“I think it’s really important because you’ll come across moments of hate speech in the Valley. It’s about having events where people can come together and not only celebrate, but learn.”
After initial plans for the fall season fell through for Canmore-Pine Tree Players, the decision was made to move in a different direction while helping make Bow Valley a more inclusive space.
The Coming Out Monologues will be performed at Canmore Miners Union Hall on November 18th and 19th at 7:30pm. It’s not the first time it’s been performed in the Bow Valley.
“The Coming Out Monologue has been around for a while.
Pine Tree Players Board Director Maxine Bennett said she was a member of the Coming Out Monologue at Bow Valley several years ago.
Bennett, Board Director of Pine Tree Players, said: A public voice to put their story out together.
Coming Out Monologue is an opportunity for the LGBTQ+ community to share their stories and experiences through various performance modes.
“It can be a monologue, a song, a dramatization, any way to express and understand their stories and experiences,” says Tweddell. “It’s not a scripted event. It’s not about memorizing lines. It’s a collaborative process. As a group, participants do a performance workshop.”
The event featured four monologues and others taking various creative paths.
“There’s a monologue, there’s two short plays, there’s a musician, there’s an acrobat,” said Bennett. “One of our performers girlfriends joked that this is coming out he’s a cabaret.”
Hosting events like Coming Out Monologue is important to making Bow Valley a more inclusive place. Performances are also useful for those who have not yet appeared in public.
“Invite people to interact with that part of the community,” says Bennett. “For those who don’t want to share their stories, it’s important to see the experiences of others in the community.”
Bennett added that the performance is not just for the LGBTQ+ community, but for those who enjoy theater and want to learn more about and support the queer community.
“I think it’s really important because you’ll come across moments of hate speech in the Valley,” Bennett said. “Hold an event where people can come together and not only celebrate, but learn.”
For Pine Tree Players, which has been in operation since 1978, providing space for The Coming Out Monologues has also helped the organization become more inclusive. Washroom signs are now gender-neutral, and pride flags have been hoisted at Miners Hall throughout his November.
“For us, it was great to hear voices and better understand how to create a welcoming space for the community. Storytelling is a great way to share experiences and learnings that we have more in common than we think.”
The Coming Out Monologue will take place on November 18th and 19th at 7:30pm and doors will open at 7:00pm. Tickets are $25 and are available at www.pinetreeplayers.com.
