation from the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the State’s general fund.
For more information on the Great American Story, go to thegreatamericanstory.org.
