Middle School Kids Invited to Virtual "Tell Your Story" Workshop July 1-Aug 5

For 25 years, Chicago's Tellin' Tales Theatre (TTT) has been teaching people of all ages - both with and without disabilities - how to tell their stories and present them in an entertaining way. Beginning July 1, middle-school age kids can learn this virtually in a 6-week Zoom workshop taught by two of Tellin' Tales' seasoned ensemble members.

The workshop runs Thursdays, July 1-August 5 from 6-8 p.m. CST with two virtual performances presented on August 18 and 25. The cost is $50, but TTT never turns away anyone for financial reasons.

For more information or to get involved, contact Stephen Donart at Steve@tellintales.org. The website is www.tellintales.org

The participants will choose a passionate topic and transform it into a personal story. The process helps kids to be in a safe place where they can express how they feel. It is a way to meet new friends, learn writing techniques that bring a story to life, and build performance skills and self esteem.

Tellin' Tales Theatre ensemble members Tamara Rozofsky and Rosemary Postula are the workshop leaders. Rozofsky is a performer and teaching artist with a disability who is a graduate of Second City's Sketch Writing and Conservatory programs. Rosemary Postula is a professional writer and performer who has written and starred in seven solo shows for Tellin' Tales Theatre. Both leaders have been mentors to middle school performers in many of Tellin' Tales Theatre's Six Stories Up annual productions which pair adult mentor/performers with middle school performers in original musical productions that they create together.

Here is what some past members of the workshop had to say:

"I got to learn about other people's experiences and about myself in the process"- Lee Buell.

"It was a great platform for me to get my ideas out there with support from professionals" - Tiernan Tajalli.

"It was really fun and I learned a lot along the way. I was given a freedom and voice that I don't get in school" - Tim Bannon

The mission of Tellin' Tales Theatre is to shatter the barriers between the disabled and non-disabled worlds through the transformative power of personal story. We bring together children and adults from both communities to share their stories in theatrically innovative productions and programs to promote awareness, understanding and acceptance. Our vision is to model a society where all people are accepted and respected, regardless of perceived ability.