STORIES ON STAGE
Our next Stories on Stage is set for Sunday, November 12 at 7:30pm and features:
ODD ROD - THE JOURNEY
Odd Rod is a Perseverance Speaker who survived childhood traumas dealing with addiction, death, and neglect. He had an absent father and a mother who soon became addicted to crack cocaine after his birth and lost control and custody. At thirteen, the death of his 16-year-old brother caused him to be suicidal. He was in impoverished conditions where selling drugs seemed like the only option for him. He decided to go against the odds, take the road less traveled, and pursue his education. This decision later earned him a full scholarship to college (University of North Florida) where he created an open mic and a stage to tell his story. From this open mic, he realized that listeners were encouraged and inspired by his storied poems and started sharing more. He became sought after and began touring colleges with his work in 2012 after he showcased in NYC.
After receiving a full crowd standing ovation at a TEDxJacksonville event, he was asked to speak at a TEDxTuscaloosa 2017 event. It was there that he was awarded another scholarship to the University of Alabama, where he heightened his understanding of communication and graduated with awards and teaching experience. He is currently the 5-time voted APCA's Spokenword Artist of the Year and has performed in over 800 schools encouraging thousands of students to "Keep Going" beyond life's obstacles. Because of his experience, his audiences have gone from 6th graders to C-level executives. He's been commissioned to write and perform in several commercials, present impactful keynotes, and bring audiences to their feet with his words to close special occasions. Most recently, in 2021, Odd Rod graduated with his Masters Degree in Communications Studies from THE University of Alabama.
Odd Rod's use of authenticity in poetry, storytelling, and multimedia provides a dynamically engaging performance that will inspire you. His transparency, creative insight, and compassionate delivery are framed by both experience, education, and love!
About STORIES ON STAGE
Since the beginning of time, humans have connected over stories, which provide a means of entertainment and a method of teaching. While stories date back millennia, they have their place in modern society—and not least in dealing with life's every day challenges.
There’s a reason why you can forget a person’s name but can recount your conversation with them line-by-line. It’s not because you’re rude or simply bad with names. It’s because your brain is wired to learn through stories, recognize patterns and retain information thanks to a neatly packaged narrative. We want to share the stories of our community. We are thrilled to embark on this new quarterly offerings for local First Coast storytellers!
OUR SERIES EXTRAS, THEMES & DATES, FOR 2024: Details coming soon!
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March 2024
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May 2024
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September 2024
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November 2024
Typically held on Sunday evenings, our host works with our storytellers to craft stories around the quarterly theme. To apply to be a Storytellers for an upcoming event, email Info@TheatreJax.com.
For ticket information, go to our calendar. Tickets are included and no-cost to our All-Access Members.
