The Sunflower Theatre is gearing up to host The Raven Narratives Live Storytelling Slam event, which allows audience members to tell their own stories on the theater’s stage. The theme of this year’s slam is stories of the holidays and/or stories of resilience. Stories must stick to the night’s theme.
The first night of the event is 7 p.m. Friday at the Sunflower Theatre, 8 E. Main St. in Cortez, and the second night will is 7 p.m. Saturday at the Durango Arts Center, 802 E. Second Ave. in Durango. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
“Bring your story of holiday joy, mishap or miracle, a story of resilience in the face of hardship or a combination of both,” organizers said.
The slam provides audience members with a way to tell their own stories while connecting with the community. Those who wish to tell a story that has to do with the chosen theme can put their name in a box, dubbed the Cracker J/Jane/Jack Box, and random names will be drawn.
“It’s a live storytelling event in the form of The Moth Storytelling events that are out of New York City, and they’re true stories told in the first person by community members around a theme,” said Sunflower Theatre Director Sarah Syverson.
The event can go on for hours, or as long as audience members have stories to tell.
“We pull names out all night long,” Syverson said. “This is improv storytelling at its best. Stories from the micro and macro of life's travails, adventures and innuendos are all told on The Raven Narratives’ stage. It's a deeply connecting, joyous, at times funny and fun evening for both the audience and the storytellers that brave the stage.”
Stories can last a maximum of six minutes and must be true stories told in the first person.
“No soap boxing and no political statements,” Syverson said. “It’s just a powerful evening of connection and funny, often humorous stories.”
The full guidelines that must be followed are stories must be true and told in the first person, no soapboxing or political statements and no rants or raves or explicit endorsements. Stories must be told in four to six minutes and stories must relate to the stated theme.
Those who haven’t been to a Raven Narratives can listen to past slam stories to prepare or know what to expect. The stories can be found on SoundCloud at www.soundcloud.com/raven-narratives/popular-tracks.
Tickets can be purchased in advance, and Syverson recommends that those who wish to attend purchase their tickets ahead of time, as the event has sold out in the past. So far, half the tickets are already sold at both locations.
Tickets for both nights, in Cortez and Durango, can be purchased online at www.sunflowertheatre.org. Tickets are $15 per person.
