Odyssey Storytelling 10th Anniversary Party
7:30 p.m., Thursday, March 6
Fluxx Studio & Gallery414 E. Ninth St.
882-0242;storyartsgroup.org
After 106 shows and 650 stories of triumph and tragedy, Odyssey Storytelling has found a way to take tales of everyday life and turn them into something worth listening to. "There have been hundreds of storytellers and they're not all well-known people. We invite anybody that wants to tell a story onstage," Odyssey Storytelling founder Penelope Starr said.
"Not all the stories are sweetness and light. Some of the stories can be heavy—death, tragedy and mix-ups," Starr said. "People are being authentic, and we miss that a lot in general interaction."
The group's shows have been run by volunteers since their inception and have been held at multiple venues. Starr said the first Odyssey Storytelling shows were at the downtown Wild Playhouse Theater. They moved to Club Congress when the theater closed. Fluxx Studios has been Odyssey Storytelling's home for the past two years.
Some of the most important segments at the shows are the intermissions, when the coordinators read local news announcements. "That's what we are really about, building community," Starr said, adding that the event has had a wide range of speakers. "We have had storytellers from Phoenix, Bisbee and Los Angeles. Our storytellers run the gamut and are really committed to presenting diversity."
Four storytellers will speak at the anniversary event. "We want people to have an opportunity to talk to each other. A lot of it is about people connecting with each other. It's a gift to the Tucson community," Starr said. Admission to the anniversary party is free but donations are welcome.
