Six Stories Up

Six Stories Up is part mentoring program, part magic. Each year we pair six Chicago storytellers with six middle school children to write six, ten-minute long theater pieces. Each team is encouraged to base their vignette on personal stories. These vignettes are then combined to create a full-length show. The set designer, mask maker, and stage manager also work with middle school-aged apprentices. The show runs two weekends at a professional theater.

Adults and children with and without disabilities, of all races, and income levels work together on equal terms. Both adults and children learn lifelong lessons, self-esteem blossoms, and community is built where none existed before.

Roster of Mentors

Steven English	Heather Hartley	Mary Mrugalski
Nancy Andria	Beth Ann Bryant-Richards	Wm. Bullion
Sarah Burnside	Liz Cruger	Domenick Danza
Steven Donart	Bill Drudge	Amy Eaton
Mike Ervin	Julia Fabris McBride	Judith Harding
Michael Herzovi	Ed Hofmann	Nick Jones
Matthew Kopp	Tekki Lomnicki	Maia Morgan
Pat Pelletier	Rosemary Postula	Rob Rotman
George Savino	Stephen Serpe Sr.	Shanta
John Shelton	M.K. Victorson	Rose Virgo
Alana Wallace	Larry Wilson

Quotes from Six Stories Up in Outer Space

"I learned to focus my energy and control myself."
SAM STAHL, APPRENTICE

"Nura learned to be a member of a team, because she was allowed to participate on an equal level, not as the disabled student, as is sometimes the case in school."
MARY MRUGALSKI, MOTHER OF APPRENTICE NURA ALY

"Seth learned to be at ease being around different kinds of people. It increased his tolerance and acceptance of others."
JUDITH HINES, MOTHER OF APPRENTICE SETH ORIGITANO

"It did my heart a world of good to witness my apprentice's transformation from a somewhat isolated kid into more of a team player."
JUDITH HARDING, MENTOR

"The process affirmed to me that everyone, especially children, are seeking a creative expression of their life challenges, emotions and experiences."
MATTHEW KOPP, MENTOR

Past Shows

2008 Potholes on the Path to Enlightenment

2008 Six Stories Up in Peace

2009 In Your Facebook

2009 Six Stories Up in the Economy

2010 A Midsummer Night's Dreamers

Contact Us

360 East Randolph Street
Suite 1006
Chicago, Illinois 60601
312.409-1025

Our Mission

Tellin' Tales Theatre's mission is to build community through the art of storytelling. Our company gathers the stories of groups or individuals - including adults and children with disabilities - and creates theatrically innovative performances using mentoring and collaboration. Tellin' Tales is dedicated to providing a venue for bringing together diverse people. Our aim is to help our audiences and our performers recognize their commonalties and build a sense of community where none existed before.