Red Earth Theatre and The Mental Health Coalition Verde Valley bring a rare and powerful collection of stories to the stage, written by 8 individuals who are living well with mental health challenges and life issues. Eight actors bring the words to life for an inspirational evening woven with truth, humor, joy and hope.
The Our Stories Ourselves/Performing Wellness Storytelling project is the culmination of a proven process that guides writers to creatively find and articulate their personal story for spoken word. Not therapy nor playwriting but some sort of hybrid, it is facilitated by Kate Hawkes who first created the basic Performing Wellness process almost 20 years ago in Portland, Oregon.
The eight writers who have made the 6-week journey include Chris Verquer, Chris Duarte, Savannah Sanders, Larry Rosenberg, Kandace LeMond, Lydia Collins, Maureen Nealon and Kathy Bashor. Their wide range of experiences are shared on stage (in reader’s theatre format) through dialogue, poetry and prose with music and other soundscapes.
The actors joining the writers include Joan Westmorland, Terra Shelman, Ashlee Threlkeld, Mary Gladieux, Mitchell McDermott, Tom Shoemaker, Deb Williams and Sarah Ann Lesslie. Each writer works with their own actor to craft the words for live performance. Murray Archimedes will be providing the sound score and Kate Hawkes steps in as the stage director.
Far from being depressing, the theatrical experience of powerful stories brought to life by experienced actors always inspires, encourages and ultimately brings understanding and community to all who participate – whether as writers, actors or audience members.
You are invited to allow yourself the journey and discover your own story by witnessing these on stage. Our Stories Ourselves/Performing Wellness will be on stage at the Mary D Fisher Theatre on Friday, May 31 beginning at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased at the Mary D Fisher box office or online, and at the door. For more information visit www.mentalhealthcoalitionvv.org and www.redearththeatre.org.