Ahead of the premieres of new episodes in Season 7 of “Stories from the Stage,” Caribbean Life spoke with Liz Cheng and Patricia Alvarado Núñez, co-creators and co-executive producers of the national storytelling series from World.
“As journalists, we as executive producers created World’s multiplatform series, ‘Stories from the Stage’, to counter news coverage of conflict and hate,” they said over the weekend. “’Stories from the Stage’ focuses on our commonalities and chooses to celebrate our differences of background, circumstances and orientation.
“We invite storytellers from all around the world to tell a unique story in front of an audience of strangers,” they added. “Each episode is a testament to the belief that a story, told with sincerity and at just the right moment, has the potential to confront perceptions and inspire change.”
Cheng and Alvarado Núñez said the series is hosted by Theresa Okokon and Wes Hazard, “who share a deep bond with storytelling that transcends the stage.”
“I like to tell stories where I learn a lesson about something or discover something about myself because audiences can empathize,” said Okokon, a Wisconsin native, who writes and coaches storytellers between her 9-to-5 in Boston. Her memoir, “The Okokon Family Orchestra,” is due in 2025.
Hazard, a Massachusetts local-turned-Brooklynite, whose first love is stand-up comedy, agreed: “The biggest joy with storytelling is the expanded range of emotion. It allows me to explore myself more deeply as I think others might see me. I find it very freeing.”
As the new year unfolds, Cheng and Alvarado Núñez said “Stories from the Stage” presents all-new episodes on broadcast, via podcast, on demand and streaming.
They said Bucket List, airdate, Jan. 8, “delves into the dreams that shape us: Connie trying to learn Chinese and bridge the gap in her heritage, KiM transforming a quest for physical perfection into a profound lesson in self-love and integrity, and Keith using a rock concert to connect with his teen-age children.”
In Quest, airdate, Jan. 22, Cheng and Alvarado Núñez said Zalaikha’s bravery means “a new start in the US; Karen finds the nuns who sheltered her Jewish mother in Nazi-occupied Poland, and Meg learns to understand brutalized Colombian farmers through her daughter’s eyes.
“We wrap the month on a high note with Soundcheck, airing Jan. 29, exploring the intersection of identity and art with Melissa’s opening act for Bob Dylan, Jeffrey’s epiphany in a small concert in Iowa, and Jason’s journey to finding his voice despite an abusive father,” Cheng and Alvarado Núñez said.
By sharing these stories, they said it is their “conscious decision to entertain, educate and empower viewers.
“In a world where divisions proliferate, ‘Stories from the Stage’ reminds us of the enduring impact of a well-told story to unify us,” Cheng and Alvarado Núñez said. “We invite viewers to tune in, get moved, and see the world differently. Let’s make 2024 a year of storytelling that brings us closer, one story at a time.”
Audiences can view “Stories from the Stage” on World, worldchannel.org and the PBS App. Individual stories and exclusive digital content can be viewed on Facebook and YouTube.
The series can also be experienced via podcast with “Stories from the Stage: The Podcast.”
