Introduction to Story Theater

Doug Stevenson
Cornelia Press (2005)
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (1/07)

Doug Stevenson walks his listeners through the steps of successfully choosing, developing, and delivering story telling in “Introduction to Story Theater.”  This tele-seminar is a priceless tool for public speaking.  The tele-seminar comes on 2 CDs along with an invaluable workbook. 

The difference between Story Theater and predictable storytelling is the way you connect with the audience.  Most storytellers speak in the past tense, narrating the story.  With the Story Theater method you relive the story, bringing it to life for your audience.  You use detail, sensation and reaction to convey the images to your listeners.  “Story Theater is a synthesis of acting comedy, improvisation, storytelling and business presentation skills rolled into one.” 

There are five principles of Story Theater: 
            1. Step In and Out of the story.  Stepping in is the present tense stepping out is past tense.  Using both brings the story to life and captivates the audience.
2.  Use more than verbal language.  There are times when silence speaks more than words.  It’s the space between the words that makes the difference between boring and enchanting. 
3.  Memorize and script your stories, rambling will lose your audience.
4.  Each story should contain a point. 
5. Each story teller is both an actor and a teacher.

Stevenson leads the listener through “The types of language speakers rely on, how to choose a story, and types of stories.”  The workbook helps the listener to choose a story and to develop it.

There are 9 steps which Stevenson discusses in great detail:
1. Set the Scene.
2. Begin the journey.
3. Introduce the characters.
4. Encounter the obstacle.
5. Overcome the obstacle.
6. Resolve the story.
7. Make the point.
8. Ask the question.
9. Repeat the point. 

Doug Stevenson is obviously a very gifted speaker.  His voice is pleasant to listen to and he explains his Story Theater method simply enough that all can benefit from it.  He includes pointers on many subjects including mistakes that speakers tend to make.  There are 2 CDs in this set.  The workbook is superbly laid out to assist the speaker in preparing their presentation.  I intend to make the most of this set and use it to develop my next story.  I highly recommend this set to all speakers.  No matter what capacity of public speaking you may be in, you will benefit from this series, “Introduction to Story Theater.”