Amid all the chaos that has happened in a matter of weeks, I remembered that it still is Women’s History Month. It’s no surprise to me that a great number of women in storytelling do a great number of things that history will remember.
Better Said Than Done kicked off its 1st Women’s Storytelling Festival with phenomenal stories. The festival would be a major undertaking on any given year, but the timing the pandemic mad it challenging. Planners for Better Said Than Done had been in contact with the City of Fairfax about what was the best course of action for the festival. Do we go on? Do we postpone? How do we keep people safe? Will people still come? Starting a major movement such has giving 17 women their own voice, not the easiest task. Doing it while the world ponders how to stay safe makes it more challenging. The festival did go on, with all the precautions talked about with the City of Fairfax and other health organizations. I was glad I made it to part of it. Don’t take my word for it. Click here to see the festival for a limited time: https://www.facebook.com/events/157698732081689/
As I reflected on what it took to pull of an event of this type, I realized something that I never gave thought to before: a lot of storytelling shows in DC, MD, and VA are hosted or produced by women. The ones that I know of are, in no particular order:
Better Said Than Done (VA)
The Moth (DC)
Perfect Liars Club (DC)
https://www.perfectliarsclub.com/
Story District (DC)
This Is My Brave (DC, MD, VA)
The Grapevine Storytelling series (MD)
Secretly Y’all (VA)
Norfolk Storytelling Club First Fridays (VA)
https://www.facebook.com/TheMuseWritersCenter/
The Stoop Storytelling Series (MD)
The Story Collider (DC)
https://www.storycollider.org/
Tell Me More…Live Storytelling (VA)
https://www.tellmemorelive.org/
#IfYouCouldSeeMe (VA)
https://www.ifyoucouldseeme.com/
The Good Girl Chronicles
Hoot and Holler (VA)
https://www.facebook.com/hootandhollerstories/
Tales and Ales (VA)
https://www.novatalesandales.com/
Mistakes Were Made (DC)
https://mistakes.live/new-events
Storytelling Nights (VA)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/408259483325069/
The producers of these shows do a great job of connecting storytellers to story listeners. The current times may seem bleak. There is probably a story that can help you get through it. Lucky for you, a great number of women have made those stories available to you. Remember that staying distant does not mean that you cannot be connected. Stories connect people. Stay connected.
Story Telling On Purpose 