Fuel wanderlust at the ‘Arizona Storytellers: Away We Go’ event
Traveling can be a way to escape reality, to experience different cultures or to challenge yourself. It can be a time to reflect, relax or explore a new place. And it’s often a time for growth.
Join us for a night of stories about the best and worst travel experiences at Arizona Storytellers: Away We Go.
On June 12 at 7 p.m., six storytellers will take the stage at Hotel Valley Ho to share their stories. The night is hosted by Megan Finnerty, founder of the Storytellers Project, and Dawn Gilbertson, travel reporter and columnist for The Arizona Republic.
Elaissia Sears tells about her experience on an international exchange program to Germany, where she broadened her perspective on life abroad and the novelty of the human experience.
Sears says she’s always been interested in storytelling, as someone who grew up doing theater, but hadn’t made the time for it until now.
“Through my story, I hope that people will open their minds and have courage to take risks,” she says. “All growth comes through being uncomfortable.”
Another teller, Paige Soucie, spent a year traveling and working remotely.
She struggled with deciding whether or not to leave the program and ended up coming to some important realizations along the way.
“Losing perspective and not appreciating what life throws your way is something most people can relate to,” she says. “This is my story about recognizing that in myself.”
Soucie hopes the audience will be able to better appreciate the great things in life, whether through travel or their daily lives.
Lizbeth Congiusti, who takes the Storytellers stage for the fourth time, will tell a story about her first trip to Italy, where she visited the town her grandfather grew up in.
“Growing up in a large Italian family, I spent Sundays around the dining table listening to family stories,” she says. “For me, [the trip] was an eyeopening experience.”
Hear these stories and more at Arizona Storytellers: Away We Go.
Improved accessibility
In an effort to be more accessible to guests who are deaf or have hearing loss, the Arizona Storytellers Project is providing live, open captioning at all remaining shows in 2018.
There will be a section of reserved seats in front of the screen. Anyone who wants to use the service is welcome to sit in the reserved section, as is any of their guests.
More than 1 million Arizonans have some form of hearing loss — captioning ensures more people can enjoy our events.
Arizona Storytellers: Away We Go
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 12. Where: Hotel Valley Ho, 6850 E. Main St., Scottsdale AZ. Admission: $12. Student: $5. Details: tickets.azcentral.com