Is karma immutable? Can we change our perspective, our outlook on life and the meaning of past experiences? Frank explores the possibility of a life that isn't "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short," but rather rich and kind, forgiving and full of promise. Frank's careers run the gamut from construction site go-fer to professor of English, from bridge tender to wedding photographer. As he cruises through his golden years, he looks for ways to brighten each day.

URBAN TELLERS June 7, 2019

SO IT GOES

Frank Engel live at The Old Church Concert Hall in Portland, OR

Portland Story Theater, hosted by Lawrence Howard and Lynne Duddy

pdxstorytheater.org

This is the story of growing up in a beautiful and isolated place in the country, and a series of childhood encounters that obstructed that beauty for many years. But new experiences of love and connection helped me find my way back home. A psychologist in private practice, Amanda spends much of her free time hanging out with her cute husband and dogs, reading fun books, and thinking about taking a nap. This is her sixth story with Portland Story Theater.

URBAN TELLERS May 3, 2019

ALL THESE MOMENTS HAVE LED ME HERE

Amanda Starr live at The Old Church Concert Hall in Portland, OR

Portland Story Theater, hosted by Lawrence Howard and Lynne Duddy

pdxstorytheater.org

Niani has called Oregon home for more than half her life. She enjoys putzing around her garden, biking around town, and hiking with anyone who is willing to pick up and go. If, heaven forbid, anything should happen to her, Niani hopes this story stands as proof of kinship to those she considers her family.

URBAN TELLERS May 3, 2019

ALL THESE MOMENTS HAVE LED ME HERE

Niani Dünner live at The Old Church Concert Hall in Portland, OR

Portland Story Theater, hosted by Lawrence Howard and Lynne Duddy

pdxstorytheater.org

Oksana grew up in Russia and moved to Portland with her husband and three children in 2016. It was a big change in every aspect of their lives. In Russia she was a lawyer. Here, in America, she started her career again. She joined Russian Oregon Social Services as a Sexual Assault Advocate in 2017 and was promoted to the Program Manager position within a year. As an immigrant herself she is passionate about helping

people from the Russian-speaking community to build new lives here. She wants them to feel safe in the US and learn how to embrace a new culture.

URBAN TELLERS May 3, 2019

ALL THESE MOMENTS HAVE LED ME HERE

Oksana Davletshina live at The Old Church Concert Hall in Portland, OR

Portland Story Theater, hosted by Lawrence Howard and Lynne Duddy

pdxstorytheater.org

Matt's bi-coastal, mono-cultural journey to Portland was a meandering path, which led to a personal reckoning concerning his place in the world, and ultimately his past, present, and future self. He is a New York native, whose happy accident of landing in Portland has opened his horizon to a world of possibilities in life, work, and personal growth. He’s called Portland “home” since 2013, but in reality it always has been - he just didn’t know it yet.

URBAN TELLERS May 3, 2019

ALL THESE MOMENTS HAVE LED ME HERE

Matt Coburn live at The Old Church Concert Hall in Portland, OR

Portland Story Theater, hosted by Lawrence Howard and Lynne Duddy

pdxstorytheater.org

Duncan shares a story of love, pain, and discovery that helped him to find the life he was meant to lead. Duncan is a poet, educational consultant, faculty in the Portland State College of Education. He is also a longtime member of ECKANKAR, Path of Spiritual Freedom.

URBAN TELLERS May 3, 2019

ALL THESE MOMENTS HAVE LED ME HERE

Duncan Wyndham live at The Old Church Concert Hall in Portland, OR

Portland Story Theater, hosted by Lawrence Howard and Lynne Duddy

pdxstorytheater.org

MAY THE NARRATIVE BE WITH YOU®

Bill has been living in two countries for the last 40 years. He says, “It’s like having one foot on the dock and the other on the boat.” As he approaches retirement and prepares for this next stage of life, he has chosen to embrace his ‘inner artist.’ Tonight marks his debut as an Urban Teller with Portland Story Theater. From an early age, Bill believed he would never be able swim, so when life presented him with an opportunity to overcome the fear he had carried for more than 50 years, he determined to challenge his fear by making a long distance swim that changed his self-image and outlook on life.

URBAN TELLERS May 3, 2019

ALL THESE MOMENTS HAVE LED ME HERE

Bill Stenson live at The Old Church Concert Hall in Portland, OR

Portland Story Theater, hosted by Lawrence Howard and Lynne Duddy

pdxstorytheater.org

MAY THE NARRATIVE BE WITH YOU®

This personal story of a Russian immigrant is about how hard work and persistence can bring personal and professional success. Oksana Davletshina came to America with her husband and 3 children in November 2016 seeking asylum. It was a big change in every aspect of their life. In Russia she was a Juris Doctorate (JD) in Law, her husband was a judge. They were happy and successful. In America they started their life again, doing dirty jobs to provide for their kids. But, working hard and with all their hearts, they have overcome all challenges.

URBAN TELLERS April 5, 2019

IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE SHOW

Oksana Davletshina live at The Old Church Concert Hall in Portland, OR

Portland Story Theater, hosted by Lawrence Howard and Lynne Duddy

pdxstorytheater.org

MAY THE NARRATIVE BE WITH YOU®

This is a story of a little girl who becomes the grand hero by saving the day. Luzi Moreno Gilson was brought to the US at age 16. She has lived in Oregon since then traveling the world at any chance she gets, usually in the summer. She teaches 2nd grade Spanish immersion at PPS.

URBAN TELLERS April 5, 2019

IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE SHOW

Luzi Moreno Gilson live at The Old Church Concert Hall in Portland, OR

Portland Story Theater, hosted by Lawrence Howard and Lynne Duddy

pdxstorytheater.org

MAY THE NARRATIVE BE WITH YOU®

Katerina Perfilova is a web-developer from Russia, who moved to America only three years ago. She tells the story of one of her unusual projects that occurred 10 years ago in Moscow. This story involves Russian gangsters, precious treasure, difficult tasks, and human values… and a happy ending. ***All names and locations are fake. If you recognize yourself, keep calm. Don't try this at home! Visit her website:

www.websputnik.biz

(Spoiler: this project is NOT in the portfolio)

URBAN TELLERS April 5, 2019

IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE SHOW

Katerina Ingraham Perfilova live at The Old Church Concert Hall in Portland, OR

Portland Story Theater, hosted by Lawrence Howard and Lynne Duddy

pdxstorytheater.org

MAY THE NARRATIVE BE WITH YOU®