The Uptown Arts Bar - Kansas City

All through this journal, we've described the cooperation found in our storytelling community here in Jonesborough, our sponsors, and especially the Town of Jonesborough. From the very beginning, the National Storytelling Network office was supportive of our road trip efforts, sharing vital contact information that enabled us to book the venues and meet with fellow guild members in four states. What we accomplished still seems almost mythic to those of us who went, and our sense of being a performance troupe continues.

Arriving in Kansas City, we thought the Uptown Arts Bar would be our last gig of the trip. Our new NSN interim director, Robert Buenavitas helped us secure this gig, we were all excited about. Located downtown in the middle of tiny shops and restaurants, the place had an aura that was enchanting from the moment we walked in. The bar is out front, but is divided from the stage hall in the back by an improbable stairway. A charming touch of whimsy, at first I thought it led to nowhere, but not so - there were necessary rooms at the top of those steps, and woe to anyone who couldn't navigate them...

The River and Prairie Storytelling Guild's Steve Otto and others came to hear us and to tell, as we advertised the concert as an olio, but first, they wanted to hear the Jonesborough Kansas City Road trip Troupe tell. It was great fun to tell stories in that black space, as all one could see were the faces nearby. Further back the hall was filled with a wonderfully diverse group of listeners, and later, we discovered the concert was broadcast into the bar as well. The photo below was taken at the Uptown Arts Bar in Kansas City, MO.

Troupe members are decked out in our matching blue vests.