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#Julie Portman has been writing and teaching from the inspiration of people’s stories for more than twenty years. She has written seven plays based on people’s lives with hundreds of productions which have been presented in twenty-six states and five countries. Her play. Three Roses, has been broadcast on Public Television. Her most recent work, The Man Who Eats, has been created under a 2006 Fellowship in {Playwriting from the Virginia Commission for •the Arts. It explores the power of stories to nourish people. < A Rappahannock County resident for the past 21 years, Julie finds the beauty of living in
~ environment conducive to both writing
teadiing. In fact, this spring marks the 11th
in which Ki Theatre will present a series
Life Stories Workshops taught by Julie
tman in Washington, Virginia, t -“Over the years, many people from Rappahannock, Fauquier, Madison, Culpeper and JVftrren counties have participated in the Life •Stories Writing Workshops - about 300 people
our regions,” Portman estimates.
“We also have an equal amount of people
ting from DC and Maryland and parts much {farther away: California, British Columbia, New ^Mexico, Florida.” » The workshops are small and accommodate tthe many different goals that people have. Some 'participants are published writers and some are {people who have never written anything before. /There are farmers, lawyers, , psychologists, .moms, doctors, teachers, retirees, grandparents, {CEO’s. The unusual mix of people adds to the -.excitement of the workshops and provides inspiVration for everyone. Some people come to get {started writing their stories for children and grandchildren. Others are exploring a change in {the direction of their lives and work. People boome to learn how to capture memories of an {aging parent Some want to get rid of a writing {block. And there are participants who have spevdfic professional interests: how will telling or {writing good stories help my business? j Portman reflects, “Over the years we have <afl learned a great deal from one another in the . -{workshops. What’s consistently dear is that stohries are everyone’s language. It’s a common denominator that creates bridges of meaningful . communication regardless of our differences in
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