I've never been to the school but have considered going for some time now - if I can ever find the time - but there is a "Folk School" in North Carolina (John C. Campbell Folk School) that offers several courses on varous types of storytelling that include some of the following:

Telling Scary Stories for Fun and Profit
Hussies, Harlots, Heroines: Shady Ladies of the Bible

There are several more listed in their catalog, but the names don't really give a great description of what the class offers.

Anyway, I imagine the classes could offer a foundation at the least, and likely more for the sotry-telling clown.

John C. Campbell Folk School (http://www.folkschool.org) is the website if there is any interest.

Other classes that include:

Instrument making and playing
Weaving
Woode Toy making
Folk Dance
Ukrainian Egg Decoratig (for anyone who wants a head start on next years egg dcorating contest!)
Puppetry
Creating Childrens Story Books

The list of offered classes is fairly vast and a complete list is likely on their web.

Thank you Jolly. There is a weekend Storytelling Festival here in Northern Indiana that I have been attending for a few years. It is amazing what a professional storyteller can do. I will be looking into that website further.

I need to find a new Toastmasters group to join. used to go on Thursdays but after getting the restaurant it just doesn't work out.