Stories on Stage presents The Stories of Your Life March 13, 2010

STORIES ON STAGE

THE STORIES OF YOUR LIFE
Guest Produced and Directed by Anthony Powell

“There is no such thing as bad publicity except your own obituary.” - Irish author Brendan Behan

DENVER, – Stories on Stage presents The Stories of Your Life as part of their Out of the Box series, featuring Rachel Fowler, Melissa Ortiz, Kurt Rhoads and Jake Walker reading astounding stories drawn from the obituaries of the famous and not-so-famous. Show times are 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 13 in the Jones Theatre at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Single tickets are $25; tickets for groups of 10 or more are $20 per person and LoDough (scholarship) tickets are also available. Tickets are available by calling 303-494-0523 or online at www.storiesonstage.org.

The Denver Post’s Claire Martin approached the creative writing class at the Denver School of the Arts with the assignment of looking into the future and writing their own obituary. The future obituaries of DSA students Gabe Fine, Tessa Finley and Clarissa Guy were chosen to be read on March 13.

The Stories of Your Life will include the reading of some of Martin’s own work. With titles like Drifter Chose Simple Life; Breckenridge’s ‘Dogg’ Had Hard But Happy Existence, Bawdy Club Owner Changed With Times Friends Say and Tree-trimmer a Proud “Redneck” it may inspire the listener to revive and share the stories only they can tell.

Claire Martin began her journalism career at age 15, writing as a high school correspondent for the (Salem, Ore.) Capital Journal. She returned to that newspaper after two years of undergraduate studies, employed as an over-achieving clerk and was assigned to compile and design an entertainment calendar and to write obituaries.

After joining the Denver Post staff in the 80’s Ms. Martin kept finding reasons to stay in Colorado including a rediscovery of the obituary beat. She loved writing the life stories of ordinary people – residents whose names might have been previously published only in birth and wedding announcements. She looked for the tics that shaped their personalities, the way their lives reflected the causes and communities they embraced, and the historical events they witnessed.

Her obituaries drew the attention of producers at the BBC, the Smithsonian Magazine and the London Times, all of which included her in stories about the evolution of obituaries, briefly turning the reporter into the subject. International journalist Marianne Hansen of the Denmark School of Journalism brought Martin to Aarhus three times to co-teach writing workshops on finding novel ways to cover the news.

In 2007 Ms. Martin was put in charge of Colorado Sunday, a weekly section with a Q&A interview, a feature on an unknown/obscure/offbeat aspect of Colorado life.

Director Anthony Powell began his professional career on a bus, touring the country for three seasons as a performer with John Houseman’s The Acting Company. He served as Associate Artistic Director at the Denver Center Theatre Company for 18 years, where he directed over 25 productions.

While researching the pieces for this performance Director Anthony Powell was surprised to discover that the obituaries of the famous and infamous were not necessarily the most interesting. In a phone interview Powell said, “What I found myself drawn to was the obituaries of ordinary people. These are Colorado stories about people whose lives were lived quietly but touched many. People you wish you’d had a chance to know.”

The actors include Rachel Fowler who, along with, her many New York and Regional theatre credits was seen in the films Watch Over Me, Last Call and Wild America. Ms. Fowler is an Artistic Associate of the Mile Square Theatre in Hoboken, New Jersey. National Theatre Conservatory graduate Melissa Ortiz was born in Puerto Rico and raised in Florida. Ms. Ortiz is currently secretary and founding member of aMios in New York City and was seen in DCTC’s productions of Richard III and A Christmas Carol. As an actor Kurt Rhoads has performed in the Broadway production of Julius Caesar, locally in DCTC’s Richard III and Arvada Center’s A Man For All Seasons. His television credits include several miniseries along with appearances in Law & Order, Walker Texas Ranger. Jake Walker stays busy on the Colorado stage having performed in shows for Denver Center Theatre Academy, Curious Theatre Company, Modern Muse Theatre Company, Creede Repertory Theatre and will appear in the upcoming production of The Rainmaker at Aurora Fox.

Stories On Stage, an award winning performing arts organization features some of America's best actors from stage and screen today performing the words of many of the finest contemporary writers.

As Time Goes By is sponsored in part by the Citizens of the Scientific and Cultural District (SCFD) and The Denver Foundation.

Stories on Stage presents The Stories of Your Life - Astounding stories drawn from the obituaries of the famous and not-so-famous. Saturday, March 13 at Jones Theatre at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, Speer and Arapahoe. 5 & 8 p.m. Tickets $25 - Online at www.storiesonstage.org or by phone at 303-494-0523.