Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 9-29-17

Feature
Popular Radio Story-Telling Show Airs Live At Tampa Theatre
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
Glynn Washington’s last visit to Tampa was more than 30 years ago, as a young member of an eccentric religious cult.
Then known as the Worldwide Church of God, the Christian group did not observe Christmas or Easter and instead held an annual “Feast of the Tabernacle” in different cities throughout the coun- try.
At least twice, Tampa was the location for the event, Washington said.
While the group was self-contained, Washing- ton said he does remember venturing out into the city and surrounding areas.
“Sunshine and the beach – it was hard to keep a young man away,” he said.
Washington once again is submitting to the pull of Tampa Bay’s sun and surf and on Friday will bring his wildly popular National Public Radio show, Snap Judgement to the Tampa Theatre.
Launched seven years ago, Snap features nar- rative storytelling against a music score that can range from the dramatic to the funky. It is heard weekly on more than 365 public radio stations, and downloaded more than two million times a month. It airs locally on WUSF 89.7.
Friday’s show will feature the Snap Judgement crew telling the stories of everyday people backed by experimental soul band, Bells Atlas.
In a recent telephone interview, Washington – the show’s host, creator, and executive producer – said his love of storytelling was shaped by both
Glynn Washington is the host, creator, and execu- tive producer of the public radio show, Snap Judge- ment.
his growing up in a “cult” and the influence of his father’s family.
The group’s leader espoused the coming of Jesus weekly and crafted a new story when he did not show up, he said.
In his family, Washington’s father, grandfa- ther, and aunts and uncles were loud, raucous sto- rytellers.
His grandmother – a soft-spoken woman who commanded rapt attention when she told stories –
was proof that good storytellers are great listeners. “People think of storytellers as gregarious peo- ple, but they’re really kind of introverted,” he said. “They’re genuinely interested in what people have
to say.”
The elements of a good story, however, include
more than just the teller being a good listener. Stories are as good as the experiences from
which they are drawn, Washington said.
“You have to be living some good things, some interesting things,” he said. “You’ve got to have ma-
terial.”
Another element of a good story is the voice –
but you don’t have to sound like notable actor, James Earl Jones to convey a good message, Washington said.
“I don’t think there is a storytelling voice,” he said. “Everyone’s voice will work.”
At the live show, the sounds of Bells Atlas mesh with the prose of the storytellers to produce “a duet.”
It’s a combination that’s sure to invoke emo- tions of both laughter and tears, Washington said.
“It’s an emotional show,” he said. “You have to be made of stone to not feel anything.”
If You Go
Glynn Washington brings his show, Snap Judgement, Friday to the Tampa Theatre, 711 N. Franklin St., in Tampa. Show begins at 8 p. m. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit tampatheatre.org.
PAGE 4-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017