Valley Voices Story Slam 2022 - ACADEMY OF MUSIC

Valley Voices Story Slam 2022

Valley Voices is presented by the Academy of Music Theatre and New England Public Media.

Come out and hear some outrageous, funny and heartwarming true stories told in five minutes by your friends and neighbors from around the valley. The audience picks the winner, and a storytelling star is born! Grab a beer and get ready for a night of great entertainment. The winners of each slam will go on to compete in our “Best of Valley Voices” event!

The Academy of Music Theatre and New England Public Media celebrate the 8th Anniversary of Valley Voices Story Slam! Audience members have selected the top three stories from the five Valley Voices Story Slams held during the season. These top stories by local storytellers will be shared on the Academy stage to compete for the top prize – Best of  Valley Voices! Join us as we choose the winner of this competition based on the art of first person narrative storytelling.  It puts emphasis on content and performance and encourages storytellers to focus on what they are saying and how they’re saying it. It’s an exercise in crafting stories within a set time limit, without notes or props, and it’s entertainment.

HOW TO AUDITION:
During the set audition period, call our designated phone line at 413-735-6688 to share the first sentence of your story and your contact information. Please share only the first line of your story. Speak slowly and clearly when giving your line and your contact information.

Storytellers will be selected based on the strength of their first line and will be invited to share their story live at Valley Voices. Selected storytellers are encouraged to attend a free storytelling workshop, which will help to cultivate personal stories into performances. Storytellers will be offered the opportunity to purchase one ticket for a friend – we know you want moral support while you’re up on that stage!

Story Slam Rules

  • Stories must be submitted for consideration through the designated phone line on the dates described above. Share the first line of your story as you would tell it the night of the slam. Your name, email and phone number need to be recorded on voicemail. *Please speak clearly and slowly. Phone line: 413-735-6688
  • Stories must be personal, first-person narrative and from your life experience.
  • Stories must be told without notes, props, costumes or musical instruments.
  • Your story must relate to the theme.
  • Each storyteller gets 5 minutes with a one-minute warning.
  • You must be 18 or older and reside in New England.
  • If you’ve participated in a Valley Voices story slam or auditioned for previous seasons you are welcome to re-audition. You may audition for all four events in Season 8.
  • If you take 1st, 2nd or 3rd place in a slam, you cannot participate in other slams during the season (you will be moving on to the Best of Valley Voices in the spring!).
  • All storytellers must agree to have their story recorded for use on the Valley Voices Podcast and filmed for the Valley Voices website by local cable access channels including Holyoke TV.
  • The top 3 storytellers for each slam will go on to compete in the “Best of Valley Voices Story Slam” at the Academy of Music  on April 22, 2023. If you are in the top three, you must commit to sharing a story for Best of Valley Voices. The top three storytellers will be featured on the Valley Voices podcast.

Judging

  • Members of the Academy of Music and New England Public Radio staff will select 10 storytellers and 2 alternates for each slam.
  • Selected storytellers will be notified and are invited to participate in a storytelling workshop before the Story Slam to hone their story.
  • Audience members will be given Audience Choice Ballots and will choose their favorite story.
  • A volunteer panel from the Academy of Music and NEPR will tabulate first, second, and third place winners.

Prizes
The top 3 storytellers for each slam will go on to compete in the “Best of Valley Voices Story Slam” at the Academy of Music in April 2023. If you are in the top three, you must commit to sharing a story for Best of Valley Voices. The top three storytellers will also be featured on the Valley Voices podcast for that theme. Other stories collected could be used in other podcasts later in the season.

The Valley Voices Podcast is available at nepr.net and wherever you find your podcasts.

For more information, contact Lyrical Faith at 413-584-9032 EXT103 or at [email protected], or Vanessa Cerillo at 413-735-6605 or [email protected].