Artists and partners from the last year take to the stage with stories, art and performance in honor of Story Parlor's One Year Anniversary.
ARTIST LINE UP
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The Accidentals are Asheville's Creative Collective of Improvisational Dancers Exploring Noise Time Audience Levels and Space.
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Presented by the Asheville Fringe Arts Festival — the first event to ever grace the Story Parlor stage, and now, a year later, a regular community partner.
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About the Filmmaker
Missy Bell is a film director and writer who enjoys the orchestration of dark, provocative, intellectual films that promote empowerment and change. After 25 years as a theatrical director, Brad Hoover and the Asheville School of Film helped her to see her craft in a whole new light: one illuminated from behind the camera. "Sink" is her directorial debut. Since 2019 Missy has directed several more films including "Opprobrium" - a social commentary on beauty standards for aging women - and "The Library at the End of the Universe" - a story of a girl who must learn to make choices for herself. Both of these films are currently on the festival circuit. You can see more of Missy's films and learn more about her work at missybell.net.
About Asheville School of Film (a Story Parlor Co-op Member)
The Asheville School of Film (ASoF), established in 2015, is an independent film school focused on providing affordable, short-term classes in various filmmaking, acting, and creative writing subjects. Classes range from single day workshops, to courses lasting 6-12 weeks.
In addition to having experienced teachers, ASoF's instructors are also working professionals, with a combination of over 65 years in filmmaking, writing, acting, and camera operation. Students of ASoF have the opportunity to expand their interests as well as work with high grade, professional equipment, all while gaining valuable information and hands-on experience.
ASoF students may take a single course, or enroll in multiple classes and "piecemeal" or customize their own curriculum focused on their own interests or needs. As an added bonus, returning students (Alumni) qualify for 20% off most classes.
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About the Storyteller
Jeff Benninghofen is a husband, father, brother and son. He and his wife A.K. moved to Asheville in 2005 from Los Angeles one year after the birth of their daughter Dottie. Son Bert came along in 2007 and Bruce the wonder dog rounds out the family. Jeff is a small business owner here in Asheville and made his return to acting in 2018 after a brief fifteen-year hiatus. Jeff has been seen on NETFLIX, HBO MAX, FOX/HULU, CBS and will be in the upcoming third season of Hightown on STARZ. Jeff has been a willing contributor to “Listen to this” over the years and is thrilled to be back. Jeff continues to marvel at his friend Tom Chalmers grit and longevity in Asheville’s creative and performing arts scene.
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About Listen to This, a Story Parlor event partner:
Listen to This, stories and more on stage, is a monthly storytelling series that has run in Los Angeles and now in Asheville for over ten years. Produced and hosted by Tom Chalmers, Listen to This is a curated show that features personal stories so good they should be shared on stage, along with a singer/songwriter, and sometimes a standup, all built around a different theme each episode.
Tom Chalmers is the host and producer of Listen to This: stories and more on stage. He teaches a course in Storytelling for Performance through The Flatiron Writers Room. Tom received his BA from Columbia University, and then went on to study at Second City, Improv Olympic, and NYC's Groundlings East, where he became Artistic Director. He also teaches comedy writing and improv comedy at Warren Wilson College, The Magnetic U, and The Asheville School of Improv (which he started). Tom is a member of the popular Asheville improv troupe, Reasonably Priced Babies, and co-host of a weekly sports talk radio show on AshevilleFM 103.3 called Run That Back, Wednesdays 7-8pm.
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About Meta Commerse
Meta Commerse is a word medicine woman black boomer whose spiritual/artistic home is rooted in stories and poems. As a girl, she began writing poems seeking an expressive outlet, emulating her grandmother and mother. Meta is author of five books and founder and CEO of Story Medicine Worldwide, based here in Asheville. For the past 30 years, she has planted her story medicine in communities through healing experiences designed to awaken and inspire her students.
www.storymedicineworldwide.com
About the Story/Arts Residency Program
Story Parlor’s residencies exist to champion the creative work of locally-based artists and art groups hailing from BIPOC, LGTBQIA+, and other historically marginalized communities in the quest to amplify and bridge together the diverse fabric of voices in Asheville.
Specifically, the Story/Arts residency aims to provide a platform that showcases the transformative and healing powers of storytelling through all art mediums, while tending to the core values of Story Parlor’s mission, which include:
• Connecting audiences and artists from varying creative backgrounds and interests
• Informing, inspiring, and invigorating through the arts
• Promoting and fostering self-inquiry and mindfulness
• Cultivating creative exchange and cultural insight
• Fostering authenticity and inclusiveness
In addition to public performances and/or workshops, artists-in-residence receive dedicated rehearsal time in the space; an artist stipend; creativity coaching sessions; marketing and promotion; and more.
Applications for the 2023 summer residency are below and due no later than April 30, with preference given to applicants who cross disciplines, embrace collaboration, and present a residency proposal that embodies the core elements of storytelling through all art forms.
More info at: https://storyparloravl.com/storyarts-residencies
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Kathryn O’Shea is an Asheville-born singer/songwriter mostly known for conjuring catharsis for fans and unsuspecting strangers alike. Carried only by her unmistakable voice and soft electric banjo picking, O’Shea’s soul-stirring original songs employ confessional lyricism and winding melodies that leave listeners tear-stained yet somehow deeply galvanized to wake up and fight the good fight again tomorrow. As The Greenville Journal puts it, “There’s a unique dynamic going on in the music of Kathryn O’Shea," so if you'd like to learn more (or you’re just in the market for a good cry), say hi @kathrynoshea on socials or visit kathrynoshea.com.