powerstories's posterous

Powerstories

In March 2003, Powerstories Theatre became a non-profit agency with the mission of “staging true stories of women and girls worldwide to open minds and hearts.” The story began however in June 1998 when Fran Powers crossed the Wyoming border on a cross country bike trip. At that moment her long held dream of beginning a theatre for women and girls became crystallized. When she returned to Tampa…Powerstories Theatre was born. In August 2002 several women shows were produced and performed locally. In June 2003, “Girlstories” was born a program for young girls to increase their courage and confidence with performing and public speaking. In January 2005, Janice Nepon-Sixt was hired as the Director of Girlstories and our first theatrical production featuring girls performed. In June of 2007, Powerstories received national recognition from the President’s Committee of the Arts (http://www.cominguptaller.org/awards-2006/semifinalists-2007.html, for their work with young girls. In 2007, we received funding to begin a formal Girlstories Theatre Troupe. Janice Creneti was hired to be the Director and in July, eighteen girls from diverse backgrounds performed their original show “Lights So Bright”. The show based on the theme of “mentoring” performed at The New Place, The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, and numerous elementary schools.