Arizona Storytellers to talk ‘Taxing Situations’ April 30
Dive headfirst into stories of hardship, triumph and finances from the lives of metro Phoenix residents at the Arizona Storytellers show on April 30 at the Tempe Center for the Arts.
The speaker series, which will return for its third year and is hosted by The Arizona Republic and South Mountain Community College’s Storytelling Institute, will showcase stories centered around the theme “Taxing Situations,” interpreted by the storytellers in a diverse set of ways. Hear stories on medical emergencies, immigrating to a new country and, quite literally, taxes.
Get tickets tempecenterforthearts.com.
Stories ranging from overcoming cancer to tax fraud
The presentations will include five tellers from all over the metro Phoenix area all with a colorful and unique journey that they will share on the stage in April.
Marilee Launch is a 79-year-old cancer survivor from Apache Junction and tells the story of how she got through her stage four melanoma diagnosis and treatment with a quote from William Blake’s poem Eternity. By “kissing the joy as it flies” Launch found beauty and hope during some of the most frightening times of her life.
Russ Wiles draws from his experience spanning three decades as a financial and business writer for The Arizona Republic to craft his story on how fear, regret and anger can all influence how we manage our money.
Diana Dinshaw, 58, from Phoenix, shares “what it feels like to be an American” as a first-generation Pakistani American experiencing new freedoms and carrying the burdens she faced in her birth country.
Ernesto Ortiz, 47, tells the laughable story of the time he was left standing in a hotel hallway in his underwear after his microwavable popcorn
caught fire at 2 a.m. the night before he presented at a business conference. Hear him recount an incident filled with smoke alarms, disgruntled security guards and his admiration for firefighters.
Jim Simpson, a 68-year-old accountant from south Phoenix, tells the story of how his non-profit organization for disadvantaged taxpayers started with a client who pled guilty to two counts of tax fraud. Don’t miss this teller’s story on tax fraud, arrest takedowns, plea deals and murder.
The Tempe Center for the Arts updated COVID-19 policy indicates that facemasks are optional and no proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test is required to attend performances or events.