Here Comes Company

What positive events have taken place in your life over the past year?

When I worked as Box Office Manager at Shakespeare Santa Cruz in 1990, I was housed in a large room (with bathroom—which had a toaster oven installed there—so many stories from that position!) in the residence of one of the founders of the summer theatre company. One night she made dinner for us, and I asked about the start of the organization.

You see, I had long wanted to start my own theatre company, and I thought I might glean some important information about that from her. While I recall that I thought I did learn some things, I have no recollection of any specifics from that discussion.

Managing the Box Office was a great experience because, when I started doing shows in academia and needed to sell tickets, I knew how to set that up. I always say, no experience is ever truly wasted.

And I likely absorbed ideas about starting a company that I applied to my three teaching jobs. Now, in retirement, I have finally started that long-awaited company; StoryZ officially (that is, for tax purposes), began on May 1, 2023.

We’ve had a couple of events (Poetry Open Mic Night and an Improv Night), but recently, after joining the Chamber of Commerce and attending some networking events, have discovered some venues locally where we can perform. Also, I’ve made some connections with people who I think can help plan such events (such as a one-man show offered as a dinner theatre in a venue set up for just such a thing).

Watching the possibilities materialize, after all these years, is certainly a major positive event.