True Theatre melds stories, themes

Prepared, but not scripted. From memory, but not memorized.

This is the best way to describe the community theater experiment currently bubbling at The Know Theatre of Cincinnati, a project being billed as True Theatre.

True Theatre is community theater on steroids: rather than using residents as just actors, True Theatre gleans stories directly from the personal lives of Cincinnatians and then has them tell it on stage.

"What we offer at True Theatre is an opportunity for people to share personal stories in an intimate environment," says Dave Levy, who along with Jeff Groh, co-produce True Theatre. "It's personal stories where people can find common ground."

True Theatre happens four times a year at Know Theatre, once every three months. Each performance consists of five stories, all based on a single theme. The first season's themes included fear, beginnings, foolishness and independence.

For the debut performance on fear, a woman shared her story of the physical and mental abuse she experienced as a child, but had never told her closest friends. For foolishness, Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory shared his embarrassing Opening Day pitch story.

"[Mallory's] story was really hilarious," Levy says.

Stories for True Theatre are submitted on Know Theatre's website. Levy and Groh select stories and help craft them into a coherent narrative. "Once we've spoken with somebody, we work with them to develop their story into a story format, something that doesn't leave the audience hanging."

True Theatre resumes again this November with the theme True Hunger.

Do Good:

• Submit a story. These performances can't work without a supply of material to work with from the community. Submit stories on the True Theatre's website.

• Volunteer. Volunteers are needed at the Know Theatre is everything from web promotion to hanging posters on the street. Sign up on their website.

• See a show. Support the Know Theatre by attending a True Theatre performance or any performance. Tickets can be purchased online ahead of the show. Shows typically sell out a week in advance, so pick yours up early.

By Ryan McLendon