LEBANON — People of all ages from around the Upper Valley are invited to submit their story ideas to be considered for the AVA Gallery’s quarterly story-telling series, “The Mudroom.” The next event will take place on Thursday, June 13, and has the theme “What I did for money.”
Members of the public who are interested in sharing a 10-minute story at the event have until May 10 to submit their true, autobiographical story ideas. About 5 or 6 storytellers will be selected to participate.
The Mudroom series started about six years ago at AVA, inspired by The Moth Radio Hour, and has become a major draw and fundraising event for the gallery.
Each quarter, about 140 attend The Mudroom, and their $20 admission fees are used to cover programming at AVA Gallery.
“It’s really grown in popularity and professionalism over the past six years,” said Sheryl Trainor, Mudroom co-ordinator at the gallery.
Storytelling brings people together in an intimate setting that isn’t easy to replicate in our increasingly digital lives, she said.
“It’s a way that people can connect on a really personal level like you can’t do over social media,” Trainor said. “There is a hunger for real people speaking to real people, and this satisfies that.”
The opportunity to share a story is open to anyone. Prospective storytellers don’t need previous experience, although they should be comfortable speaking on stage in front of a sizable crowd. However, people feeling a bit nervous can set their minds at ease, Trainor said, because the attendees are always supportive.
“The feeling I get in there is of a bunch of friends in a huge living room, getting together and telling stories,” she said. “It’s a very friendly, safe environment. Everybody comes to a Mudroom event expecting to have a great time.”
People who are interested in telling their stories should submit a summary of no more than 300 words and a brief biography of no more than 150 words. Story ideas and questions can be submitted to mudroom@avagallery.org.
Trainor said the committee that considers story submissions looks for great stories that have a hint of drama and speak to the theme of the event.
“Everybody’s got good stories in their lives,” she said.
Getting up and telling those stories in front of an audience is a whole different matter, however. Because of that, storytellers who are selected are asked to participate in a rehearsal, where they’ll receive feedback from the committee and the other storytellers. This makes the event a good opportunity for storytellers who are looking to improve their skills.
Editor’s note: For more information on The Mudroom or to submit a story idea, go to https://avagallery.org/category/specialprograms/mudroom/. Mudroom tickets will be available for the public to purchase online on May 13.