NAMRON Players Theatre announces the final installment of its three part Storytelling Workshop Series, YourStory, with “Timeless Tales and Brand New Yarns” for Saturday, November 16 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at The Depot.
The series is a part of the documentary theatre project, Lunch Box being produced by Sheryl L. Martin, Artistic Executive Director of NAMRON Players Theatre.
“The YourStory series has been designed to get participants talking about and telling their own stories.” Sheryl Martin, Artistic Executive Director of NAMRON Players Theatre said. “Our first two workshops, in September and October, enjoyed great success among particpants. They learned some new storytelling techniques and shared their own stories—we hope that some of these stories find their way into our production of Lunch Box in the Spring.”
Participation in the YourStory Series is open to the public and admission free, thanks to grants from the Norman Arts Council, Oklahoma Arts Council, Republic Bank & Trust, the Kirkpatrick Foundation, 2x4 Productions and The Depot.
Ms. Martin suggests that participants be at least middle school age. “We usually say 15 and older,” she said, “but this workshop offers a wonderful opportunity for a mix of ages— everybody’s got a favorite timeless tale.”
“We are truly honored to have a storyteller of the caliber of DWe Williams participate in our final workshop.” Sheryl Martin, “This final workshop is about finding a new story in an old favorite.”
Ms. Dwe Wiliams is the Founder and Director of Rhythmically Speaking, and one of Oklahoma’s most in-demand professional storytellers. In this workshop, she discusses familiar and not-so-familiar fairytales, folktales, and legends. Participants can come to share their own favorite tales, or just to listen and join the discussion.
All of the performing and teaching artists presenting in this and other NAMRON workshops in this series are on the Oklahoma Arts Council Performing and Teaching Artists Roster. NAMRON Players Theatre is a Norman nonprofit theatre company dedicated to presenting the original works of Oklahoma literary and performing artists. Most recently, NAMRON presented its 8th Annual 24 Hour Plays to a packed house at The Depot in downtown Norman. The YourStory Series is a part of NAMRON’s year-long Oklahoma StoryWorks Project, Lunch Box.
Lunch Box is NAMRON's newest entry in this documentary theatre project which creates a new play with the stories of Norman and Oklahoma residents. It is modeled on the successful, independent theatre production Potluck, which presented the food stories of Norman residents at The Depot in June 2018.
Potluck was the result of a Mid-America Arts Alliance Artistic Innovations Award to Norman theatre artist, Sheryl Martin. Ms. Martin, currently the Artistic and Executive Director of NAMRON Players Theatre, plans to create a new documentary play each season as the Oklahoma StoryWorks Project continues. "Themes may change," Ms. Martin said,"but the process will always be the same. We want to listen to Norman's stories, to Oklahoma's stories, and put those stories onstage."
NAMRON Players Theatre and the Oklahoma StoryWorks Project: Lunch Box are made possible through the generous support of the Norman Arts Council / Arts Projects Grant Program, the Oklahoma Arts Council Project Assistance Small Grant Program, Republic Bank & Trust, The Kirkpatrick Foundation, 2x4 Productions, David Slemmons and the Friends of NAMRON/Oklahoma StoryWorks.
