Share your story! USA TODAY Network launches ‘The Storytellers Project’ in 20 cities
Stories aren’t just told in print and online. Some of the best ones are told live, in person, on a stage.
That’s the thinking behind The Storytellers Project, a national live storytelling series from the USA TODAY Network. The 2020 season will include more than 100 shows from Asbury Park, New Jersey, to Ventura, Calif. and18 cities in between.
All you need to participate: A story to tell or a willingness to listen.
The traveling shows serve as community gatherings where speakers share first-person 6 to 10-minute stories on one theme, from romance, to food, holidays, family and identity.
There are a dozen Valentine-infused nights planned in February, some featuring such apropos themes as “Love and Heartbreak,†“Lessons in Love,†“Love, Like and It’s Complicated,†and “Love, Romance and Other Disasters.â€
Who can go onstage? Anyone with a tale to tell. No experience is required, but interested speakers do need to fill out a short questionnaire that includes their story idea. Journalists from USA TODAY Network news sites across the country coach the people telling stories and help produce the live events series.Â
Over the years, storytellers have discussed everything from coming out, climbing a 3,000-foot cliff and the meaning of their tattoos. Archived stories are available to watch here.
The 2020 season kicks off on Jan. 8 in Phoenix, Arizona, where the Storytellers Project was founded in 2011. Shows follow that first month in Louisville, Kentucky; Lansing, Michigan; and Rochester, New York.
Newsrooms in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, are hosting their inaugural Storytellers seasons with four shows each.
“We’re thrilled to launch the Storytellers Project in Knoxville,†says Joel Christopher, Knoxville News Sentinel executive editor. “East Tennessee has a rich legacy of storytellers who have enriched our nation — the author Cormac McCarthy, the musician Dolly Parton, the poet Nikki Giovanni all called this place home. This program brings to life the experiences of our friends and neighbors in a nurturing and entertaining environment that strengthens the connections in our community.â€
Look for a Storytellers Project near you. In some cities, like Des Moines, shows are held at one consistent venue over the year. Other cities will hop locations to find diverse audiences, such as in Ventura, California. Audiences range in size from 75 to 1,250 attendees. Ticket prices are $12 for general admission to $8 for students in most markets.
So if you resolve to get out of your comfort zone in the new year, or to make some new friends, the Storytellers Project is here for you.
Engage with the Storytellers Project by visiting the Storytellers on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. And to communicate with producers, hosts and past storytellers, go here. The series is supported nationwide by Humana, and some markets have local sponsors.