I first interviewed Tim Lowry last year, and with Christmas approaching, I’m doing this piece on him as he’s out and about here in Summerville. He will offer two Dickens’ Christmas Carol Walking Tours during the town’s Third Thursday celebration on Dec. 20.
Tours begin at 5:30 and 7 p.m. at the Timrod Library. Tickets are $20 ($15 for Timrod members). The tour is one hour long and appropriate for families with children ten and older. Then, on Dec. 21, Tim will offer a matinee performance of the same story at 3 p.m. indoors at the Timrod Library. Tickets are $15/$20 and include light refreshments. For tickets, call 843-871-4600.
Regan: You said you’ve performed this show every year since 2001 — wow, 17 years. How do you keep it fresh? Is there a new way of presenting it in each performance?
Lowry: Yes, this year I will surpass my 100th performance of this show. But it never seems old or stale. I love these characters and when I see them at Christmastime, it is like a family reunion. I have especially enjoyed seeing Tiny Tim this year. He is getting so big.
R: Over the last several years, you are donating 100 percent of your CD sales to different charities?
L: In the past, my audiences have raised money for the adoption of children, care baskets for soldiers overseas, educational programs, Christmas toys for children of prisoners, flood victims, etc. This year, all of my CD sales will be donated to two fellow performers who lost their homes in Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Michael. My goal is to raise $2,000.
R: What’s new in this past year for you in terms of performances?
L: As they say, I’ve been around the world on a mule. Lots of travel. I have performed at storytelling festivals in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and Utah.
R: As a storyteller, do you attend an annual convention or other educational opportunities to sharpen your skills?
L: The National Storytelling Festival takes place the first weekend of October in Jonesborough, Tennessee. That’s a great place to see what other storytellers are doing, catch a workshop, purchase storytelling recordings and resources. I often perform there, but it is also a great place to recharge the storytelling batteries.
R: Any storytelling competitions?
L: Liar’s contests and tall tale competitions are very popular. In fact, I’m seriously considering hosting a tall tale contest during the next Sweet Tea Festival here in Summerville. We will call it Sweet Talk. Stay tuned for details.
R: Do you have a favorite historical person you look up to and why?
L: Well, this time of year, my thoughts always turn to Charles Dickens. He was such a marvelous creator of characters. He also had a terrific way of establishing place in his stories. I think that both are key to being a great storyteller.
Find more about Lowry at www.StorytellerTimLowry.com.
Mary E. Regan, Columnist, is a Publicist with her ProPublicist consultancy. Story ideas? Email: {Mary@ProPublicist.com
R: What do you have planned for next year?
L: I’m developing a show about the life of Thomas Edison. He fascinates me. I am also working on a period piece about President Taft’s visit to Summerville. When I am not working on stories of history, I like to tell tales from my own personal experience. Recently, I dropped my suitcase in the Atlanta airport and it slid at top speed down a 65-foot escalator. I still don’t know how that thing didn’t kill somebody. Therein lies a tale. All of these adventures and more will be told at my home base, the Timrod Library, so come see me. We have a show just about every third Friday of each month.
Fin more about Lowry at www.StorytellerTimLowry.com.
Mary E. Regan, Columnist, is a Publicist with her ProPublicist consultancy. Story ideas? Email: {Mary@ProPublicist.com
