When Janet Fricke retired from Georgetown County Public Services in early 2023, she knew exactly what she wanted to do with her newfound free time.
She had previously participated in the acclaimed Stoop Storytelling program in Baltimore and had found a new passion there. She wanted to create something similar in her new hometown and share that passion with others.
“I used to talk about it. I’d say, ‘I’m going to start this,’” recalled Fricke, who was the executive administrative assistant for Public Services Director Ray Funnye for five years.
Now, nearly two years to the day after her retirement, she has achieved her dream. Georgetown Tidal Tales, a nonprofit, will have its first show on Saturday, Jan. 25, at Winyah Auditorium with eight local storytellers from diverse backgrounds.
“We’ve got a wonderful mix of voices,” said Fricke. “There’s a high school student, a filmmaker, a longtime resident of Andrews, and more. It’s a representation of the unique and varied community we have here in Georgetown.”
Each will talk for about five minutes. The theme for the night is “For the First Time,” so each will share a story about something they did or that happened to them for the first time. None are professional story tellers.
“They’re just regular people,” Fricke said. “When you see regular people doing this who are not celebrities, who sometimes stumble or say ‘ummm,’ you feel empowered. It maybe removes some of that terrible fear of public speaking that happens.”
Often after attending a performance, audience members will decide they have a story to tell too. Luckily, there will be plenty of opportunities. Georgetown Tidal Tales will have quarterly shows and, as with this first one, members of the public can apply to be a storyteller by pitching their topic through the organization’s website. Upcoming themes are “Do-overs,” “First on the Scene” and “Taking Chances.”
“We don't try to change their voice or anything,” Fricke said of the storytellers. “We just help them work shop it.”
The shows will all follow the same format, modeled off of the Stoop Storytelling program. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. and will feature music – The Zack Patton Trio will perform at the January show. The band will play for the first 30 minutes or so, and then the storytelling begins, emceed by Fricke and Kayla Funnye.
All proceeds from each show will benefit a local nonprofit. The beneficiary for this first show is Habitat for Humanity Georgetown County. It seemed appropriate, said Fricke, as the theme is “for the first time” and Habitat makes local residents homeowners for the first time.
Fricke has her fingers crossed for a full house at this first show. And she hopes people who attend will be talking about it for some time.
“Storytelling is such a powerful way to bring people together,” she said. “It allows us to see the humanity in each other and understand perspectives we might not have considered.”
In addition to storytelling, the event will feature audience participation. Through a partnership with Coastal Carolina University’s Athenaeum Press, attendees will be invited to write their own “first-time” stories, with selected entries read aloud during the intermission.
Despite the challenges of starting a nonprofit, Fricke has embraced the journey with the help of a dedicated nine-member board, including family members and local supporters. “The learning curve has been steep, but I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have so many people rally around this idea,” she said.
Tickets for the show are just $10, keeping the event accessible to all. Fricke hopes this affordability will encourage a wide range of residents to attend and experience the magic of live storytelling.
As Fricke reflects on her journey from retirement to launching a nonprofit, she’s grateful for the support she has received and excited for what lies ahead.
“This is about more than just stories,” she said. “It’s about fostering connection, building understanding, and giving back.”
Tickets are available at georgetowntidaltales.com or at the door.