Lompoc Theatre Project invites the community to the final showcase of Telling Our Stories: A Storytelling and Poetry Workshop, 4-5:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9 at Stone Pine Hall, 210 South H St., Lompoc.
The free community performance will spotlight eight local participants sharing original stories crafted during the six-week workshop led by poets and storytellers Ademola and Tayllor Oyewole-Davis.
The event will feature original performances by Leslie Story, Josefina Cabrera, Eli Wells, Michael Callahan, Kaiyana Aldrich, Jamaica Horton, Mila Good, and Robert Morey.
Each storyteller will present personal narratives exploring themes of family, childhood, heroes, life’s challenges, and the passage of time, offering glimpses into life past and present in the Lompoc Valley.
“This workshop was the result of nearly 18 months of envisioning and planning,” said Morey, Lompoc Theatre Project Board member and Storytelling Workshop chair.
“While there are often opportunities for young people, I wanted to design a safe and creative place for adults to share their thoughts and stories with the community,” Morey said. “By sharing our story we build connections and thereby build bridges across the divides that seem to be growing ever wider.”
Morey praised workshop leaders Ademola and Tayllor Oyewole-Davis as “the perfect mentors who guided with their compassion and wisdom.”
The workshop “would not have been possible without their guidance and expertise,” Morey said. “I applaud each of the participants for their courage to be vulnerable in their storytelling and I am exceedingly grateful for their willingness to share with the community.
“None of us see ourselves as performers, and getting up on stage to share something so personal is very scary.
“I believe people will be amazed by the creativity of the stories that are told. They will be moved and inspired by these performances. There will be laughter, there will be tears, but most of all there will be a sense of connection and community.”
The workshop that began Sept. 28, provided adults of all ages and backgrounds with opportunities to learn techniques for writing and performance, connect with multicultural mentors, discover their unique voice, and build confidence through creative expression.
The workshop is free to attend, but space limited. For more, visit lompocstories@lompoctheatre.org or lompoctheatre.org/tellingourstories.
The Lompoc Theatre Project is a community effort to restore the historic landmark of Lompoc Theatre to re-open as a performing arts and film center, educational and community hub; and focal point of a revitalized Old Town Lompoc.
With the help of local, state and national supporters, Lompoc Theatre Project is currently working to raise $9.8 million to complete extensive interior and exterior renovations that will allow Lompoc Theatre to be open at full capacity for its centennial celebration in 2027.
Learn more about the future of Lompoc Theatre at lompoctheatre.org.