Portland, October 29th. The Portland Story Theater gathered supporters for a haunting fundraiser at the historic John Palmer House on North Mississippi Avenue.

Lynne Duddy and Lawrence Howard Portland Story Theater Board

A select group of steely-nerved fans spent a dark and rainy night listening to spellbinding stories inside the rooms of the 1890 vintage home. This third annual fundraiser for the Portland Story Theatre, was hosted by John Palmer House owners, Maggie Kolkena and Susan Dunn. It featured performances by Lawrence Howard, Penny Walter, Lynne Duddy, and Ryan Wolf Stroud, with special guest Julie Strozyk.

Erin Holt and Travis Widner volunteered

Costumes were encouraged. Only 100 tickets were issued, over two nights, to allow small groups of listeners to rotate through the different rooms of the restored (and reputedly haunted) house until all the stories were heard.

Heidi Dahlin and Borden Beck

Claire Cofsky, Dennis Hopkins, Nicole Petz

Guests moved from cozy room to room to hear from storytellers in an intimate, but chilling, setting

Penny Walter scares guests with a ghostly tale

The John Palmer House is an extravagant example of early Portland architecture and is a venue for unique and intimate fundraisers.   Each year Maggie Kolkena and Susan Dunn work with up to twelve local not-for-profit organizations to help them raise funds by hosting their events.   http://www.johnpalmerhouse.com/John_Palmer_House/NestShare.html

Portland Story Theater was launched in 2004 to bring the urban community together to hear and tell tales that stimulate the mind and rouse the heart. It is a grass-roots arts organization, building awareness and appreciation for narrative. In late 2009, it became a not-for-profit business.

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