For nearly ten years, The Raven Narratives have served as a powerful source of connection and creativity in our region. This December, they return to the stage with a new theme and renewed energy—on December 5 at the Sunflower Theatre in Cortez and December 6 at the Durango Arts Center. What started in 2016 as a simple idea—real people sharing true stories onstage—has grown into one of the most cherished storytelling traditions in Southwest Colorado. Co-founded by storytellers Sarah Syverson and Tom Yoder, the series has featured countless voices, fostering a community built on courage, vulnerability, humor, and truth.
Each Raven Narratives evening invites everyday people to share meaningful moments from their lives—six minutes, no notes, no politics, no soapboxes. Just honest, first-person storytelling centered around a central theme. Over the years, these themes have covered a wide emotional range: Wild Places, Baggage, Exposure, Love, First/Last, Re-Emergence, and Secrets, among others. After a pause during the pandemic, the series’ return in recent years has rekindled that spark of shared humanity that only live storytelling can bring.
This season, the Raven Narratives explore the theme GATHERING(S)—a concept that feels especially meaningful in a time when people are craving genuine connection. Stories inspired by gatherings—familial, communal, unexpected, celebratory, or bittersweet—promise an evening filled with heart, humor, and the kind of quiet revelations that linger long after the stage lights fade.
On a personal note, I’m excited to see this storytelling tradition thriving once more in our area. My husband Charles and I have become avid fans of The Moth on NPR—those intimate, courageous, beautifully human stories that stay with you. The idea that we can experience something just as powerful right here in Durango and Cortez feels like a gift to our creative community. The Raven Narratives offer that same magic: beautifully crafted storytelling that reminds us how much we share, even when our lives are very different.
As the series approaches a decade of performances, the Raven Narratives continue to provide what audiences value most—genuine stories told from the heart, highlighting the messy, meaningful, and unforgettable moments that define us as humans. In a region as creative and community-focused as ours, these storytelling evenings feel perfectly at home.
SUNFLOWER THEATRE | DECEMBER 5 & DURANGO ARTS CENTER | DECEMBER 6
Doors at 6:30 pm | Storytelling begins at 7:00 pm
Raven Narratives Story Slams follow these simple rules:
• Stories must be told in the first person
This is your experience, your voice, your perspective.
• Stories must be true
Share something real from your life, as you lived it.
• No soapboxing or political statements
This is a space for storytelling, not persuasion.
• No rants, raves, or explicit endorsements
Keep the tone authentic, respectful, and centered on your story.
• Stories must be told in up to 6 minutes
A focused story makes the evening powerful and keeps the rhythm alive.
• Stories should relate meaningfully to the theme: Gatherings
Reflect on how coming together—celebrating, remembering, grieving, connecting—shapes your story.
