Myth America: A Performance by Dr. Milbre Burch

Main Library welcomes Grammy-nominated recording artist and internationally-known performer, Milbre Burch, as she presents an engaging and timely storytelling performance. Inspired in part by real-life voter suppression, civil rights violations, and the importance of engaging citizens in our democracy, Myth America is an exploration of voices rarely heard center stage, sparking conversation and sharing among listeners.

Called a “retrospective show for our time,” this 65-minute show features Burch's family history, personal stories, and original character monologues written over her 45+ year career as an award-winning storyteller. Intended for mature audiences, registration is preferred for this event. This program is supported by the Orange County Arts Commission.

The performance will take place following a welcome and introduction by Wayne Leonard, host of “Lights Up!” on WHUP-FM Radio in Hillsborough, and a post-show Conversation with Performer and Audience will be facilitated by Hillsborough Commissioner, Matt Hughes.

About Milbre Burch:

Milbre Burch has been a touring and teaching artist since 1978, working in K-12 schools, libraries, colleges & universities, museums & theatres, faith communities, residential sites for developmentally disabled adults and men’s and women’s prisons. She founded her recording label, Kind Crone Productions in the eighties and has released numerous award-winning spoken-word albums on it. She has published retold folktales, original fiction and poetry as well as her scholarship on storytelling strategies of playwrights & performers. She has appeared at the National Storytelling Festival nine times since 1984 and holds a PhD in Theatre and Performance from the University of Missouri. A GRAMMY-nominated spoken word recording artist, she has performed coast-to-coast in the US & in Austria, Canada, Ireland, the UK, Slovenia, Spain & Taiwan. Learn more about Milbre Burch at kindcrone.com

About Matt Hughes:

Matt Hughes was appointed to the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners in 2018 and elected to his first full term in 2019. At 27 years old, he became the town’s first millennial and openly LGBTQ+ commissioner and one of its youngest commissioners ever. Hughes is a lifelong resident of Hillsborough, attending Central, Grady Brown and New Hope elementary schools and Stanback Middle and Cedar Ridge High schools. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is the President of the Northern Orange Branch of the NAACP.