Each year The School of Theatre Arts’, program etc… (educational theatre company) presents a play for children in the fall. This entirely student directed, acted & designed production performs first on campus and then tours to area schools.

According to Laura A. McCammon, faculty mentor and founder of etc…, “the director of this show, Kelena Jones, also believes in the relationship of story to community and the relationship of story to literacy skills in children.  She has chosen ‘Henny Penny’, ‘The Bremen Town Musicians’, ‘The Fisherman and his Wife’, ‘Two Crows’ and ‘The Golden Goose’.  These stories have (been) slightly modernized.”

You can catch these shows at 10:00 am and 7:00 pm on Thursday and Friday, September 24 and 25 and at 1:30 on Saturday September 26 in the Marroney Theatre, 1025 N Olive Rd, Bldg #3 on the UA campus.  Tickets are $5 and can be reserved by calling the Fine Arts Box Office  at 621-1162.  Tickets can also be purchased at the door.

This was my reply:

For the last 5 years I’ve been inviting a diverse group of people to tell personal stories to a mostly heterosexual audience at Odyssey Storytelling in Tucson, AZ. Many of the tellers have been lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT). Some of the stories were specifically about the LGBT experience i.e. the transman who started his story on the theme The Thing About Hair by saying “when I was a little girl I had long hair”. That got the audience’s attention.  Sometimes the teller casually mentioned a same sex partner. And everything in-between. I love that the audience is exposed to everyday people who happen to be LGBT in a very “safe” environment. I’ve never heard an adverse comment. Obviously the tellers feel supported to share.

I’ve done four LGBT themed shows, two at Wingspan, the LGBT Community Center, one at University of Arizona, and one for the Center for Inquiry. These shows were very well received.

I’m very lucky to live in Tucson, the little island of blue in the sea of red Arizona.  LGBT content is just some of the “tough stuff” I’ve exposed the audiences to.  Some of the other “difficult” stories have ranged from child abuse to mental illness to prostitution.  My intention, besides using storytelling as an entertainment, is to give people something to think about.

Maybe some people get offended and don’t come back but at least they’ve had an experience of hearing another persons truth.  Mostly I find that people are being educated and that’s one step on the way to dispel prejudices.

What are the fears that stop people from using LGBT content / references / themes in storytelling and other spoken word events (including theater)?  That they’ll lose their audience?  That they’ll be banned from other shows or festivals?  That they’ll alienate people?

Artists will challenge taboos and oppressive cultural norms through video, live performance, spoken word, music and painting. Featured performers are Cirqu du Sin, Cabaret Boheme, Marc Pedraza and Parasol Project. Local celebrity Bunny Fu Fu will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies and will guide attendees through this sensual and visually stimulating festival.

For last years installation art piece, seven artists created a peep show.  This year the collaboration has grown to at least 20 artists contributing to a giant group art project, “Confessional”, about sharing secrets and the elimination of sexual shame.

Free Sex celebrates sexual diversity, expression and non-conformity. Misogyny, homophobia, and sexual violence will be challenged by thoughtful and mindful art.    All profits go to support progressive and radical media produced by Pan Left.   The festival is intended for those that are ages 18 and up.

So mark you calendar for Saturday, September 12 from 7 to 11 p.m.; you wont want to miss this.  $6 suggested donation at the door.

In addition to founding and coordinating this event, Oscar Jimenez is a fashion designer, organizer of the Wingspan sponsored Tucson Latin Gay Pride 2009 festival, and writer and director of the soon to be released short film, “Esmeralda Del Desierto”.  You can reach him at miparaiso@hotmail.com.