Virginia Storytelling Alliance logo LAUGHS 2004

The Virginia Storytelling Alliance (VASA) and the producers of LAUGHS '04, Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Services (LCPRCS) will select up to twelve storytellers to appear in a showcase of emerging tellers at the fourth annual LAUGHS, Loudoun's Annual Unforgettable Gigantic Hilarious Storyfest, to be held June 19 and 20, 2004 at Claude Moore Park in Sterling, Virginia.

If you are a professional storyteller, we will consider you an emerging teller for the purposes of this showcase if you can confirm that you have told not only in your locale but also somewhere other than in your home state. We are looking for reasonably broad telling experience. If you meet this simple criteria, you are invited to submit a story on audio cassette (preferred), CD or video tape. The story must be fifteen minutes or less. The story must be humorous and suitable for an adult audience.

Tips: Think of laughter as a healing art, a community builder. Ironic tales, whimsical twists, stretch-the-imagination stories are acceptable; stand up comedy gags and blue stories are not. Judging will be weighted heavily toward story content.

If your story is selected, in addition to your prime-time showcase appearance your name and brief bio will be listed in the LAUGHS program and on the website www.laughsfestival.org (from which you may link to your home page.) You will have an opportunity to display brochures. You may sell books and tapes through the resource tent run by August House. You will receive free admission to both days of the festival and to the Saturday evening concert plus a $200 honorarium to defray expenses.

Mail your submission by December 15 to

VASA/LCPRCS Audition Commitee
c/o Gary Lloyd, Committee Chair
5632 Willoughby Newton Drive #11
Centreville, Va. 20120

Transportation and lodging are on your own. Local hotels coooperate through the Loudoun Convention and Visitors Association to offer very reasonable rates for the festival. Some will also arrange for transportation to and from Dulles airport and Claude Moore Park.

Membership in VASA is not a requirement. Tapes will not be returned. Please include a short bio or brochure with your submission. Be sure to label your entry plainly with

  1. your name
  2. the name of your story, and
  3. author.

If there is more than one story on your tape, please key to the story you want us to hear. Selection will be made by mid February.