Whatever it takes to tell a good scary story, Bobby Norfolk has perfected it.
“As the night becomes darker, the voice slows down,” said the St. Louis native and three-time Emmy Award winner. “The voice gets deeper, you go into the dramatic use of the pause, and then all of a sudden — boom!”
Norfolk has spent five decades telling stories, from the locally produced television show “Gator Tales” to storytelling festivals throughout the country. In this episode of “St. Louis on the Air,” he previews the upcoming “Spooky Stories” Halloween showcase on Oct. 29 at Power Creative.
For Norfolk, a successful story is one that grabs an audience’s attention and emotion. Whether he’s performing for children or senior citizens, he said his goal is to approach a hypnosis-like state.
“It’s a matter of the imagination,” he said. “What I found out very early in life is that the human brain is hardwired for story. So, everything we see, hear, taste, touch and smell comes through a story.”
Even after decades in the profession, he still finds challenges.
“We have so many distractions and diversions because of technology. Children have lost the power of imagination for the most part,” he said. “They have lost the power of active listening.”
Norfolk credited his long career keeping audiences entertained to the skills he learned in the beginning of his storytelling journey.
“I worked for eight plays with the Black Repertory Company [founder] Ron Himes, so I learned about those elements of theater and the understanding of comedy,” he said. “I bring all those elements together and it captures the imagination. … People are just subjected to storytelling hypnosis.”
The Spooky Stories Halloween Storytelling Showcase features Norfolk, alongside guests Greg Carr, Beverly Brennan, Sherry Norfolk and Ken Haller. Norfolk said the show is intended for anyone age 12 and up.
“The lighter material starts early, and then as the night progresses, the stories become darker,” he said. “You come at your own peril when you bring [young] children.”
Related Event
What: Spooky Stories Halloween Storytelling Showcase
When: 7 p.m. Oct. 29
Where: Power Creative, 3221 Oak Hill Ave., St. Louis, MO 63116
To hear the full conversation with Bobby Norfolk, including his reflections on how he overcame a childhood stutter, his early days as a ranger for the National Park Service and his journey to become a professional storyteller, listen to “St. Louis on the Air” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or click the play button below.
After 50 years of storytelling, Bobby Norfolk still has spooky tales to tell
“St. Louis on the Air” brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. The show is produced by Miya Norfleet, Emily Woodbury, Danny Wicentowski, Elaine Cha, Darrious Varner and Alex Heuer. Our production intern is Danny Osborn. The audio engineer is Aaron Doerr.