Stories from the Stage Season 1, Episode 7: Suitcase Stories Part 1

1

Last Dance

A last dance may be at the end or beginning of something big: Sandi narrowly misses getting cast for Broadway’s A Chorus Line; Mark reluctantly returns home to Kentucky for an extraordinary reunion; and Jean dances his way out of a death sentence in Haiti. Three storytellers, three interpretations of LAST DANCE, hosted by Theresa Okokon.

27 min

2

Chance

Chance could mean possibilities, risk or opportunity: Rodrigue seeks asylum from the Congo, Korean-American Eson is held at gunpoint in her family’s store and Christine donates a kidney to a stranger. Three storytellers, three interpretations of CHANCE, hosted by Wes Hazard.

27 min

3

Welcome to the Neighborhood

Neighborhoods are forever in flux: Paloma searches for identity in a Dominican neighborhood; Mark becomes unwelcomed in his community; and Norah discovers great neighbors who teach life lessons. Three storytellers, three interpretations of WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, hosted by Wes Hazard.

27 min

4

Tickets, Please!

Tickets mean opportunity, but for what? Dan describes being smuggled out as an infant from Mexico; Courtney finds freedom during a trip to Cuba; and Michael confronts his biases on a flight after 9/11. Three storytellers, three interpretations of TICKETS, PLEASE!, hosted by Theresa Okokon.

27 min

5

Oops

Surprise! Kemp describes a life-changing moment at a stop sign; Justin discovers the triumph and agony of a one-wheel ride; and Jannelle must confess that magic is not always real. Three storytellers, three interpretations of OOPS, hosted by Theresa Okokon.

27 min

6

Hell or High Water

Stories of survival and determination. Ana describes her last night at home before leaving Cuba forever; Jackson’s son catches his first fish by any means necessary; and Julie’s international love affair gets tested during "cabin fever." Three storytellers, three interpretations of HELL OR HIGH WATER, hosted by Wes Hazard.

27 min

7

Suitcase Stories Part 1

Coming to America. U-Meleni from Zimbabwe “sows seeds” of renewal in the United States; Grace shares how a green station wagon helped her family become Americans; and Kevin challenges his assumptions about others. Three storytellers, three interpretations of SUITCASE STORIES, hosted by Theresa Okokon.

27 min

8

Suitcase Stories Part 2

Immigrant stories of yesterday and today. Landscape architect Nano flees Syria to pursue her musical dream; Szifra discovers the hidden meaning of her name; and Abhishek becomes a meat-eating American. Three storytellers, three interpretations of SUITCASE STORIES, hosted by Theresa Okokon.

27 min

9

Holiday Horror

Holidays can be a source of joy, stress...or horror! Cyndi lands a gig as one of Santa’s elves and uncovers a gruesome reality; Ekhlas waits hungrily as calamity creates an epically long Ramadan fast; and Matt gathers his courage at Thanksgiving to stand up to his girlfriend’s tough as nails dad. Plus, Wes Hazard shares a hilarious Christmas story involving his younger self.

27 min

10

Kitchen Confessions

For some, cooking is a refuge. And for others, it's a salty nightmare. Javed pits his meager cooking skills against those of his chef father; Alan explores cooking with a romantic partner; and Executive Chef Karen relives a restaurant shift from hell. Three storytellers, three interpretations of KITCHEN CONFESSIONS, hosted by Theresa Okokon.

27 min

11

Make It or Break It

Personal challenges come in all shapes and sizes. Michele turns lemons into lemonade when she gets busted moonlighting during an internship; Matthew spins a nightmare date into a life lesson and lasting friendships; and Mikelina Googles her way to combining two worlds that seem impossible to mesh. Three storytellers, three interpretations of MAKE IT OR BREAK IT, hosted by Wes Hazard.

27 min

12

School Days: Teacher Tales

For teachers and students alike, school is a place to struggle mightily. Ben works to transform swooning preschool girls into dragon-slaying warrior princesses; Donna finishes the school year with Sister-ly help; and Crystal climbs the ladder of higher education, aided by secret admirers. Three storytellers, three interpretations of SCHOOL DAYS, hosted by Theresa Okokon.

27 min

13

School Days: Student Tales

Remember school? It’s where kids learn and where knowledge sometimes comes only after pain. Cecilia battles a learning disability that leaves everyone and Cecilia herself baffled; Anna reluctantly welcomes a newcomer who struggles socially; and Furquaan finds that violent solutions have a down side. Three storytellers, three interpretations of SCHOOL DAYS, hosted by Theresa Okokon.

27 min

14

Deadly Sins

Most often, we do the right thing. But sometimes, our switch gets flipped and we lose control. Kevin goes postal in the post office; Ashley's patience is tested by FEMA after a flood in her community; and Khuyen has his life stolen by a life-tracking app. Three storytellers, three interpretations of DEADLY SINS, hosted by Theresa Okokon.

27 min

15

Take a Stand

Sometimes, you have to stick up for yourself, or somebody else...even when that little voice tells you it’s safer to keep quiet. Rev. Mariama gets down and dirty for a cause; Myles stops ignoring his stutter; and Tereza speaks up about her undocumented status. Three storytellers, three interpretations of TAKE A STAND, hosted by Theresa Okokon.

27 min

16

Stand Up

There are those moments when you have to stand up and speak out, changing everything. Andy takes his political activism door-to-door; Katie discovers how compassion can cross the language barrier; and Yvette battles exclusion by redefining her Blackness. Three storytellers, three interpretations of STAND UP, hosted by Theresa Okokon.

27 min

17

Holiday Surprise

Holidays happen every year but they can bring an element of surprise. Lani’s Thanksgiving cooking mistake becomes a family secret; Phil calls out the monks to break up a street fight between witches and preachers; and Diana leans in for a special New Year’s kiss. Three storytellers, three interpretations of HOLIDAY SURPRISE, hosted by Wes Hazard.

27 min

18

Loves Me, Loves Me Not

Is there anything more fickle than the human heart in love? Joe’s marriage proposal turns to be more unexpected than planned; Lauren’s broken heart is held together by one hundred women; and Aaron faces his fear of adventure to embrace his wife’s spirit. Three storytellers, three interpretations of LOVES ME, LOVES ME NOT, hosted by Wes Hazard.

27 min

19

Road Trip

Road Trip! On the highway where anything can happen, take a ride on a journey that changed everything. Melissa tells us about the night she opened for Bob Dylan; Suzanne drives home with a feisty ram; and Akshobh discovers hospitality and humanity in the wilderness. Three storytellers, three interpretations of ROAD TRIP, hosted by Wes Hazard.

27 min

20

In the Dog House

Paying tribute to our canine companions. Robin puts it all on the line for her dream job: a gig on the Oscar Mayer® Weinermobile; the love of two dogs enriches Lina’s life after she is left blind; and Ron comes to understand a tragedy through the loss of his dog. Three storytellers, three interpretations of IN THE DOG HOUSE, hosted by Mike Tow.

27 min

21

Uh Oh

“It seemed like a good idea at the time...” Paul fears for his job at Polaroid after posting a saucy FAQ; Ken and his three friends discover that staging a public fight can have hair-raising consequences; and Bruce reveals the thrills - and the ultimate downside - of a teenage shoplifting spree. Three storytellers, three interpretations of UH OH, hosted by Mike Tow.

27 min

22

Wanderlust

It’s nearly universal - to explore the world and in doing so, learning something about yourself along the way. Julian finds the meaning of home on a road trip to Ohio; Jeffrey delivers a perfect show to a deserted bar in Des Moines, Iowa; and Renata goes ghost hunting in Kentucky and discovers we all have a zany side. Three storytellers, three interpretations of WANDERLUST, hosted by Wes Hazard.

27 min

23

You Can't Pick Your Family

Recalling the moments that redefine the meaning of family. Alison is reunited with her distant dad after his Alzheimer’s diagnosis; Rose is left homeless when her father gambles away the family home; and Tae learns about acceptance & love while choosing a musical instrument. Three storytellers, three interpretations of YOU CAN'T PICK YOUR FAMILY, hosted by Wes Hazard.

27 min