I tell stories for all ages – pre-schoolers, elementary students, teens, and adults. Contact me to set up a performance with your group!
Pilgrimage, adventure, and humor are threads that run through my storytelling and my life. I am drawn to stories of adventure and personal growth. And I love telling trickster tales in which the “bad guy” gets what’s coming to him or transforms into a “good guy.” Above all, I like to laugh!
As a child in Memphis, my early adventures were taken with my father, a storyteller himself. My favorite stories are many of the ones I learned from him – about such characters as Jack (of beanstalk fame), Brer Rabbit, and Anansi. I also tell personal stories stemming from my own adventures, spirituality, and childhood.
I have been telling stories since I was a kid, and am now a professional storyteller and member of the Southern Order of Storytellers.
In 2002, I hiked all 2172 miles of the Appalachian Trail, an experience that influences my storytelling and also led me to start my wilderness guiding company. And I love to bring storytelling into my work with Sure Foot Adventures. Whenever I’m leading a backpacking or camping trip, I tell stories around the campfire. And I utilize my experiences in the woods when telling stories.
Listen:
Jonah and two other storytellers (Gail Hogan and Shannon McNeal) were interviewed by John Lemley on City Cafe on 90.1 WABE.
Read the intro, and then listen to the interview:
This month, storytellers in dozens of cities and towns around the world will share their talents—in concerts held to celebrate the ancient art of storytelling. It’s a festival called Tellabration! and several expert storytellers will be telling tales to mark the event this weekend at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library. Three of those involved with Tellabration came to our studios for an interview: event organizer Shannon McNeal, Jonah McDonald and Gail Hogan. Our conversation began with Shannon McNeal, talking about what it’s like to be involved with an event with such international ties. WABE’s Kate Sweeney produces.
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Listen to an excerpt from Jonah’s story “Slaying the Giants” recorded at WABE:
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Jonah’s past performances include:
The 2008 Winter StoryFest- Atlanta Tellabration! 2009
- The 2010 SOS Storytelling Festival
- JackPie Theater’s Improv Monster
- May and Sept 2011 Stories Squared concerts in Decatur
- Atlanta Tellabration! 2011
- Hands On Network’s Americorps Retreat
- Arbor Terrace Assisted Living Home
- At many schools, including Bartow County Pre-K, Dunbar Elementary, Kingfisher Academy, Counterpane School, Meadowcreek Elementary, Palmer Middle School, Norcross Elementary, Cary Reynolds Elementary, Whitesburg, Elementary, etc.
- Around the campfire on every Sure Foot Adventures camping and backpacking trip
Jonah’s repertoire of stories include:
Traditional Tales:
- The Mole & the Swallow
- Sun Man
- Go to Sleep, Gecko!
The Ghost Car- Master of All Masters
- What’s the Name of that Tree?
- Why the Sky is So Far Away
- The Witty Queen
- Brer Rabbitt, Brer Coon, & the Frogs
- Finn McCool
- Ananzi & the Stories
- Isaac and the Treasure
- The Baalshemtov’s Servant
- Nate the Snake
Jack Tales:
- Jack and the Devil
- Jack’s First Job
- Jack and the Doctor
- Jack and the Varmits
- Jack and Hardy-Hard Head
- Jack and the Robbers
Jonah’s Personal Stories:
- Two Jonahs
- Slaying the Giants
- The Golden Ride
- How Do I Get to Machu Picchu?
- The Wrong Shoes
- Mountains & Valleys
In the storytelling world, I have served as a Board Member, the Treasurer and Web Manager of the Southern Order of Storytellers and I regularly participate in the Decatur Storytelling Cluster Group.