Jamie Lester Performs:

We’re excited to share that @lestersculpt will be joining the @morgantowncrankiefestival to support the Welsh visiting artist @peterstevensoncelf for the Saturday performance, May 30 at 7 pm at the @monartscenter.

Location:

Monongalia Arts Center
107 High Street, Morgantown, West Virginia

PRICE:

Suggested donation: $10-25 (no one turned away for lack of funds)

Event Description:

The Morgantown Crankie Festival is a weekend celebration of crankies—hand-cranked moving panorama performances that combine storytelling, music, puppetry, and visual art May 30 and 31!

Artists from West Virginia, across Appalachia, and beyond will share original crankie performances. A crankie is a long illustrated scroll inside a small theater that is slowly turned to reveal images while performers sing, narrate, or play music, creating a unique form of visual storytelling.

Over two days, audiences will experience a wide variety of crankies: folk tales, original songs, experimental storytelling, and traditional ballads brought to life through moving images.

The festival features 19 performers and groups, including visiting and local artists. Each act presents a short crankie performance, creating an evening of diverse styles and stories.

This inaugural festival celebrates the growing crankie movement and Morgantown’s vibrant creative community. The event is organized by performer-composer, Annick Odom and hosted by the Monongalia Arts Center.