Storytelling has been around for thousands of years. The art form can serve many purposes — conveying history, teaching a lesson, entertaining — and is thought to have co-evolved with language, likely as the driving force to satisfy the human need for interaction and connection. So it comes as no surprise that storytelling exists today in expansive forms of varied media and formats. But the simple form of a single person crafting a tale for a group of people, using only their words and bodies to convey their message, is beautifully intimate.
This was my second year attending The Women’s Storytelling Festival produced by Better Said Than Done, and the experience has yet again reminded me how therapeutic and comforting it can be just to listen to the humanity and happenings of life from other perspectives. The production featured a diverse group of women from all over the world bringing a variety of lighthearted yarns, heartbreaking memories, and fantastical imaginings. And those 27 women, the storytellers and emcees, presented over half a day of pure entertainment.
There was a raunchy and hilarious retelling of Lysistrata by Megan Wells. And a touching variation of the classic fairy tale Sleeping Beauty by Bonnie Gardner that celebrated trans youth and embraced the joy of being authentic.
Hope Wilder’s description of being 15, traveling alone, and discovering the value of asking for help after being followed by an old bearded man in a foreign country was both harrowing and inspiring.
Karin Amano animatedly shared the time she took her mini godzilla on a trip to Japan to visit her ailing father. While Elisa Pearmain shared her life’s goal to be a midwife, and her encounters with birth and loss.
Jezrie Marcano-Courtney spoke about when she was in acting school, and encouraged a friend to come out to their father, learning how to be true to herself in the process.
Lynette Ford reminded listeners of the importance of patience and curiosity over assumptions when she recounted her time coming to the aid of a stranger at a conference, who turned out to be a keynote speaker.
And Kristin Pedemonti stressed the necessity of telling stories to build bridges of peace and understanding, with her account of connecting to an audience through an interpreter, illustrating how stories surpass language in their ability to unite people.
There was love and loss. The gift of life and the emptiness that death can bring. Laughter and tears. Every human emotion was touched on throughout the festival, weaving a rich, vibrant tapestry of the female experience.
There is something profoundly moving about listening to a person narrate a memory, a dream, or a piece of folklore. The atmosphere is incredibly personal, serving as a lovely shared journey for everyone in the space, but it also does something greater: it cultivates empathy. It bridges the gaps between different cultures and generations, reminding us that behind every face we pass is a lifetime of stories just waiting to be told.
The festival took place over four days, featuring multiple showcases and resulting in over 16 hours of phenomenal material. And while the live performances have ended, Virtual Ticket Passes are available for purchase through April 8.
If you have never attended a storytelling event, then you are truly missing out. Grab a virtual pass, find a comfortable spot, and let the voices of these incredible women connect you back to the magnificently complex world around you.
Running Time: Approximately 16 hours.
The 2026 Women’s Storytelling Festival ran live from March 19 to 22, 2026, produced by Better Said Than Done, performing at the Sherwood Community Center, located at 3740 Blenheim Blvd, Fairfax, VA. Virtual Ticket Passes are on sale through April 8 for $42 and give access to the recordings through April 28.
The Women’s Storytelling Festival storytellers: Karin Amano, Lona Bartlett, Meghna Bhat, Lyn Ford, Neshama Franklin, Bonnie Gardner, Natalie Jones, Jenn Kamara, Nina Lesiga, Jezrie Marcano-Courtney, Jamie McElhatton, Jennifer Munro, Denise Page, Liz Pardue, Elisa Pearmain, Kristin Pedemonti, Regina Stoops, Liz Weir, Megan Wells, and Hope Wilder.
Emcees for the festival: Elizabeth Ellis, Sherry Grimes, Miriam Nadel, Mayor Catherine Reade, Delegate Holly Seibold, and 1A host Jenn White.
SEE ALSO:
Better Said Than Done’s moving Women’s Storytelling Festival now streaming (review of 2025 festival by Kendall Mostafavi, March 28, 2025)
