Program
November 18, 2022
November 18, 2022
Stories are the currency of community.
They tear down walls,
unite cultures,
and help people realize they are more alike than different,
all while celebrating what is unique to you.
From How to Tell a Story
by Meg Bowles, Catherine Burns, Jenifer Hixon,
Sara Austin Jenness, and Kate Tellers
They tear down walls,
unite cultures,
and help people realize they are more alike than different,
all while celebrating what is unique to you.
From How to Tell a Story
by Meg Bowles, Catherine Burns, Jenifer Hixon,
Sara Austin Jenness, and Kate Tellers
ACT ONE
Untitled. A David Cone Story
Cal Hutson
Seeing Past the Rats
Debra Jarvis
Blood Curdling Screams
Malonda Hutson
Frozen in Time
Bruce Jeffrey
Intermission—15 to 20 minutes
ACT TWO
Honey, I Poisoned the Kids
Mark Matthews
Why Your Doctor Is Always Running Late
Melissa Matthews
Be Careful What You Wish For
Jon Bowles
Proceeds from tonight’s event will go to
Imago Performing Arts.
To learn more: www.imagoarts.org
or follow us on Instagram: @ImagoArtsKC
Storyteller Bios
Jon Bowles
Jon is the founding pastor of Beggars Table, a church in the Kansas City Crossroads District which, among other things, runs and operates an art gallery. He has written for multiple journals and in 2010 published his first book, Art & Faith.
He is married to his wife, Kari, and for the first time in years, both of their children, Palmer and Elli, are away at school. Jon and Kari have the TV to themselves!
Cal Hutson
Cal is a father of three, husband of one, and is a local business owner. He has a background in journalism, enjoys documentaries, plays guitar badly, and loves writing bios about himself in the third person.
Malonda Hutson
Malonda began talking at an early age and has not stopped since. An alum of H.E.A.R.T. Speech and Theatre, she has gone on to start three businesses and three kids with her husband Cal. They make their home in Grain Valley where the bathrooms are almost always predictable.
Debra Jarvis
Debra Jarvis has been a leadership consultant with Visioning Values for the last 15 years working with public safety and nonprofit organizations (www.visioningvalue.com). She’s also a facilitator for Cornell University’s online diversity and inclusion certificate programs. Debra’s been married to the love of her life for 28 years, has 7 step-children and 7 grandchildren—all of whom have taught her that unconditional love and unity are the most important gifts we’ve been given.
Bruce Jeffrey
Bruce graduated from the Air Force Academy, has flown B-52's, and taught college English. He has worked as a manager, trainer, and consultant. He’s also known as “The Husband of the Director.” He has three sons, three daughters-in-law, and three strong and courageous granddaughters.
Mark Matthews
Mark is a retired anesthesiologist who loves telling stories of his many adventures. Now that he’s not working, he uses his stories instead of drugs to put people to sleep.
Melissa Matthews
Melissa is also a retired doctor. She has many stories about her patients that she cannot tell and many stories about her kids that she is forbidden to tell. Stories about her own adventures, however, and stories about her husband are still in play.
Jon is the founding pastor of Beggars Table, a church in the Kansas City Crossroads District which, among other things, runs and operates an art gallery. He has written for multiple journals and in 2010 published his first book, Art & Faith.
He is married to his wife, Kari, and for the first time in years, both of their children, Palmer and Elli, are away at school. Jon and Kari have the TV to themselves!
Cal Hutson
Cal is a father of three, husband of one, and is a local business owner. He has a background in journalism, enjoys documentaries, plays guitar badly, and loves writing bios about himself in the third person.
Malonda Hutson
Malonda began talking at an early age and has not stopped since. An alum of H.E.A.R.T. Speech and Theatre, she has gone on to start three businesses and three kids with her husband Cal. They make their home in Grain Valley where the bathrooms are almost always predictable.
Debra Jarvis
Debra Jarvis has been a leadership consultant with Visioning Values for the last 15 years working with public safety and nonprofit organizations (www.visioningvalue.com). She’s also a facilitator for Cornell University’s online diversity and inclusion certificate programs. Debra’s been married to the love of her life for 28 years, has 7 step-children and 7 grandchildren—all of whom have taught her that unconditional love and unity are the most important gifts we’ve been given.
Bruce Jeffrey
Bruce graduated from the Air Force Academy, has flown B-52's, and taught college English. He has worked as a manager, trainer, and consultant. He’s also known as “The Husband of the Director.” He has three sons, three daughters-in-law, and three strong and courageous granddaughters.
Mark Matthews
Mark is a retired anesthesiologist who loves telling stories of his many adventures. Now that he’s not working, he uses his stories instead of drugs to put people to sleep.
Melissa Matthews
Melissa is also a retired doctor. She has many stories about her patients that she cannot tell and many stories about her kids that she is forbidden to tell. Stories about her own adventures, however, and stories about her husband are still in play.
Special thanks from the folks at Imago
To Kelli Sallman, workshop instructor, Grammar Queen (sung to the tune of Abba’s Dancing Queen), wise counselor, word crafter extraordinaire, and friend.
To Jon Bowles, emcee, master storyteller, purveyor of deep thoughts, the spark for SpokenStorySlamKC, and partner-in-crime. Human connection? It’s your jam. Just sayin’.
To Jonathan Jones, videographer and most active fundraising board member ever—do you ever regret signing on for this gig? Not the SpokenStory gig. The Imago gig. Wait. Don’t answer that question.
To Karen Krahn, Imago’s executive director and Bobbie’s left hemisphere. Thank you for your selfless service and dedication!
To Bobbie Jeffrey, Imago's artistic director who keeps the ideas and energy rolling. Your enthusiasm and warm heart are unrivaled.
To Callie Johnson, timekeeper and music technician—very special thanks from Dogberry whose age is in and wit is out! Your time and expertise are precious, including the expertise with which you crafted our graphics.
To Maria Jones, Karen Krahn, and Rachel Ledbetter, our concessionaires—is plying our audience with spirits working? Are they laughing? Is emotion running high? Thank you for keeping tummies satisfied and whistles wetted.
To Jeremy Foster, sound technician—thank you for your willingness to help the story be heard!
To Bruce Jeffrey, Jonathan Jones, Maria Jones, Karen Krahn, Rachel Ledbetter, David and Becs Stone, and Doug Van Meter the freight elevator man (!) who gave so graciously of their time to set up and tear down. Stories matter, and thank you for making our story a part of yours.
To the good folks at Beggars Table who shared their space generously, with kind hospitality, and with open hearts.
To Jon Bowles, emcee, master storyteller, purveyor of deep thoughts, the spark for SpokenStorySlamKC, and partner-in-crime. Human connection? It’s your jam. Just sayin’.
To Jonathan Jones, videographer and most active fundraising board member ever—do you ever regret signing on for this gig? Not the SpokenStory gig. The Imago gig. Wait. Don’t answer that question.
To Karen Krahn, Imago’s executive director and Bobbie’s left hemisphere. Thank you for your selfless service and dedication!
To Bobbie Jeffrey, Imago's artistic director who keeps the ideas and energy rolling. Your enthusiasm and warm heart are unrivaled.
To Callie Johnson, timekeeper and music technician—very special thanks from Dogberry whose age is in and wit is out! Your time and expertise are precious, including the expertise with which you crafted our graphics.
To Maria Jones, Karen Krahn, and Rachel Ledbetter, our concessionaires—is plying our audience with spirits working? Are they laughing? Is emotion running high? Thank you for keeping tummies satisfied and whistles wetted.
To Jeremy Foster, sound technician—thank you for your willingness to help the story be heard!
To Bruce Jeffrey, Jonathan Jones, Maria Jones, Karen Krahn, Rachel Ledbetter, David and Becs Stone, and Doug Van Meter the freight elevator man (!) who gave so graciously of their time to set up and tear down. Stories matter, and thank you for making our story a part of yours.
To the good folks at Beggars Table who shared their space generously, with kind hospitality, and with open hearts.