Merrillville Survivor Voices Her Truth in Divercity show - May 13-22

Tellin’ Tales Theatre presents Divercity performing live– May 13-15 at the Greenhouse Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave, Chicago and virtually— May 13-22 on Vimeo. The Saturday evening live performance will include sign language interpretation, audio description and an after-show talk back. The virtual show includes closed captioning and audio description. The theme is “Voicing our Truths.”
Divercity is directed by Tekki Lomnicki, co-founder and artistic director of Tellin’ Tales Theatre, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary. All of the performers are writers, actors and advocates with disabilities, from Chicago, Evanston, Rock Island, Indiana and Ohio. They include Brianne Coleman of Merrillville (see more info about her below).

Stories range from failed vegan cheese making and discovering one’s inner goddess to a fateful train ride in Romania. Live tickets are available at Greenhousetheater.org or 773-404-7336 and virtual tickets can be purchased at Tellintales.org. Ticket holders will be emailed a link to watch the video one-hour before the show. Closed captioning and audio description will be available.

“I am excited to be back live and yet offer a virtual version for our audiences across the country.” says Tekki Lomnicki, artistic director of Tellin’ Tales Theatre. “Throw away any preconceived notions you have about disability because these performers demonstrate that though they are different in appearance and physical ability, they show how alike we all are when we share our stories.”
Stories were developed and directed in a six-week Zoom Master Class taught by Lomnicki. The disabilities of the performers include blindness, dwarfism, brain injury, mental illness, cerebral palsy and Muscular Sclerosis.

About Brianne Coleman:
Coleman, MBA, M.S., is a well-versed administrative professional with a deep passion for change. As a survivor of childhood trauma, sexual assault, and domestic violence, she tirelessly advocates for victims/survivors through her public speaking, peer support and volunteer work. Brianne is a 2020 graduate of the Disability Lead f/k/a ADA 25’s Advancing Leadership program and completed her fellowship with the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence Leadership Academy. Last year, she began a 2-year journey to become a certified instructor of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). Coleman is also the founder of Dimensions of Intersections, an upcoming nonprofit with a mission to stop generational cycles of domestic violence and trauma.

The mission of Tellin' Tales Theatre is to shatter barriers between the disabled and non-disabled worlds through the transformative power of personal story. We bring together children and adults from both communities to share their stories in theatrically innovative productions and programs to promote awareness, understanding and acceptance.

Divercity is partially supported by grants from the Illinois Arts Council, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation.