StoryTown Radio Show

02/07/2025

Listening Days are back!

The McKinney Center is partnering with the Jonesborough Senior Center to collect true stories from the local community for the 2025 season of the StoryTown Radio Show as well as the next Community Play. “Listening Days” will be hosted in the months of March, June, September, and November.

Everyone has a story to share. The first Listening Day will take place on March 25th with a morning session from 9:00-12:00 inside the Senior Center. The story collectors are especially interested in hearing stories about immigrating to the United States, people who just moved to Tennessee and this area, Veterans’ memories of their time in the Armed Service, funny stories about miscommunication, and cooking memories, especially when the recipe didn’t turn out as planned. Some of these stories may be used in the April-July episodes of the StoryTown Radio Show.

Other “Listening Days” will take place on June 27th, September 23rd, and November 18th. Themes for these dates will be released later. Stories collected on these days may be used in the upcoming Community Play in 2026.

StoryTown is a celebration of the people, culture, and heritage of the East Tennessee region, and is created from the stories of ordinary people who live here. All stories will be archived and transcribed for future programs, and future generations.

02/06/2025

We had a great time at the StoryTown Radio Show Gala at The Jackson Theatre with Carson Peters. What a lovely, full house. Photos courtesy of Isabel Hawley-Lopez. Tickets are available now for our next show of the season StoryTown Radio Show February 2025: Fair Play in the Arena of Life.

02/06/2025

The McKinney Center Faculty Art exhibit reception was a success! Although the reception has passed, this exhibit remains open during business hours until Feb. 21st! Come see the beautiful work from the McKinney Center faculty, including Donna Bird, Kara Bledsoe, Carla Crader, Susan Everitt, Kay Grogg, Darlene Hatley, Karen Hitchcock, Sydney Jackson, Beverley Thomas Jenkins, Jess Parks, and Sharon Squibb. Come say hello!

02/05/2025

In our the upcoming StoryTown Radio Show February 2025: Fair Play in the Arena of Life, we'll be sharing stories about teamwork both on and off the field. Here's a teaser from a true story by Reenie Fetters, "All's Fair on the Ballfield of Life."

"In the 1970's, I played girls' softball on the Southside of Chicago. I was a terrible player, being stick thin, uncoordinated, and hopelessly unathletic. But all my friends were playing! And my grandma, who was born in 1911 and famously dropped out of high school, played shortstop on her company's team. So, I had to play softball even though I was more a “brain” than a jock. No one knew our best team player very well because she attended school a few towns over. This caused some controversy for folks, as they thought she lived in the same town as her school. They tried to kick her off our team! Can you believe that? Paula was just that good. She was our pitcher.

BATTER UP!

You see.... she attended a different school because they had a program that helped deaf and hard of hearing students, just like her."

Get your tickets now at jonesborough.com/tickets

02/04/2025

🎙🎙February StoryTown Radio Show!💝💖
Tickets are available now at jonesborough.com/tickets
Stories that capture the rich Black history of the Tri-Cities, stories about sporting wins and losses, and tales of teamwork will be shared on the McKinney Center stage on February 24th in a StoryTown Radio Show episode called “Fair Play in the Arena of Life.”
Featured in this live production will be stories from Booker T. Washington School alumni, a triumphant story about being the only Deaf player on a women’s softball team, and poetry selections from spoken word artist Jasmine Henderson. All this and more! The music guest for this production is the .gospelchoir ETSU Gospel/International Choir. We are excited to welcome the award-winning choir to the Radio Show.

02/04/2025

The McKinney Center is holding a Membership Drive for the month of February! follow the link provided to learn more about becoming a member and spreading the love! 💕

🥰💖SHARE THE LOVE!💗💞
February is our Membership Drive! We ask that you Share the Love of the McKinney Center by becoming a member or gifting a membership to someone you love. This is a great way to support the arts in Jonesborough, including the StoryTown Radio Show, plus benefits such as discounts on classes, events, and our members-only brunch! ☕Find out more and become a member today at McKinneyCenter.com/membership-drive-share-the-love 💖💞

02/03/2025

Some important stories for your Monday morning courtesy of the International Storytelling Center.

02/03/2025

We're 3 weeks away from StoryTown Radio Show February 2025: Fair Play in the Arena of Life featuring the ETSU Gospel/International Choir. It's going to be a lovely evening of community. Get your tickets now at jonesborough.com/tickets

02/02/2025

We've been sharing 14th season teasers for a bit, and here's the last one, on October 27th we'll have our annual spooky story episode "Haints, Hollers, and Halloween" with local balladeer Katie Hoffman. Season Passes are still available for purchase at https://townofjonesborough.thundertix.com/packages/6099/summary

It's only $90 for a great season of very fun and very true stories. Join us at StoryTown!

02/01/2025

Become a member of the McKinney Center and support the arts locally, including the StoryTown Radio Show.

🥰💖SHARE THE LOVE!💗💞
February is our Membership Drive! We ask that you Share the Love of the McKinney Center by becoming a member or gifting a membership to someone you love. This is a great way to support the arts in Jonesborough, including the StoryTown Radio Show, plus benefits such as discounts on classes, events, and our members-only brunch! ☕Find out more and become a member today at McKinneyCenter.com/membership-drive-share-the-love 💖💞

01/31/2025

See a beautiful and eclectic mix of art and mediums at the McKinney Center Faculty Art Exhibit, opening reception this evening from 5:00-7:00.

01/30/2025

Enjoy an encore of the February 2024 show “Love Leads the Way” with gospel musical selections inspired by the play “Crowns” by Regina Taylor. Listen to the podcast at Love Leads the Way (Extended Edition) | StoryTown Radio, like and subscribe for all kinds of StoryTown content. You can find the StoryTown Podcast on multiple platforms.

01/29/2025

Mornin' y'all! StoryTown is on the air tonight on WETS 89.5 FM! Tune in to hear an encore of the February 2024 show “Love Leads the Way” with gospel musical selections inspired by the play “Crowns” by Regina Taylor. Listen online at 89.5 FM WETS, Your Public Radio Station.

01/28/2025

What a wonderful time we had last night at The Jackson Theatre. Thank you Carson Peters for bringing the house down with your picking, strumming, and singing. We had so many wonderful stories to share about the theatre.

Thank you to McLeod Organics Jonesborough for sponsoring the show. Thank you to our other sponsors Trivia With Budds, Wild Women of Jonesborough, Gary and Sandee Degner, Terry and Sandy Countermine, Tennessee Arts Commission, Main Street Cafe and Catering, Olde Towne Pancake House, Boone Street Market, The Black Olive, Food City, Ingles Markets.

And a BIG thank you to the Jackson staff, all the volunteers who helped out, and to the audience that packed the house. What a great start to 2025 for the StoryTown Radio Show. We'll have more pictures to share soon!

01/27/2025

TONIGHT is the StoryTown Radio Show Season Kick Off & Gala at The Jackson Theatre with Carson Peters. We're SOLD OUT.

However, tickets are now on sale for our February show "Fair Play in the Arena of Life" on February 24th with the ETSU Gospel/International Choir. Tickets are available for that date at jonesborough.com/tickets

Be aware of ticket scammers for tonight's show. Contact the McKinney Center or Jonesborough Visitors Center and Emporium with any ticketing questions.

01/27/2025

We love being a part of the McKinney Center and the Mary B. Martin Program for the Arts. What a great 2024 we had at StoryTown. We're kicking off the 2025 season on Monday. Here's to more memories to make and more stories to share!

Join in the fun by getting a StoryTown season pass at https://townofjonesborough.thundertix.com/packages/6099/summary

https://youtu.be/K55UOnBbfCQ?si=PuA-DOlijVoW3MuY

Check out a year end review of an amazing 2024. Interested in any of our programs? Check us out at McKinneyCenter.com

01/26/2025

The McKinney Center celebrated the amazing artwork of Washington County and Johnson City Schools this month! Thanks to the MLK Jr. Day Celebration in Johnson City and Washington County for helping plan and put on the event for the third year in a row, thank you to the schools, teachers, and students. The art on display in this exhibit was inspirational and all about unity.

The Town of Jonesborough is proud to partner with Johnson City and Washington County Schools on their second annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Day of Service...