Word Plays: Storytelling at Proctors 2025/26

If you're one of those people who lingers in your car long after reaching a destination just to hear the end of Garrison Keillor's "The News from Lake Wobegon" or Ira Glass on "This American Life," then Word Plays may be for you. Many performers will be telling during this season. At each Word Play, a different group of performers tell rarely heard contemporary and traditional stories about celebrating the human spirit. You will discover that Word Plays is a shared experience between the audience and the performer, combining the intensity of a solo performer with the intimacy of a face-to-face conversation. Each show has its own theme where each story told relates to that theme.

A note from a listener: "I thoroughly enjoyed today's wonderful storytelling on Zoom. I attended Word Plays at Proctors whenever my schedule allowed. I am so glad I can hear these great tellers again. Story is so much more effective in pointing out our common human experience than lecture is."

Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal." Buddha said, "Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without." Mother Teresa said, "Peace begins with a smile." Come hear these eight splendid storytellers share all sorts of about peace: Fran Berger, Joe Doolittle, Kate Dudding, Margaret French, Eileen Mack, Claire Nolan, Nancy Marie Payne, and Sandy Schuman.

An elixir is a substance is believed to be capable of changing base metals into gold, or prolonging life Indefinitely. Rumi wrote: "Passion is the elixir that renews." Napoleon Hill wrote: "Faith is the 'eternal elixir' which gives life, power, and action to the impulse of thought!". Sir Theodore Martin wrote: "Work is the true elixir of life. The busiest man is the happiest man." Come hear these eight splendid storytellers share stories about all sorts of elixirs: Siri Allison, Fran Berger, Joe Doolittle, Kate Dudding, Margaret French, Eileen Mack, Claire Nolan, Sandy Schuman, and Beverly Schwartz.

Click here to watch many of our performers tell stories. Click here to find out about our performers.

PRICE: $12, tickets available at Proctors Box Office

Click here to see videos of our 15th Season.

Word Plays was inspired by 2nd Story, produced by Serendipity Theatre in Chicago.