Grownups coming to Arden

All those poorly scribbled pen-pal letters, childhood stories about movie stars, or absurdist poetry with emotions running high about that boy you liked. These are all examples of writings by you as a younger person that are fair game for an upcoming stage event.

Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids is coming to the Arden Theatre in a little more than three weeks and people are being asked to dig deep into their attics and shoeboxes to find the good stuff to share with the rest of us.

Host Dan Misener says that the title says it all.

“We bill it as exactly what it says on the tin,” he began.

“I like to describe it to people who have never been at a live open mic where people dig up their childhood writing, their teenage writing, their weird writing, their wonderful writing, and they get on stage and share it with a room full of strangers.”

The show started a few years ago and has clearly gained traction, even airing for a time on CBC Radio. Misener often takes it on the road too. He has found a hardy following of people who not only love to hear what others have to say but many have chosen to take the chance of building up their courage to be on stage too.

“I think that there is a lot to be said for getting up in front of people that you don't know and being open and honest and vulnerable.”

He said that his team works hard to create the safe space for the readers by walking them through all of the technical details first and giving them the comfort of preparation so that all they have to do is walk up to the mic and speak.

Often, people want to read but just aren't sure. For them, he invites them to a reading to hear the other performers.

“People come and they get it. They understand the vibe and that it's a really warm, supportive crowd. Often at the very next show, they're up on stage. Sometimes, it actually takes coming to the event to see what it's all about to work up the courage and to understand what we're really trying to do.”

If you haven't been to a show, you could first listen to a podcast on its website at www.grownups.fm.

The performance is teaming up to be a fundraiser for STAR Literacy at the same time. STAR will receive partial proceeds of ticket and merchandise sales from the event. Misener often partners GRTTWAK with local literacy organizations during these road shows.

“So much of what we do on stage is about the power of reading and writing and expressing yourself. It's a natural fit,” he said, adding that interested people should act fast. There's almost a full roster of readers but there is a waitlist just in case a scheduled ‘Grownup' gets the last minute jitters.

Shelley Passek, STAR's executive director, said that she's thrilled but hemmed and hawed at the suggestion that she stand up herself on the evening of the event.

“I don't have anything,” she said, clearly making excuses. “I'm trying to find something at my house that I've written as a child. If I find something, I will. We've moved around a lot. I don't know if I have anything.”

Space is also filling up fast in the audience. He has done a few shows in and around the Edmonton area over the last few years and the demand for tickets was huge. In fact, last year's event was at a theatre with a capacity for 150 seats but there were also 400 others on the wait list for cancellations.