Learning to Tell Stories

Thomas Doty – Storyteller

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Saturday, 31 October 1981, Lithia Park

My few days work with Michael Newell has been wonderful. The stories have progressed more in those days than in the whole 6 months I have been telling them, a progression not so much from repetition of lines and other technical rehearsals, but from attitude, an opening of myself which allows me greater forms of expression, and in a voice which is my own, not that artificial voice I have been using which gets me stuck in its own rut. Tomorrow's performance in Talent, perhaps my first un-contrived performance. ¶ The days have turned warm, a south wind blowing down the valley. Most of the leaves are down now, sunk to the bottom of lakes and pools, or cast in the drying mud of footpaths. ¶ Spent 50¢ for tea, $1.75 for embroidery ring, 50¢ for beer.

3/16/2019: I carved a walking stick out of madrone for Michael in exchange for some storytelling sessions, and he carried that stick all over the world, using it in classes and workshops as a theatre teacher and director. Money was tight in those days, and I kept track of my pennies in my journal. I suspect the embroidery ring was for my wife Michele. The next day I earned $30 telling stories at the Unitarian Fellowship in Talent.