A storyteller with a strong background in theater and television, will bring a unique collection of stories about American history to a weeklong engagement in Jonesborough.
Pippa White’s residency at the International Storytelling Center for Storytelling Live will include daily performances from Tuesday, June 24, through Saturday, June 28. All matinees begin at 2 p.m.
“Jonesborough is a charming little town,†White said, in a press release from the ISC. “It’s such a privilege to be there.â€
White’s "dynamic" programs will touch on some of "the most electric and important moments in U.S. history," the release states. Her performances include stories about heroes from the Civil War, profiles of immigrants from Ellis Island and a piece about the Dust Bowl and other high-stakes weather events.
On Thursday, June 26, White will offer an evening show at 7:30 p.m. about the unsung heroes of World War II. The program illuminates many fascinating, and often lesser-known, people who contributed to the war effort, the release said, including entertainers who dared to cross enemy lines and a young boy who ate 15 bananas and drank three quarts of milk to meet the weight requirement to enlist.
White’s evening performance is part of the ISC's expanded nighttime concert series, which will feature eight more storytellers over the course of the season.
During her residency, White will also share her signature story about the orphan trains of the 19th and 20th centuries, a “welfare†program that frequently forced destitute children into hard agricultural labor, the release states. White has found that this program is especially fascinating to the kids who attend her shows and find a new well of gratitude for their modern lifestyles.
One of her matinees will be recorded and streamed online for virtual ticket holders beginning Friday, June 27; the program will remain available until Monday at midnight ET. Virtual tickets are now available.
Theater seats are now available. Reservations are recommended by the ISC. According to the release, season passes for in-person or virtual shows are available for a limited time “at a deep discount.â€
The International Storytelling Center’s Storytelling Live performances give its resident storytellers a week to soak up the atmosphere of the the small, historic town of Jonesborough while sharing each ‘tellers own brand of tales in the Storytelling Capital of the World. The Storytelling Live season continues from May to October each year.
The 2025 lineup for Storytelling Live, including evening concerts, holiday shows, and three workshops, is available on . Tickets can be purchased online or over the phone. Pre-registration for workshops is required; walk-in tickets are available for all concerts as long as supplies last.
Funding for Storytelling Live comes from the Tennessee Arts Commission, East Tennessee Foundation, Niswonger Foundation, Norris Family Foundation, Carol & Bobby Frist, Sandy & Terry Countermine, Mary Brugh, Ballad Health, Niswonger Children’s Network, BrightRidge, The Trail Head Lodge, Eastman Credit Union, and Bank of Tennessee. Media sponsors include the Kingsport Times-News, ºÚÁÏÊÓƵ Press, Herald & Tribune, and WETS 89.5 FM.
For more information about Storytelling Live, including the full schedule, or to purchase tickets and season passes, visit or call (800) 952-8392.
