StoryOly hosts take local storytelling online to provide connection during isolation

At this strange time, when people’s lives are happening mostly within four walls, stories are more important than ever, say the creators of local story slam StoryOly.

That’s why Elizabeth Lord and Amy Shephard are taking the popular monthly event online Tuesday.

“In this time of isolation, we really need connection, and stories are one way to do that,” Shephard told The Olympian. “Right now, we’re all sharing the same experience, but we’re all having to share it alone.”

“Right now, our usual day-to-day encounters with people — where someone asks simply, ‘How’s it going?’ — aren’t happening,” Lord said. “As humans, we want to tell our story. We want to share our lives.

“If we can encourage people to do that and give them a platform, I’m thrilled.”

The structure of the story slam, which will happen through the online platform Zoom, will remain largely unchanged.

Tellers (who need to email in advance to request a slot) will be chosen at random. They will have up to eight minutes each to tell a true story that happened to them in front of a live online audience that’s eager to hear what they have to say.

“We are saying, ‘Please slow down. We want to listen to you,’ ” Lord told The Olympian.

Unlike in the live shows that take place at Rhythm & Rye in downtown Olympia, the online ones won’t have judges — and there’s no admission charge, though donations to StoryOly and to the bar and performance venue are welcome.

And stories don’t need to be related to the current situation.

Lord — a storyteller, actress and host — and Shephard — an actress, singer and playwright — have decided to keep the monthly themes they’d chosen before the pandemic began.

“We aren’t going to do themes that are based on the COVID-19 crisis, because we’re all living that right now,” Shepard said.

This month’s theme is “Naïve,” and on May 19, the theme will be “Wicked.” As with all StoryOly themes, the idea is to invite all kinds of interpretations as tellers look at the interactions between their lives and the theme’s suggestions.

Lord has hosted vaudeville shows, bingo games and Oscar parties and officiated at weddings, but this will be her first online hosting gig — and her first gig in more than a month.

“With the social distancing, all the things I do are canceled,” she said.

StoryOly

• What: In this time of sheltering in place, StoryOly will come to you online. This month’s theme is “Naïve.”
• When: 7-9 p.m. this Tuesday, April 21, and the third Tuesday of each month, with online shows planned until in-person performances can resume
• Cost: Free, with donations to StoryOly and Rhythm & Rye — the story slam’s usual location — appreciated
• Watch: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87020318100, with the password naive2020
• Participate: Want to tell a story? Email storyoly@gmail.com by Monday, April 20, with the subject line “Naïve” and your full name in the body of the message. Tellers will be chosen at random on Monday evening, and tellers who are chosen will be notified by email. And you can submit an anonymous answer to this month’s Curious Query. Host Elizabeth Lord will read some of the answers during the show.
• More information: http://facebook.com/storyoly

This story was originally published April 19, 2020 at 5:45 AM.