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From: Pamela Mertz
Date: 10 Oct 2012
Time: 17:19:52 -0500
Remote Name: 67.248.49.228
Hi Ricky, I tried a version of the Stuttering Monologues at the recent NSA conference held in July in Tampa. Basically, I asked 15 people to "perform" or "tell" their story or a piece in 2-3 minutes. Each performer chose a piece about stuttering that was important to them - some funny, some poignant, some courageous, so inspirational - all personal and heartfelt. I was the "emcee" - introduced each person, the title of their piece, and let each person have the stage. There was little to no pause between "performers" except for appalause. It was designed to resonatre with people. The audience was mostly people who stutter or family or SLP's, so a "stutter friendly" group. It was a huge success - standing room only crowd, people on the floor, trying to get in, etc. My goal is to do the same for a fluent audience - so they can hear the stories of people who stutter BY people who stutter, in our own voices. I beleieve something like this could go a long way in educating people, about stuttering specifically and also for diffeernces in general. I was in talks with a community theater director last year, and she was very interested in helping get it on a local stage. She is not sure now if it can be this year, hopefully Fall of 2013. I have been asked already to lead put together "The Stuttering Monologues" for next year's NSA conference. I will ask different people to be in the "show." Many of the people who performed at the NSA conference gave me permission to use their stories, or an adapted version. I hope to have only people who stutter tell the stories here on a local stage in Albany, NY. Thanks for asking! ~Pam