Happening at SteppingStone

Storytelling Classes for Adults

Deepen connections with friends and family, forge new relationships, and share the joy of theatre!

Registration for Fall 2022 Adult Classes is now closed. 

As “your theatre for life,” Park Square and SteppingStone Theatre are pleased to offer a series of storytelling workshops for adults. Intergenerational classes are available as well as programs specifically for adults age 50 and above. Together, the programs will immerse you in learning that will cumulatively build your skills and comfort in speaking out and sharing your stories.

Registration is now open!

Questions? Contact Amanda Hestwood, School and Community Program Manager. Email amanda@steppingstonetheatre.org or call 651-767-8492.

Introduction to Storytelling:
FINDING, CRAFTING, AND TELLING YOUR STORY

September 24 – November 12
Saturdays, 2 – 4 PM
Intergenerational: Ages 16+

Taught by Katie Knutson

Learn the basics of the Art of Storytelling, including mining your own life for stories, shaping them for greater impact, adding sensory details, showing rather than telling, giving and receiving feedback, and performing in front of a small audience. This intergenerational class is open to everyone ages 16+.

Storytelling Performance Skills I:
CONNECTING THROUGH STORYTELLING

September 22 – November 3
Thursdays, 1:00 – 2:30 PM
Performance: November 3,  6:00 PM
Ages 50+

Taught by Dane Stauffer

You are an artist and a storyteller (…even if you don’t know it yet!) Are you ready to reflect on the life experiences you hold and share them with a community of like-minded storytellers? What you hold inside is vital and powerful and ready to be explored and shared. Learn techniques and skills to craft compelling stories and confidently express them in your own personal performance style.

Participants will present a final sharing of their work on the final week for invited friends and family.

All experience levels welcome!

Storytelling Performance Skills II:
HONING YOUR CRAFT

September 22 – November 3, 2022 
Thursdays, 3:00 – 4:30 PM
Performance: November 3, at 6:00 PM
Ages 50+

Taught by Dane Stauffer

Are you yearning to flex your artistry in a welcoming community of storytellers and creatives? Stories live inside us all (…and we are always creating new ones too.) Deepen your connection to your own stories and bring them out into the world. Participants will practice performance skills like vocal projection and body awareness to bring the spirit, voice, and body together.

Participants will present a final sharing of their work on the final week for invited friends and family.

A next-level storytelling adventure suitable for all experience levels.

REGISTRATION FEES

Full Registration fee (actual price for 7 weeks): $300

  • I can afford the registration fee and help cover another participant’s registration: $325
  • I can afford the full registration fee: $300
  • I can afford most of the registration fee: $225
  • I can afford some of the registration fee: $150
  • Please contact me to discuss another price option: $50 deposit

All Classes are Pay-As-You’re-Able

That means exactly what it says — pay what you or your family can afford.

Our full registration fee represents the amount that it costs us to bring this program to you.  For you, Pay As You’re Able may mean covering your fees and someone else’s. It could also mean paying half or some of the fee.

If these options do not work for you financially, we still want you to be able to attend. Reserve a spot with a $50 deposit and we will work with you personally to make participation possible.

ABOUT THE TEACHING ARTISTS

Headshot of Katie Knutson, a woman with glasses and shoulder-length dark hair.

Katie Knutson is a Professional Storyteller and Teaching Artist who has been featured at storytelling festivals in the US, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates. She regularly teaches classes and leads workshops for adults and children, and even spent a year teaching storytelling and drama in Chile. Her writing has been featured in Storytelling Magazine, Tomorrow’s Storytellers Today, and two books about integrating storytelling into classroom curriculum. She recently completed 17 years of serving on the Boards of various non-profits including Story Arts of MN, Northlands Storytelling Network, National Storytelling Network, and Youth, Educators & Storytellers Alliance.

Learn more about Katie and her work at www.ripplingstories.com

Dane Stauffer’s career spans cabaret, theater, film, television, and radio. Dane recently sang in Brand New Day: Breaking Barriers/A Cabaret at the Ordway, where he also recently starred as Scrooge in Dolly Parton’s Smokey Mountain Christmas Carol. He’s starred as Roger Caldwell in the IVEY award winning musical Glensheen, (Returning Summer 2022 to History Theatre, and Original Cast Album just released).

He has toured Ireland in Triple Espresso, garnered “Best Actor in a comedy” LA Stage Scene for All in the Timing, and “Best Actor in a Musical ” Broadway World for Glensheen. While in Los Angeles, he became a staple singing at Sunset Strip’s House of Blues, the Cafe Was with Jeff Goldblum on the keys, Herb Alpert’s Vibe Room and Yoshi’s with Estaire Godinez, and the LA Blues Festival, and locally, most recently in The Love Show at the O’Shaughnessy Valentines day w/ Kevin Kling and company.

Dane continues to teach empowerment through storytelling and theatre arts to children and adults in all settings.

Read more at www.danestauffer.com

Dane has a great way of making everyone feel comfortable and accepted.  I enjoyed the class so much that I recommended it to a group of seniors that I meet with regularly. —Linda Z., Workshop Participant

First off, the class was fun, great fun. Dane put me at ease with the first group exercises… The class showed me I was still a creative spontaneous ‘senior’ person. —Maureen C., Workshop Participant

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Contact

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are available via email M-F, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the following:

EDUCATION
education@steppingstonetheatre.org

TICKETS & REGISTRATION
tickets@parksquaretheatre.org

DEVELOPMENT
development@steppingstonetheatre.org

MARKETING
marketing@steppingstonetheatre.org

GENERAL INQUIRIES
info@steppingstonetheatre.org

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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement

At SteppingStone, we are committed to access and inclusion for all people. We stand firmly in opposition to racism, and our programs challenge our young artists, staff, and Board of Directors to foster inclusion and seek equity for all, including Black people, Indigenous peoples, people of color, LGBTQIA+ people, people of all economic backgrounds, people of all religions, and people with disabilities. SteppingStone collaborates with families to meet students’ needs, whether they are social, academic, developmental, or physical.

We Believe

Young people are artists, makers, and doers. They need to belong and to contribute to their world. When young people make art together, they change themselves and the world around them for the better.

We Do

SteppingStone ignites belonging, generosity, mastery, self-advocacy, and inspiration by creating art with young people to share with the world.
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