Debut: A Fusion of Storytelling and Play March 2022

Debut is a fusion of storytelling, story making, play, coaching, and community. Three professional storytellers will tell a story that they are debuting. This month, the talented storytellers are True Thomas, Shelia Arnold, and Kristin Ward.  The story they tell has never been told in public.

We believe that the first telling can be a wonderful shared experience. The motto is "There is beauty in the beginning." This is the beginning of each tellers’ stories. However, it is told with the skill of a professional storyteller so it bound to be inviting.

Then, Story Coach (Mediator) Dr. Kevin Cordi, author of Playing with Stories: Story Crafting for Writers, Teachers, and Other Imaginative Thinkers will lead these storytellers as they play with this new story.  Kevin will use proven playful practices and audience members will experience new ways they could work with their own stories.

A little bit about the tellers:

True Thomas (aka Robert Seutter)

is a professional storyteller, public speaker, creative coach, published author, and ULC minister (plus, a professional Santa) based in Southern California.   True is known for his wide repertoire (from multi-cultural traditional to science fiction and fantasy tales) and his exciting style for folks of all ages.  When The Getty Museum wanted stories for their illuminated Manuscripts exhibition, True packed the house.  He is a talented teller who is not afraid to take a risk and enjoy play.  He knows how to command attention to the story and he can call out to listen to the tale.  From Renaissance festivals, to classrooms, he presents others in the magic of  storytelling. 

Shelia Arnold

Sheila Arnold has been gifted by God with performance skills and has been using this talent since she was eight years old. She has been a full-time Storyteller for seventeen years traveling through the United States and sharing a variety of stories - “whatever fits in her mouth”, as well as doing Historic Character Presentations and Christian Monologues. At her core, Ms. Sheila, as she is commonly called, is a Professional Imaginator with a passion, vision and ministry of healing hearts, unifying communities and reminding people to share their stories.  Master storyteller,   Sheas performed in a myriad of ways since she was eight years old! A member of the Virginia Storytelling Alliance, Sheila has been a featured storyteller at several Storytelling Festivals, including the National Storytelling Festival (Jonesborough, TN); Hearts Afire Storytelling Weekend (Richmond, VA); Stories: From Sea to Shore Storytelling Weekend (Norfolk, VA); twice at Culpeper Tells (Culpeper, VA); and twice at Colonial Williamsburg Storytelling Festival (Williamsburg, VA); and more!

Kristin Ward

 is a multi-faceted artist and storyteller who has been performing and working in various aspects of theatre since 2000.  Independently, she has produced, written and performed over two dozen tales, working alone as well as with other talented performers and musicians to create interactive family theatre that reconnects modern audiences to oral traditions.

In response to the pandemic, Kristin expanded her skillset and reach by producing two online seasons of “Summer of Stories”, viewable on her YouTube Channel @MVStoryDance.  A third season is already in the planning stage, and this Debut just might offer viewers a sneak peek into the development behind one of this season’s original tales.

We hope people can join us for the novel event of performance and play. Ticket holders will be sent an email 3 hours prior to the event with login information.

The event is a fusion of storytelling and play. The attendees will have the honor of being the first audience of these tales. Proceeds from this event helps the event and the tellers.