Become a Tellin’ Tales Theatre Ambassador

Tellin’ Tales Theatre has developed a formal relationship with the young adults with and without disabilities who have participated in TTT programs, love what we do, and desire to stay connected.  The Tellin’ Tales, Ambassadors Program is designed to engage young adults in promoting our mission, supporting our programs, and engaging in outreach. In return, we provide young adults with the opportunity to grow as artists, leaders, and advocates. We feel the young adult’s authentic voices have the transformative power to promote awareness and acceptance.  Last year the Ambassadors sponsored Tellin’ Tales participation in the Disability Pride Parade,  and the Tellin’ Tales Picnic.  We facilitated important connections with companies like the Annoyance Theatre, Devil’s Daughter, Who Dis and IO, just to name a few.

Ambassadors participated in or volunteered to support performances like the Young Adult Writers Workshop, Divercity and the annual benefit. 

Email Steve Donart, Program Director at Steve@Tellintales.org.

Young Adult Writer’s Workshop and Readers Theater

Each summer Tellin’ Tales invites up to 12 young adults college age and beyond with and without disabilities to develop stories on a theme that resonates with young adults today. The six-week workshop is held on Zoom culminating in a virtual performance. Check back here for info about this summer’s workshop.

Six Stories Up

Part education, part magic—our Six Stories Up mentoring program teams Chicago middle school children with professional storytelling mentors. What is unique about our particular program is that it includes both children and mentors with disabilities. Other groups mix children with and without disabilities with the use of “shadowing”, whereas the able-bodied child acts as a guide to the child with a disability, Tellin’ Tales educates and trains all the actors so they function on an equal playing field— for life changing results. Because of the intimacy of the group, we are able to take the time to draw out the specific abilities of each child and empower him or her to shine.

Each adult/child team works together to write a 10-12 minute theater piece on an assigned theme, which is often a curriculum topic. Each team is encouraged to sprinkle their scene with personal stories to help them connect to the theme. The entire group comes together to weave the pieces into a full-length show, which is beautifully produced with original music, fanciful masks and innovative sets—also created by mentor/apprentice teams. Eager audiences of all ages pack into a professional theatre for our two-week run.

If your middle school student is interested in participating in Six Stories Up please contact Tekki.