Event to feature stories of invisible burdens

Published 10:00 pm Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Featuring local storytellers, The Story Show will take place Saturday and showcase stories of invisible burdens people carry.

The show begins at 7 p.m. at Marion Ross Performing Arts Center. Adult tickets are $15, and tickets for students are $5.

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Storytellers include Neal Skaar, Olivia Brown, Ella Zelenak, Maddie Willey, Kaila Vollmer, Thomas Delano, Tony Johanson and Shane Koepke. Music will be performed by Mac & Reino.

This will be the seventh edition of the show. Six of the eight storytellers are Albert Lea-area residents, and the two other  storytellers moved away but are from the community.

Producer Jeremy Corey-Gruenes said the show highlights the abundance of writers in the community.

“Writers are everywhere,” he said. “We’ve had very few writers for The Story Show who have published elsewhere or who make any money off of their writing, but writers are everywhere and stories are everywhere and often we just don’t know the stories that are out there waiting to be told from people nearby us.

“It’s a great opportunity to hear voices that you might not otherwise hear.”

Two stories will involve a hidden disability or medical condition, while another account will be about the idea of existence and whether what people see is reality. A humorous story is planned.

The stories range from philosophical to personal and emotional, Corey-Gruenes said.

Proceeds for the event go toward Tiger TLC fund, which assists students in need at Albert Lea High School.

The fund was created by Albert Lea High School staff after they recognized students had unmet needs that were barriers to academic achievement, such as access to a scientific calculator, backpack, clothing, deodorant or food.

“It might sound strange, but if you think about it, we’ve all felt invisible — or wanted to — at some point or another,” Corey-Gruenes said in an email. “We’ve all completely missed recognizing things — often very important things — very close to us.”

Despite subzero temperatures expected Saturday, Corey-Gruenes said people should still come to the show.

“I really hope people come out for it,” he said. “It’s going to be a great event, and hear it’s going to be super cold that night, but it will be warm in the theater, so hopefully we’ll get a good crowd.”

Tickets, please

What: The Story Show

When: 7 p.m. Saturday

Where: Marion Ross Performing Arts Center

Tickets: $15 for adults, $5 for students

About Sam Wilmes

Sam Wilmes covers crime, courts and government for the Albert Lea Tribune.

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