Southwestern Michigan College’s Lyons Theatre filled with residents ready for an evening of tales told by professional storyteller Angela Lloyd, as part of the 21^st annual Dogwood Fine Arts Festival.

Lloyd, who traveled from California for the event, entertained the audience with several stories from personal experiences and her imagination. Over the course of three days, Lloyd met with school children and adults, telling colorful stories mixed with some laughs. Before the show began, Shirley Laylin, a member of the committee, presented Shirley and Clayton Wiker, of Securit Metal Products, with an award for their 15 years of contributions to the event.

“This is our 18^th year presenting a professional, nationally acclaimed storyteller,” Laylin said. “You’ve touched 18,000 kids’ lives with your support.”

Lloyd began her stories with details about her family, her musical talent and her childhood, growing up in Venezuela. One such story told of how her mother rented Carnegie Hall, something she accomplished herself 30 years later to honor the memory of her mother.

“Anytime I play a concert or tell stories, I feel like I’m going to the ball,” Lloyd said to the audience. “I feel very much like I am at the ball here tonight with you.”

Between songs on the autoharp and washboard, Lloyd also animatedly told tales reminiscent of ‘Cinderella’ and her chance meeting with a man outside a 7-11 in the 1980s.

“She’s absolutely fabulous,” Kathy Johnson, director of the Dowagiac District Library, said. “Dogwood (Festival) always gets the absolute best.”

Jennifer Ray, director of the Cassopolis District Library and another member of the storytelling committee, said she was happy to be involved because of her personal love for storytelling.

“I think it’s an art form,” Ray said. “It finds what’s human in us, showing us we’re more alike than we are different.”