Story Circle participants are encouraged to arrive at 5:30 to enjoy some free food and n/a beverages.

At 6 pm, we begin! The Facilitator will welcome everyone and share the plan for the evening. That is:

• ~20 minutes of simple games that allow us to relax and find commonalities. Social mapping is one way we do this. The Facilitator shares a prompt (i.e. “morning people over here; night owls over there.”) and participants select a group (or remain in the middle if they’re ambivalent). Within those groups, participants find one thing they have in common and share it with everyone else. Simple, easy, fun.

• ~10 minutes to play with an “I Come From Poem.” What’s that, you ask? It’s like mad-libs to better understand oneself. We open up the floor to anyone who wishes to share (only if comfortable; you are not required to share).

• Hey, now we’re starting to know one another! For the next 45 minutes we’ll break up into small groups (4-5 individuals) with a consideration for intergenerational groupings. In your groups, you’ll be given a box containing cards. These cards contain questions that are specially designed to stimulate conversation. Each participant will have an opportunity to pull a card and share a response. Other individuals are also welcome to respond to the prompt. We know you’ll find many commonalities, and many distinctions. We celebrate and respect each individual’s story.

• Now that we’ve had a chance to chat in a smaller group, let’s come back and chat in a larger circle (story circles vary in size but do not exceed 30 individuals unless otherwise noted). Each group will have a chance to share their stories and their experiences of hearing others’ stories. The Facilitator will allow for robust conversation between groups as they share their stories.

• As our event comes to an end, we’ll invite you to grab some snacks as you depart. In most instances, you are welcome to stick around for 15 minutes to mingle with your fellow participants. We love to see that!

2 hours

The subject of this Local Listens Story Circle is housing. Therefore, we will be discussing housing in Boulder County.

Are you a renter? A homeowner? A lender? A realtor? An individual experiencing housing insecurity? Living communally? Couch surfing?

We want to hear your stories as they relate to finding shelter in our community.

No, you are not required to address the entire group at any point. However, you will be asked to participate in a small-group discussion (4-5 participants).

There will be:

-At least 2 Local Theater Company representatives ensuring that all guests are checked in and comfortable.

-1 Story Circle Facilitator (Betty Hart, Co-Artistic Director, Local Theater Company)

-No more than 30 participants (we like to allow our groups enough time to chat and share)

Anyone who resides in Boulder County or has a story that relates to dwelling in Boulder County.

These story circles are a part of Local Theater Company’s Local Listens new-play initiative. Every season, we host story circles. Commissioned playwrights listen, and find inspiration in your stories. That inspiration will fuel the creation of a 45-minute new play that will be read aloud (staged reading) in April, 2026.

The playwrights will be inspired by your stories. They are not writing your biographies. Think of the playwright as a bird creating a nest (a play). The bird draws material from many sources, weaving them together to make something complete.

We also encourage you to consider what you are and are NOT willing to share. Your comfort level is the primary consideration.

Don’t worry: you do. Story Circles are rooted in the belief that every human is unique and, therefore, has a unique story to tell.

Yes, we welcome you and your friends. We do ask that all attendees RSVP.