ChicagoParent.com Video Review

Six Stories Up

Six Stories Up is part mentoring program, part magic. Each year we pair six Chicago storytellers with six middle school children to write six, ten-minute long theater pieces. Each team is encouraged to base their vignette on personal stories. These vignettes are then combined to create a full-length show. The set designer, mask maker, and stage manager also work with middle school-aged apprentices. The show runs two weekends at a professional theater.

Adults and children with and without disabilities, of all races, and income levels work together on equal terms. Both adults and children learn lifelong lessons, self-esteem blossoms, and community is built where none existed before.

Gallery 37 / After School Matters Connection Program

Tellin' Tales Theatre is honored to teach in the Gallery 37 Connections Program. Gallery 37 is the City of Chicago's award-winning summer program that offers high school students the opportunity to become "apprentice artists" in the visual, literary, media, and performing arts. The Connections Program creates the same opportunities for children ages 10-13, with and without physical and/or cognitive disabilities to work together in an arts experience during the school year. This program is now under the auspices of After School Matters.

Find Tellin' Tales Theatre on:

Past Shows

2008 Potholes on the Path to Enlightenment

2008 Six Stories Up in Peace

2009 In Your Facebook

2009 Six Stories Up in the Economy

2010 A Midsummer Night's Dreamers

2010 Six Stories Up on Ellis Island

2011 Whatever Gets You Through
the Night

2011 Six Stories Up on Mt. Olympus

2012 Bad Trips

2012 Six Stories Up in the Windy City

Contact Us

360 East Randolph Street
Suite 1006
Chicago, Illinois 60601
312-540-1330

Our Mission

Tellin’ Tales Theatre’s mission is build community through story. Our company gathers the stories of groups or individuals, including adults and children with disabilities, and creates theatrically inspiring performances using mentoring and collaboration. Tellin' Tales is dedicated to providing a venue for bringing together diverse people. Our aim is to help our audiences and our performers recognize their commonalities and build a sense of community where none existed before.