LOTS OF STUFF GOING ON IN THE STORYTELLING COMMUNITY
Tickets to Timpanogos Available
I have TWO Week-Long passes to the Timpanogos Storytelling Conference AND Festival in Provo/Orem. Utah! I can't use them... so make me an offer.
This is the largest festival in the country and it all happens NEXT WEEK, September 2-5.
Some of this year's performers: Carol Birch, Kate Campbell, Donald Davis ,Carmen Deedy, Eth-Noh-Tec, Bill Harley,
Tim Lowry, Jim May, Antonio Sacre, Shonaleigh, Pippa White
Shaping compelling narratives is a powerful tool for social, political and personal activism. We are hardwired to tell stories. When charts, graphs and statistics fail to motivate, discover ways that narrative can raise awareness, open new possibilities, change minds, mobilize creative action. In this class, you will discover and create stories that foster a healthier, more just, and sustainable world. Taught by storyteller, pastor, and activist Doug Bland.
Doug says: Besides Stacey Champion, we have Sandy Bahr of the Sierra Club and Cynthia Zwick of Arizona Community Action Agency as guest speakers in this class. All excellent advocates in our community!
Sign up now for Using Storytelling in Advocacy Settings at South Mountain Community College!
Two Saturdays, August 29 & September 5, 2015, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
This is a one-credit class and the tuition and fees for two full days of instruction is right around $100
To register, call 602-243-8000
Course Info: Using Storytelling in Advocacy Settings, STO289AG, Class #44309.
Call for Stories & Tellers
The Storyline and Space 55 present "Heritage" a two-night storytelling show at Space 55 on Friday, September 18th and Saturday, September 19th at 8:00 P.M.
We are looking for a variety of stories that share how your life in the United States is shaped by you or your parents (or even grandparents and great grandparents!) having come here from somewhere else.
"Heritage" will be hosted and curated by Rachel Egboro, a local storyteller and co-producer of The Storyline.
We want to hear from you! If you have a story to tell, see below for some prompts. Once you're inspired, pitch your story by sending a brief synopsis or voice memo to TheStorylineMail@gmail.com.
The selected stories will be workshopped and storytellers must be available on Sundays, September 6th and 13th from 2-4 for rehearsals.
We are accepting pitches until August 22nd and we cannot wait to hear from you!
Some Prompts***
How does your family look different in regards to holidays, food, education, marriage, religion, milestones, jokes or vacations?
Do you feel conscious about your heritage in certain situations?
When do you feel homesick?
What do you like about the "new" that's different from the "old"?
Have you ever felt ashamed about your heritage? How and when did you learn to feel pride?
Have your parents embarrassed you?
***If you have a story idea beyond this list we definitely want to hear it!
Saturday, September 26, 2015 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Mesa Riverview Park: 2100 W. Rio Salado Parkway
Reading for Freedom 2015
CELEBRATING THE JOY OF READING!
Sarah Johnson is looking for (Pro-Bono) Storytellers, story readers and individuals who can speak on their experiences, expertise, and tell stories highlighting the importance of literacy and its ability to transform lives.
Contact Sarah Johnson - 602-332-8916
Auditions for Essential Theatre Company
Monday - August 31st - 6pm - 9pm Susan Southard, Director of Essential Theatre, a professional ensemble, writes:
We are now in our 26th season in the field of theatre and social change. We are holding auditions for new ensemble members!
Our primary art form is PLAYBACK THEATRE, an improvisational art form in which members of the audience members tell stories from their lives and then watch the ensemble of actors and musicians bring the stories to life using music, movement, and theatre. Most of our work -- including performances and workshops -- is with marginalized communities who have little or no access to the arts.
We are looking for 2 actors and 1 conductor/performance facilitator to join our company on a part-time, paid basis. Men and women of color are encouraged to audition. For actors, acting and improvisation training is preferred but not required. For the conductor: excellent listening, facilitation, and presentation skills are needed. Training is provided for all new ensemble members.
Please dress prepared for movement and be prepared to stay for the entire session.
Appointments required so that we know how many people will be there. Please contact us at essentialtheatre@cox.net or 480-897-6711.
NOTE: If you are interested in auditioning but unable to attend, please contact Essential Theatre (see above contact information) for an alternate date.
Women Storytellers
Saturday, August 29th - 10am - Noon (doors open at 9:30 am)
Anne McDowell has organized another event: Out of the Box Storytelling - Women Storytellers.
A place for Christian women to get together to hear and tell of the wonders that God has done in their lives or (with permission) in the lives of others. This is a fun, exciting new way to hear six 8-10 minute personal, uplifting, faith-promoting stories about the wonders of God, and enjoy a delicious brunch! They offer fun, laughter, and a chance to win door prizes!
It's at Dobson’s Restaurant at Dobson Ranch Golf Course in Mesa from 10am - 12 Noon.
Arizona Storytellers - Growing Up Monday - August 31st South Mountain Community College
Join azcentral.com, The Arizona Republic and Alliance Bank of Arizona at the home of our partners the SMCC Storytelling Institute - for a night of stories about the awkwardness and awesomeness of growing up.
Community College Storytelling students attend for free.
Featured Storytellers:
Anel Arriola of Arizona State University, Joey Robert Parks of 26 Blocks, Charlie Steak of Space 55, Joe Finnerty, Margaret Smith of Mercy Maricopa, Dan Hull of Storyline, Kim Haasarud of Arizona Cocktail Week
Registration begins at 6 p.m.,
Stories begin promptly at 7 p.m.
Sign Language Interpretation Services Available!
If you require ASL Interpretation services for this event or a future Storytellers event you plan to attend, please contact Melissa Farley at Melissa.Farley@ArizonaRepublic.com with your request.
That's one of the lines from the recent show that Dustin Loehr and I did at the Herberger Theatre. It's also one of the lessons that Dustin learned as a tap dancer. Whether you fall on stage, a telephone rings, the lights go out, etc., "No matter what happens, just keep dancing."
For storytellers, there are two sides to that maxim. And they are both valid, depending on the circumstances.
Go with the flow and incorporate it.
As storytellers, one of the things we have the ability to do is improvise, especially when something goes wrong. If an audience member's phone rings, incorporate it into the story. "And then the Wolf's phone rang, but it was a wrong number." Or, "The Wolf's phone rang, but he was in the middle of his story, so he didn't answer it...and then he turned off the ringer!" Then, move on with the story.
Don't stop, just keep dancing
Often, the situation calls for NOT acknowledging the interruption, mistake, or accident. These are times when to do so would bring further attention to the incident and take away from or not serve the story. In the show with Dustin, one time I jumped ahead and missed a whole section. Dustin was a trooper and merely adjusted his lines to accommodate the missed piece (THANKS Dustin!). One afternoon in the same show, an audience member's phone DID ring, TWICE! There was nothing we could do to incorporate the distraction, so we just went on with the show (the lady did apologize afterwards).
You can practice forever, and try to think of every possible mistake, interruption or distraction, but the reality is that making that decision is instantaneous, and only comes from experience. The more you tell, the more instinct you will have regarding whether you should say something...or just keep dancing!
Local Theatre Director Pens Book on Nagasaki
Susan Southard, Director of the Essential Theatre has written an astounding book on the aftereffects of the bombing of Nagasaki. The book, Nagasaki: Life After Nuclear War, is getting some great press and was even reviewed by the New York Times:
The strength of Southard’s book is that her account is remarkably free of abstractions. She is a theater director, albeit one with an M.F.A. in creative writing, and her interest in the story began in 1986, when she was hired as a translator for one of her subjects who was on a speaking tour in the United States. Instead of statistics, she concentrates...on the fates of individuals.
Without excusing Japanese wartime behavior, Southard writes with compassion about Japanese victims, and measured indignation about postwar American evasions and hypocrisy.
Yes, this is the same Susan Southard mentioned above in the AUDITIONS article. Susan is also an accomplished actress, skilled in improv.
------------------------------------THERE'S A LOT GOING ON EACH MONTH -------------------CHECK EACH WEBSITE OR CALENDAR TO CONFIRM DATES AND TIMES ---------------------------------CALL TO MAKE SURE THE EVENT IS STILL ON
FStorytellers - Female Story Tellers - Tucson
Usually sometime during the first week of the month - but check their website) at 7 pm - TUCSON http://www.fstorytellers.com/index.html
West Side Story Tellers - Storytellers Guild First Saturday of each month - GLENDALE *NO meetings in July & August http://westsidestorytellers.weebly.com
East Valley Tellers of Tales -Storytellers Guild Second Saturday of each month - SCOTTSDALE http://www.evtot.com