Stage Left Plans Another Evening of Storytelling

LISBON, Ohio — Stage Left Community Arts Center is accepting submissions from local storytellers for its next Spark Storytelling event on Nov. 12 at Trinity Playhouse, 234 E. Lincoln Way.

Spark’s mission is to build community through the telling of personal stories that excite, entertain, touch, teach and pass on the unique culture of the Rust Belt, the Ohio River Valley and Upper Appalachia.

The events are funded by a $14,000 grant from the Ohio Art Council.

Each storytelling event features five to 10 community storytellers coached by a team of professionals in five virtual storytelling workshops. The community is then invited to watch the storytellers perform their stories live on stage.

No previous experience storytelling is necessary.

 The theme for the Nov. 12 event is “Tradition!”

The coaches will be Will Flannigan, a journalist for The Wall Street Journal; Regina Rees, longtime storytelling coach and associate professor at Youngstown State University; and Kevin Cordi, a renowned storyteller who is an assistant professor of literacy and language at Ohio University. Submissions will be accepted through Sept. 1. For information, go to stageleftplayers.org/spark.

Stage Left has expanded Spark programming with a youth storyteller workshop for students in grades 1-6 from Sept. 11 to Oct. 16.  To register, go to stageleftplayers.org/youth-players.

Pictured at top: An audience listens as Spark storyteller Connie Baer shares her “Mama Lessons” tale at Trinity Playhouse in Lisbon in June.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.