The Grove Theatre

Oak Ridge, TN

8654250501

The Historic Grove Theatre in Oak Ridge holds a rich history of memories for many in the East Tennessee area. Constructed during the Manhattan Project & recently renovated, the theater is home to numerous local arts organizations. It is currently owned and operated by High Places Community Church.

FLATWATER TALES

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Friday + Saturday, June 3 &4 – Save the Date for the 2019 Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival

Tickets are now available for the June 3 and 4 Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival, featuring three nationally renowned storytellers. This annual event will return to the Historic Grove Theater in Oak Ridge, Tennessee for a total of four performances.

The three-day event will feature storytellers Sheila Arnold, Bil Lepp and Kim Weitkamp, known to audiences nationwide for their wit, wisdom and abilities to make audiences laugh, cry and reminisce. Two additional events have been added to the weekend: a workshop by Bil Lepp on Thursday, June 2, and a special tour of historic Oak Ridge by Oak Ridge Historian Ray Smith on Friday June 3.

Highlighting the Friday night show will be acclaimed storyteller Sheila Arnold with a one-time-only telling of her original story, “The Secret City’s Secret City: Scarboro.” This story honors the Scarboro 85, the 85 brave young people from the Scarboro neighborhood in Oak Ridge who were the first to desegregate a public school district in the Southeast after the US Supreme Court decision. Few people know of this 1955 milestone event that took place in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Storytellers Bil Lepp and Kim Weitkamp will also perform Friday evening. Tickets for the Friday evening 7 PM show are $10 for adults and $5 for children who must be 5 and older to attend.

There will be three shows on Saturday, June 4, and each storyteller will share different stories for each performance. Tickets for the morning family show, from 10 to noon, are $10 for adults and $5 for children who must be 5 and older to attend . The afternoon show is from 2 to 5 PM and the evening show is from 7 to 10 PM. Tickets for the afternoon and evening performances are $25 for each show. For groups of 10 or more tickets will be $20 apiece for the afternoon and evening performances. For group sales contact: flatwatertales@gmail.com

Storyteller Bil Lepp will present a special workshop, “Bringing a Story to Life and Including Your Audience in the Experience,” on Thursday June 2, from 2 to 4 PM at the UT Arboretum Auditorium in Oak Ridge. Workshop tickets are $50 and are available at Eventbrite and  the Ferrell Shop (cash or check, only) in Oak Ridge.

A first-time special event has been added to this year’s Flatwater Tales. Oak Ridge Historian Ray Smith will lead a tour of some historic Oak Ridge sites on Friday, June 3rd at 1 PM – 3 PM. Tickets for this free tour are available on Eventbrite and  the Ferrell Shop. The event is FREE but registration is required. Learn the history of Oak Ridge by spending a couple of hours with Ray Smith.

The tour will start at Jackson Square, located near the intersection of Broadway and Kentucky Avenues. Meet in the north parking lot across Broadway Avenue from Jackson Square.

The tour will consist of driving the historic district of alphabet houses, visiting the Oak Ridge International Friendship Bell, the Secret City Commemorative Walk and the Birth of a City monuments. If available, the Y-12 History Center will be included. At the end of the tour there will be an optional visit to the Oak Ridge History Museum ($4 per person).

You don’t want to miss any of the 2022 Flatwater Tales!