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Valley Voices

Valley Voices

Valley Voices

Outrageous, funny and heartwarming stories from western New England-based storytellers all told in under five minutes.

Valley Voices Story Slams are a production of New England Public Media and the Academy of Music Theatre.

Curran & Keegan Financial is NEPM's Valley Voices Season 8 sponsor.
Ways to Connect
Best of Valley Voices is April 8! Get tickets here.
Listen to true short stories told by your friends and neighbors from around the region.
A place online for storytellers (and story lovers!) in the Pioneer Valley to connect.
The Valley Voices podcast celebrates summer with a special series. Jump in with us!
Call us at 413-735-6688 and share the first line of your story and your contact information. Read more here first!
New show! Tune in Saturdays at noon on NEPM 88.5.
Get the full picture! Watch our storytellers on stage in front of an audience.
Subscribe to be in the know about NEPM events, news and podcast releases.
Upcoming events
VV Season 8 Graphic

Season 8!

You won't believe what your neighbors get up to!
Vanessa Cerillo, NEPM's Executive Producer for Valley Voices Story Slams

Get your tickets and see our audition dates below!

December 8
The Divine Theater, Gateway City Arts
Holyoke, MA
SOLD OUT!

Audition Dates:
October 18 - November 7

January 19
The Drake
Amherst, MA
SOLD OUT!

Audition Dates:
December 8 - January 2

February 16
Hawks & Reed
Greenfield, MA
SOLD OUT!

Audition Dates:
January 19 - February 2

March 16
Marigold Theater
Easthampton, MA
Get Tickets!

Audition Dates:
February 16 - March 2

April 8
The Academy of Music Theatre
Northampton, MA
Get Tickets
How to audition

During the set audition period, call our designated phone line 413-735-6688 and share the first line of your story and your contact information. Please share only the first line, as you would tell it the night of the slam.

Season 8 Audition Dates

Thin Ice: October 18 - November 2

Sorry, Not Sorry: December 8 - January 2

Kiss & Tell: January 19 - February 2

Nope: February 16 - March 2

Storytellers will be selected based on the strength of their first line and will be invited to share their story live at the Valley Voices Story Slam. Selected storytellers are encouraged to attend a free storytelling workshop, which will help to cultivate personal stories into performances. Storytellers will be offered the opportunity to purchase one ticket for a friend — we know you want moral support while you’re up on that stage!

Aria Bracci
NEPR

Story Slam Rules

Stories must be submitted for consideration through New England Public Media’s designated phone line during the open audition period for each show. Share the first line of your story as you would tell it the night of the slam. Your name, email and phone number need to be recorded on voicemail. Please speak clearly and slowly. Phone line: 413-735-6688.

  • Stories must be personal, first-person narrative and from your life experience.
  • Stories must be told without notes, props, costumes, or musical instruments.
  • Your story must relate to the theme.
  • Your story must be 5 minutes or less! We’ll give you a one-minute warning at the four-minute mark to help you keep on time.
  • You must be 18 or older and reside in New England.
  • If you’ve participated in a Valley Voices story slam or auditioned for previous seasons you are welcome to re-audition. (If you’ve taken home the gold in The Best of Valley Voices, you may not compete in the next season.)
  • If you take 1st, 2nd or 3rd place in a slam, you cannot participate in other slams during the season (you will be moving on to The Best of Valley Voices).
  • All storytellers must agree to have their story recorded for use on the Valley Voices Podcast and Valley Voices Radio and filmed for the Valley Voices website and YouTube channel.
  • The top 3 storytellers for each slam will go on to compete in The Best of Valley Voices at the Academy of Music, at the end of the season. If you place in the top three during a slam, you must commit to sharing a story for The Best of Valley Voices. The top three storytellers will automatically be featured on the Valley Voices podcast.

Judging

Members of the Academy of Music Theatre and New England Public Media staff will select 10 storytellers and 2 alternates for each slam based on the first lines auditioned.

  • Selected storytellers will be notified and are invited to participate in a storytelling workshop before the Story Slam to hone their story.
  • At each slam, audience members vote for their favorite story, and the top three storytellers advance to The Best of Valley Voices.

Prizes

The top 3 storytellers for each slam will go on to compete in The Best of Valley Voices at the Academy of Music. If you are in the top three, you must commit to sharing a story for The Best of Valley Voices. The top three storytellers will also be featured on the Valley Voices podcast for that theme. Other stories collected could be used in other podcasts, or on the radio show later in the season. All stories are filmed and released on NEPM's YouTube channel.

For more information, contact Vanessa Cerillo, NEPM's executive producer for Valley Voices Story Slam at 413-740-9555 or valleyvoices@nepm.org

Subscribe

Subscribe to keep up with Valley Voices, and be in the know about NEPM events, news and podcast releases.

Just send your name and email address to valleyvoices@nepm.org and we'll make sure you're connected.