The American public may not be able to enjoy live, in-person events right now given the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, but that doesn’t mean they don't want to feel connected.
So the Storytellers Project, which includes Tucson Storytellers, has pivoted to a virtual season and extended it through Sept. 3. Thirty-eight additional shows have been canceled at venues across the United States through Sept. 1 out of an abundance of caution.
“As a precaution, our newsrooms have made this decision to further help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus in our communities,” said Megan Finnerty, Storytellers Project founder and director. “Based on information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we think this is right for our audience, and for the journalists and community members who share their stories.”
Finnerty said the virtual shows will continue to help people feel connected to community during these uncertain times.
“Creating empathy and understanding is vital in times of uncertainty,” she said “And lifting up our most important, universally held values through storytelling is our full-time mission. Our whole hearts are in this project and this special live series.”
The live series airs at 5 p.m. PST on network websites and social channels, including YouTube and Facebook.
Biweekly virtual shows launched on April 2, but the spring/summer season was recently solidified with the decision to cancel in-person shows through Sept. 1 while most of the country is under stay-at-home orders.
Dates and themes for the spring/summer season are as follows:
- May 28: Outdoor Adventures
- June 11: Resiliency
- June 25: Friends and Family
- July 9: My Family, My Culture
- July 23: Stylish Stories
- Aug. 6: Fresh Starts
- Aug. 20: Lessons Learned
- Sep. 3: Stories About Stories
Organizers have hand-picked the best stories from more than 1,000 to be told live. Four Americans from across the country will tell a true story that affirms our most deeply held values of hope, perseverance, compassion and love. They will tell their stories from their homes.
Ticket buyers, including those who bought a ticket to Tucson Storytellers June 18 "Stories about Stories" show, will be contacted in the coming week by the Storytellers Project with several options:
- Apply canceled tickets to a show in the 2021 season.
- Choose to support USA TODAY Network’s journalism by allowing Storytellers to keep the ticket purchase as a “donation.”
- Request a refund.
Since 2016, the Storytellers Project has curated and hosted more than 325 nights of true, first-person stories in more than 20 cities. These nights are not talks, lectures or discussions. They are stories told as front-porch visits, filled with intimacy, vulnerability and authenticity. Everyday Americans, and some celebs, tell stories in under 10 minutes with a focus on being entertaining.
The Storytellers Project typically hosts more than 100 nights of live storytelling each year in venues like Phoenix’s Desert Botanical Garden, Des Moines’ Hoyt Sherman Place and Louisville’s Muhammad Ali Center. Since April 2, in-person shows have been replaced with virtual shows biweekly.
