New to True Story Theater?  Please read description below the event.

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Stories of Invisible Disabilities

July 14, 2022 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Thursday, July 14th, 6:00 -7:30pm

Arlington Community Center, Main Hall
20 Academy Street/27 Maple Street
ALL WELCOME, In-Person* (masks encouraged)

To attend in-person, please RSVP:
E-mail or call Shannon Murphy, COA program coordinator:
781-316-3404
SMurphy@town.arlington.ma.us

*Online is available too, register here for the zoom link

Come to a free performance of Arlington’s improv ensemble, True Story Theater, which is offering “Stories of people living with invisible disabilities.” If you live with a disability we hope you come and feel connected to others in the community.  If you are able-bodied we hope you come to honor and learn from the experiences of people living with invisible disabilities.

Living with an invisible disability can come with many challenges including fear of discrimination or bias, social stigma, lack of understanding from colleagues or family, and absence of accommodations and support. People living with invisible disabilities also find creative ways to manage everyday and receive support that makes a huge difference, and to take joy in life.

In this improvisational theater experience, personal stories from audience volunteers are respectfully dramatized in the moment as short theater pieces. People often experience deep, respectful listening, honest reflection, warmth, and insight as the actors strive to capture the heart of each story shared, with the audience as supportive witness.

Come and share a moment from your life, or just come listen and watch as True Story Theater’s actors creatively embody each story in dialogue, music, movement and song.

This program is sponsored by The Arlington Council on Aging and The Arlington Commission on Disability and supported in part by a grant from the Arlington Commission for Arts and Culture, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Details

Date:
July 14, 2022
Time:
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Venue

Arlington Community Center
20 Academy Street/27 Maple Street
Arlington, MA 02476 United States
+ Google Map

Details

Date:
July 14, 2022
Time:
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Venue

Arlington Community Center
20 Academy Street/27 Maple Street
Arlington, MA 02476 United States
+ Google Map

What happens in a True Story Theater performance?  Our events bring together the delight of improvisation with the courageous vulnerability of people sharing their personal truth.

The show’s emcee (called “the conductor”) facilitates brief, spontaneous conversations with volunteers from the audience who share their own feelings and experiences related to the show’s theme.  After each conversation, the actors and musician immediately embody the key feelings and actions they heard, using movement, music, dialogue, and superb listening. All of it is improvised on the spot. During the course of a 75 minute show, True Story enacts about 6-8 stories.

From this simple interaction, audience members feel validated, laugh, cry, get insights about their lives, and feel an expanded sense of community. You can share a moment from your life and see it performed, or just come to watch.

What are True Story Theater’s classes like?  We will teach you the basics of Playback Theatre, which can hone your listening skills for everyday life.  All are welcome.  Classes are supportive, informal, intimate, and fun, an enriching experience for both newcomers and experienced actors.