Coming in October

Part of our Season of Celebration!

Come walk down memory lane with the Stone Soup Troupe at our October 16 Fellowship Dinner.  We will have brats and burgers at 5:30 p.m. followed by the program at 6:00.

More about the Stone Soup Troupe:

In May 1998 the idea for a Readers' Theater Group was conceived.  Thanks to the encouragement of some members of All Saints of the Desert Episcopal Church of Sun City, Nancy Esty, the wife of a retired United Methodist minister, decided to use her gifts to organize a group.  The group would consist of persons interested in reading brief selections of short stories and poetry from classic and contemporary literature woven around a theme.  The presentations would be divided into sections with musical interludes which would offer time for reflection.  Presentations would be around 55 minutes.

The organizational meeting was held in September 1998 at the home of Nancy and Marshall Esty.  Eleven persons were present.  From this group came a pianist, production manager, eight readers and director.  Nancy Esty became the director of the group newly named "The Stone Soup Troupe."  The membership of the group continued to change slightly from year to year as some members left and new members entered.  In the beginning the Troupe was housed in a single church but in the year 2008 expanded its Ecumenical focus with members from several congregations.  It is now based at Church of the Palms in Sun City.

The butter fly is a Christian symbol.  The Stone Soup Troupe decided to wear a butterfly pin to proclaim that from the "old and familiar" readings and music arise new growth, insight and relevance for our life today.  The Stone Soup Troupe's name is derived from an old folktale which tells of a traveler who arrives in a community one day and seeks a bowl of soup to appease his hunger.  Being given a stone instead of bread, the traveler borrows a pot, draws water and puts the stone on to boil.  As community residents come over to the boiling pot and ask to taste the soup, they each have some item they are sure will make the soup even better.  As they add to the soup, the aroma attracts others who add still more items.  Eventually, all the participants are nourished by the "stone soup" to which they have contributed and helped to prepare.  The traveler packs up the stone and moves on.

The purpose of the Stone Soup Troupe continues to be to uplift the spirits of all and to encourage the reading of good literature.  The Troupe hope to nourish all those who will feast on the readings they offer.  The group has performed and will continue to perform for various clubs, Life Care Centers, churches and temples, libraries, the Art Museum of the Northwest Valley, country clubs and retirement complexes.

For the year of 2013-2014, the Stone Soup Troupe will read poems and short stories around these themes:

• October and November - "Memories Grow in Value."  Making memories, sharing memories, and acting on your memories.
• December - "The Holiday Season 2013."  Celebrating the holidays with friends, the spirit of Santa Claus, and the giving and receiving of gifts.
• February, March, and April - "Finding Your Hero."  Heroes in the past, heroes in recent times and unnoticed heroes.

The Stone Soup Troupe enters its 16th season entertaining audiences with readings that are humorous as well as though-provoking - a veritable feast for the mind and soul.