On the road in Florence, Oregon
It started as a simple idea: Portland Story Theater would go on the road. We would take our stories to places that had never experienced the art form of storytelling quite like ours. We tell stories, real, true stories – what we call personal narratives. Stories that are about our lives. Stories that matter and have meaning. We would take these stories to small towns around the state, towns tucked in the canyons or along the mountainsides, towns with views of the ocean and secret paths into the forest.
Some of the people who live in these towns come from all over the world. While others have only lived in that small town. We worked with local librarians. It seemed like a good and logical approach and, for the most part, it worked. People came. They listened. It was intimate. Sharing our stories was transformative, for us and for them.
On the road in Port Orford
If Kerouac’s
On the Road is filled with its protagonists living life against a backdrop of jazz and poetry, then Portland Story Theater’s
On the Road adventure was filled with its protagonists living life against a backdrop of stories and late night games of
Who Am I while laughing so hysterically that the motel manager has to come over and tell you to “keep it down…”
Our troupe of storytellers varied, depending on availability, typically a group of five. Our hosts would put us up at a nice motel and take us out for a meal. We were restored by the experience – the experience of sharing time and space and stories and laughter and meals with each other.
On the road in Port Orford
Some people say that it’s easy to love people that you don’t know and there’s real truth in that statement. But you get to know people when you travel with them. As Rumi says, “travel brings power and love back to your life.” And while each member of our troupe started out as a stranger taking our workshop, we’ve come to know each of them quite well, and our
On The Road experience has given us all power and love.
You’ll get a chance to hear these stories yourself when Portland Story Theater brings our On The Road show home to the Fremont Theater on January 6th, 2017.
Portland Story Theater presents
Urban Tellers®
On The Road Coming Home
Fremont Theater, 2393 NE Fremont
Friday, January 6
Music at 7pm when the doors open
Stories at 8pm
Full bar (21+)
Tickets available online $15 in advance | $18 day of show | $5 Arts for All PDX
