Get ready to hear things that will make you laugh, shake your head, cross your arms, and cause you to wonder if you heard correctly when the Storytelling Arts Center of the Southeast hosts the third annual Bold-Faced Liars' Showdown on Jan. 23, 2010. This year's gathering of tall-tale tellers will include an afternoon contest for the 2010 champion liar followed by an evening performance featuring the celebrated North Carolina musician and storyteller Michael Reno Harrell. The event will be held at the Storytelling Arts Center, located at 131 S. Main St. in Laurinburg.

Jan Schmidt is the executive director of the Storytelling Arts Center of the Southeast.

"Michael Reno Harrell is not only a very funny storyteller, he is a wonderful musician as well," Schmidt said. "People are in for a great afternoon of laughter and music in the company of this exceptional talent."

Four-time Grammy winner David Holt describes Harrell as "one of those natural born Southern musicians and storytellers who is filled with wit, charm, and surprises." Harrell's performances have been characterized as "granddaddy's pocket knife: well worn and familiar ... but razor sharp and with a point."

Harrell has been a featured performer at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesboro, Tenn. and a teller-in-residence at the International Storytelling Center. Other appearances include MerleFest, The Walnut Valley Festival, the PBS production Song of the Mountains, and many more.

Brenda Gilbert, board chairperson of SACS, hopes the 2010 Liars' Showdown will be a great success.

"We have a wonderful lineup of tellers for this year, including past winners Tyris D. Jones of Laurinburg and Ray Mendenhall of Burgaw, who is now the president of the North Carolina Storytelling Guild and has performed on behalf of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. Tyris won the 2008 Showdown, and has since made his national debut at the 37th National Storytelling Festival in Jonesboro, Tenn."

Other local tellers scheduled to appear are Ray Fidler and Charles Sheppard.

According to Gilbert, the response from the storytelling community has given event organizers a "full plate" going into January.

"The word has really gotten out," Gilbert said. "We already have 18 tellers signed up, and are putting all others on a waiting list. Those who wish to perform at the festival can sign up until the afternoon of the event, and will be allowed to compete if time permits."

Beginning at 2 p.m. on the day of the competition, tellers will be given three to seven minutes to entertain the audience and to convince the panel of judges that their bold-faced performance deserves the top prize. At 7 p.m., the champion liar will be announced by Harrell prior to his evening performance.

Tickets for the third annual Bold-Faced Liars Showdown are $6 (afternoon admission only), $12 (Michael Reno Harrell concert only), and $15 (both afternoon and evening).

Advance tickets are recommended and may be purchased at the SACS box office, online at www.storyartscenter.org, or by calling 291-0929. Contest registration information, rules, and rubrics may be viewed at the SACS website.