East Coast Premiere

Rogue Reviews

Reviews posted on the Rogue web-page. (www.roguefestival.com)

"Ellouise chose some wonderful stories that fit the venue, tales of second-hand clothes and sibling rivalry, quilts and revenge, and how home-made became hand-made.
Delightful entertainment, and her sound-system fanny pack made me want one of my own!
A Rogue show in a thrift shop? Why not! We saw a first-rate show...and did some shopping, too!"
TVM, March 6, 2007


"Ellouise Schoettler entertained us with personal vinettes from her life. The story of her wedding dress tied in so well to the second hand store where she presented. Her tellings nudged memories of my own stories to surface. Ellouise's love of telling stories, her expressive telling, and humor came throught with each story and kept the audience engaged. I look forward to having Ellouise return with additional stories to share."
Joan S. 03.07.07


"For Second Hand Rose, Ellouise told stories that were warm, funny and very human. At the Saturday evening performance I enjoyed watching her adapt to her audience by adding a folktale for two young listeners and then inviting them to participate in telling the story. We were all richer for it."
JAS, March 10, 2007

I saw Ellouise's first show and thought she did a very nice thing by changing her program in consideration of the children present. She told a delightful children's story before going into her regular program. She captured her audience and kept them well entertained. It was a great afternoon and I hope she comes back next year.
JA, March 14, 2007

At the La Tienda

Photo by: Serena Smith

2007 Rogue Festival
March 3 and 4, 2007
LaTienda Thrift Shop
Fresno, CA

"Wearing a colorful $6 thrift store jacket, Schoettler thrust her hands in the air and used her southern drawl to emphasize key points in her stories." The Fresno Bee, March 5, 2007

Yep. That's me all right.

I had a great time telling the stories for Second Hand Rose during the Rogue Festival.


I wore the colorful jacket I bought at the LaTienda on a visit six years ago and told a story about the wedding dress I bought on my first visit to the shop in 1978.

Once the racks of clothes were pushed to the side and we set up chairs LaTienda was transformed into a fine
storytelling space.

It was fun to watch people shopping before and after the stories. Listen, I shopped too and found a funky storytelling jacket that will be fun to wear.

And the Rogue was not just about "my" stories;

Jim and I saw Tim Ereneta's "Chart Toppers of 1349" - a revue of folktales presented in a "today" DJ format - counting back from 10 to 1. He selected a variety of tales, and told them well. Tim is a fine storyteller from Berkeley, whose droll, easy style of telling a story reminds me of Ed Stivender - and saying that is high praise - because ED is a national, top level, Master Storyteller.

Also made it to Baba Brinkman's "Canterbury Rap". His material is clever and polished. And, funny, as he sets the travelers in a musicians' road bus and has a very hip manager judging the contest of stories. Its an intriguing concept; an entertaining show.

There was not enough time to see more since I was telling three sets and only in town for two days. Next year I will plan better and set aside more time to see the other performers.

All the volunteers at the LaTienda were warm, friendly and so helpful with the programs. They went out of their way to make the performances work well!

The folks running the Rogue were great! Busy as he was, John Jordan, the producer, attended the Sunday afternoon performance because, "I try to see everybody's work." That speaks for itself.

Being at the Rogue was a great experience. Jim and I met new folks, visited old friends and family, and enjoyed being part of a dynamic and exicitng city-wide arts event. What's not to like?

Performances March 3 and 4 in Fresno

Second Hand Rose
A Storytelling Program
featuring Maryland storyteller,
Ellouise Schoettler

Saturday March 3 6 and 8 pm
Sunday March 4 1 and 3 pm

$7

LaTienda Thrift Shop
708 East Olive
Fresno, CA 93728

Part of the Fresno Rogue Festival



March 3 and 4, 2007 Maryland storyteller Ellouise Schoettler will perform a new program, Second Hand Rose, as part of the fifth annual Rogue Festival in Fresno, CA.

Schoettler loves thrift shops where the surprise is the real FIND. In this program of original stories she tells funny and heart-warming personal stories which stem from her personal forays into second-hand shops from Kensington, MD to Fresno, CA.
She will be telling her stories in her favorite shop, the La Tienda Thrift Shop

Ellouise Schoettler calls herself an “old-time southern storyteller,” just like those she grew up listening to in her native North Carolina. Her programs are a heart-warming and entertaining blend of memory, social history, family sleuthing , traditional stories, folklore, and myth.

Ellouise Schoettler has been called a "stealth" teller. Her stories surprise you and tug at your heart strings at the same time she has you laughing. Her smooth North Carolina accent is "pure velvet" and "a joy to listen to".

Ellouise Schoettler performs original stories, folklore and traditional stories for adult and young audiences. Recent performances include,The Speak Easy, sponsored by The Washington Storytellers Theater, Washington, DC, The California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland, CA, The Museum of the New South, Charlotte, NC. Schoettler is currently storyteller-in-residence for the Audubon Naturalist Society, Chevy Chase, MD and performs regularly in schools in the Greater Washington area.

INTERVIEW WITH ELLOUISE SCHOETTLER

Why did you decide to participate in the Rogue Festival? I have heard about the Rogue Festival and seen it grow over the past few years. It sounded like a place of real energy and excitement and I want to be part of it. On a personal note: my husband grew up in Fresno, graduated from Fresno State College and we have strong family ties here. I thought it would be fun to bring my stories to them and to meet more people in the wider community.

Isn't a thrift shop an unusual place for telling stories?
Well, I guess that is right. However it was the idea of telling in the LaTienda that was a strong push for me to come to the Rogue. You see, I love thrift shops. I look for them where ever I go. They are fun and there is always the chance of a terrific "find". One of my favorite stories is about the LaTienda Thrift Shop. The chance to tell the stories of Second Hand Rose in the La Tienda was a strong lure for me to come.

I have strong ties to the LaTienda and I think of this place every time I walk into a school to tell a program of stories because I wear a brightly colored and unusual jacket I bought right here on Olive Street.

Will you tell Second Hand Rose other places?
Oh, absolutely. In fact, April 25 I will perform the program in the Washington DC area at Strathmore Hall Arts Center. Bethesda, MD.