I’m 12 years old. It’s summertime, and we’re on our annual family trip to Bainbridge Island off the coast of Seattle. I love going on these trips, and one of my favorite things about them is getting to see family friends Bob and Denise perform in a different play.

This particular summer they’re doing The Pirates of Penzance. After the show is over, Bob and Denise walk up to me and ask, “Kymberlee, what was your favorite part?”

I’m thinking that since they’re both in it, I don’t really want to pick sides. So I talk about everything: the amazing set design, Bob’s incredible costume, Denise’s epic singing, the cool set, the fantastic dancing, the memorable characters…

After each mention, Bob and Denise just stare at me. But I can’t pick just one thing; I love it all! Years later, I realize that what I loved most was…

The live experience of story!

Seeing it played out right in front of my eyes and ears made each story unforgettable.

My special guest today, Mary Lauren, tells stories in multifaceted ways. She directs them, writes them, produces them, performs them, and choreographs them. And in this episode of the Storytelling School podcast, we dive into her tips and techniques on bringing stories to life with questions like:

How do you know if a particular story you want to tell is important? What should you always do when you get handed a script for your role? What’s the benefit of playing darker characters? And what can you do when you’re struggling to connect to your story?

• How you can bring truth to a character in your story
• What storytelling aspect can initially stymie a new storyteller
• Why listening is the key to everything as a performer and storyteller

Mary Lauren is a passionate and multifaceted artist who loves to tell stories. She has had work seen Off-Broadway and regionally as a director, writer, performer, producer, and choreographer. She’s a proud member of the Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

Mary has written several new works, in addition to choreographing and acting as the lead dancer in the short film Dream of Spring (which has been featured in festivals all over the world). Some other acting credits include: The Last 5 Years, Gypsy, Sarah Was Mine, Sophia!, My Shadow and Me, and Hamlet.

For almost 20 years, Mary has directed and educated artists. As artistic director of Heart String Theatrical, she created the streaming live/filmed piece Loving You Always. Her cabarets have raised money for artists and for organizations including the NAACP and ACLU.

Mary also serves as the Youth Artistic Director at AMT Theatre, a new Off-Broadway Theater in Times Square. She loves working with young artists and finds inspiration from their exuberance and stories. Over 50 productions with young artists have been directed by her including original pieces and published works like Seussical, Annie, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Beauty and the Beast, and more.