Former Resident Returns As Professional Storyteller
Posted
Staff Report-
NORTH MANCHESTER - Former South Whitley resident Carol Knarr returns to Peabody Retirement Center for her sixth storytelling concert.
This concert, "Emma Edmonds, a Civil War Spy," combines the art of storytelling and theatre.
"This concert represents my greatest storytelling achievement. I tell first-person about a young Canadian woman who dressed as Frank Thompson to fight for the 2nd Michigan Regiment during two years of the Civil War as soldier, field nurse, and spy," Knarr said.
Knarr's performance will be Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. at Peabody Retirement Center Chapel, North Manchester. This performance is free to the public. The performance is in celebration of Veterans Day.
Knarr's storytelling concerts usually consist of a collection of stories focused on a theme or culture. This concert is also a collection of nearly 30 stories but all told as Emma at the moment she decides to leave her unit having contracted typhoid fever."It is thought nearly 500 women dressed as men fighting for both the North and the South. This story is more than a collection of war stories. Emma's story is universal connecting with all who have struggled with loss, death, love and war. Emma also struggles with the issues of freedom not only for the slaves, but also for her gender. Dressed as a man, Emma can do anything and go anywhere, but dressed as a woman, Emma discovers she has limits. The war becomes for Emma more than a man's duty, but also an internal drive to make a difference as a woman," Knarr said.
Knarr moved to Arizona 11 years ago to pursue a master's degree in children's theater at Arizona State University. While at ASU, Knarr took the course The Art of Storytelling. It was a course taught by national teller Don Doyle that hooked Knarr on telling stories professionally.
"I completed my degree in children's theater and immediately began my degree in storytelling at South Mountain Community College Storytelling Institute, Phoenix, Arizona," she said.
Knarr was hired as adjunct faculty for the Storytelling Institute teaching The Art of Storytelling, Storytelling in Educational Settings and Puppetry in Storytelling.
Knarr recently moved to Silver Lake, to be near her parents. Knarr is a language arts instructor and drama director for Lakeview Middle School, Warsaw, is owner of www.somedayisnowtravel.com and a Mona Vie independent distributor. Knarr often performs storytelling professionally for schools, festivals, and in-service training. Knarr was a featured storyteller for The Mesa Storytelling Festival in 2007 and The Pine Storytelling Festival in 2008.
For more information, contact Knarr at 260-578-2565.
