Beyond the Myth: We Begin in Chaos
Sunday, July 13 | The Book of Invocation
Sunday, July 20 | The Book of Convocation
Sunday, July 27 | The Book of Evocation
Night 1 | Book of Evocation
Sunday, July 27, 2025
Doors at 6pm | Show 6:30pm
Story Parlor | 227 Haywood Road
Parking & Policies
Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase. All shows, unless specified, are ages 16+.
Tickets starting at $10 | Please pay what you can! Your generosity goes to underwrite our Story/Arts residency program which champions BIPOC, LGTBQIA+, and individuals from other historically marginalized communities by providing a platform for their work, an artist stipend, creative resources, community support, and more.
. . . . . . . . .
Join Story Parlor and Artists-in-Residence Adam J. N. Keene and Langston Kelly for a three-part journey into myth, meaning, and the chaos of beginnings.
Night 3 | The Book of Evocation
The final installment enters the dreamworld of a young child on the edge of understanding. Through the lens of two reimagined Chinese creation myths, The Book of Evocation explores the vulnerability, wonder, and failure that often accompany the creative act. As worlds flicker into form and fall apart again, the performance evokes the deep inner work of becoming—and the courage it takes to begin, again.
ABOUT THE SERIES
Becomyth: We Begin in Chaos is a performance art project created by Adam J. N. Keene and Langston Kelly that delves into the nature of beginnings—why they challenge us, why they matter, and what transformation takes place in the act of starting anew. Drawing from global creation myths—some of the oldest maps we have for navigating the unknown—Becomyth investigates “chaotic beginnings” as a form of mythological sensemaking: a tool for navigating uncertainty, transformation, and potential.
Blending music, myth, and theatrical storytelling, Keene and Kelly invite audiences on a cosmic journey where ancient stories are reborn and new myths take root. Each evening in the three-part series presents original performances inspired by global creation stories—fusing dreamlike worlds with powerful archetypes to ask: What does it mean to begin? And who do we become in the process?
-
Adam J.N. Keene
Adam loves paradox and dystopian fiction, treats watching an interview like going to the movies, and seeks what’s epic in the everyday. A Caribbean American raised in a Jamaican household, Adam was brought up being exposed to an array of different cultures via travel, art, and especially food. Growing up, his parents made a point to cook food from all around the world, filling both his stomach and spirit with wonderment about the wider world. Having been to 18 different countries (so far) Adam is in awe of how diverse, yet similar, life is across the globe.
His artistry involves an ensemble of poetry, hip hop, oral storytelling, and inspirational speaking fueled by a mythic imagination. Adam has applied his artistic melody to his work as a performer, an art community organizer, a creative mindset coach, and a game master in the roleplay game Dungeons & Dragons. Currently getting a masters in Communication Studies and Storytelling Performance, Adam focuses on how myths (both ancient and new) can help humanity navigate through times of great chaos. His attention on creation myths, particularly the poetry they often originate from, has Adam keen on discovering the worlds being created within himself, and everyone he meets.
Langston B Kelly
With his entirely mobile rig featuring an iPad and 5 mini-rig speakers played out of a backpack, LKHD is one of the most mobile, most versatile DJs and live looping artists on the planet. Drawing from his experiences as a traveler, LKHD gathers a variety of music from around the world, creating massive playlists that take listeners on a journey into wondrous new sounds, fresh mixes, and old favorites played in a new way through his DJ sets. As a live looping artist, LKHD creates music in a variety of styles rooted in synth pop and expanding through hip-hop, cinematic soundscapes, and everything in between.
The truly special moments occur when he combines these two art forms, bringing together the best sounds he collects from other artists with the best sounds he can create to generate once-in-a-lifetime experiences. LKHD represents a new generation of artists taught in the old ways of musicianship, touched by a deep spirituality, and well-versed in the powerful machines of a technocratic age. LKHD aims to create sounds which cultivate the magical experience, acquainting us with the holistic aspect of life discoverable in the transition between places and states of mind.
-
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.
Currently in its fifth iteration, 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 are accepted on a rolling basis, 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 can be found here.
Story Parlor would like to thank ArtsAVL and Buncombe County for providing funding support for the Story/Arts Residency program.