PRESS CONTACT
PORTLAND STORY THEATER
Lynne Duddy 
tellers@portlandstorytheater.com
Portland, Oregon USA 
voice (503) 284-2226
http://www.portlandstorytheater.com/
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 7, 2011
 
Features Editor
Arts Correspondent

Hello there. 
 
Attached is our press release describing the third annual fundraiser for Portland Story Theater and NestShare at the John Palmer House on Halloween weekend, October 28th and 29th, 2011.
 
Portland Story Theater is working together with the owners of the John Palmer House to raise funds for both Portland Story Theater, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that builds community through story, and for NestShare, a not-for-profit organization that provides rooms for out-of-town cancer patients receiving medical treatment in Portland.  
 
Please find attached: 
 
Press Release "Portland Story Theater presents Spellbound " for immediate release (Also included below as text) 
300pdi greyscale photo of the John Palmer House decorated for Halloween  
 
Thank you for supporting the work of Portland Story Theater by helping us get the word out. 
 
Please contact me at 503-284-2226 if you require any further information.  
Many thanks!
 
And may the narrative be with you, 
 
Lynne Duddy
Portland Story Theater, Inc.
503-284-2226
 
###
Portland Story Theater presents: “Spellbound” 

Celebrate the transformative power of Halloween by listening to spellbinding stories at The John 
Palmer House. This special fundraiser, in its third year, is hosted by Maggie Kolkena and Susan 
Dunn, with performances by Portland Story Theater’s Lawrence Howard, Penny Walter, Lynne 
Duddy, and Ryan Wolf Stroud, with special guest Julie Strozyk. 

Adults only: 21 and over. Costumes are encouraged. This is a fundraiser, so bring your 
checkbook to make additional contributions and to purchase items donated by Mississippi 
Avenue businesses. 

Only fifty tickets will be issued each night to allow small groups of listeners to rotate through the 
different rooms of this gorgeously restored (and reputedly haunted!) house until all the stories 
have been heard.

Event information:
The John Palmer House: http://www.johnpalmerhouse.com/
4314 N Mississippi Avenue in Portland
Advance Tickets Only $35 - $50 http://www.brownpapertickets.com/e/198869
Doors at 7pm, Show promptly at 8pm
No-host cash bar 
Complimentary hors d'oeuvres and spiced cider 
Portland Story Theater:  http://www.portlandstorytheater.com/

Lynne Duddy, Executive Director of Portland Story Theater, aims to beat last year’s fundraising 
effort to support the work of NestShare, a not-for-profit group that provides rooms for cancer 
patients for short stays, and Portland Story Theater, a 501(c)(3) arts organization building 
community through story. 

About the performers:
There are all kinds of master craftsmen in the world, Lawrence Howard is a master at crafting 
stories. One of the original co-founders of Portland Story Theater, he delivers stories that 
resonate with adult audiences.  This year he’ll be telling a story about the magical powers of a 
dead finger, oh my! He’s best known for his Armchair Adventurer series, and is remounting 
“Shackleton’s Antarctic Nightmare” this January. http://www.lawrencehoward.name/

Nobody tells a scary story quite like Penny Walter. Best known for her magical musical puppet 
productions for the younger set as Penny’s Puppet Productions, she unleashes her darker side 
at these shows at the John Palmer House. Penny always tells an original tale that’s sure to 
spook you long after the show is over. http://www.pennypuppets.com/

One of the original co-founders of Portland Story Theater, Lynne Duddy has been described by 
The Oregonian as “raw, revealing, vulnerable.” Storyteller, monologist, narrative artist ... whatever 
you want to call her, Lynne tells stories. And the stories she tells at The John Palmer House 
have proven to be eerie. This year she launches into a true story about hauntings in the mirror. 
http://www.lynneduddy.com/

Hailed by audiences as magnetic, insightful, and moving, Ryan Wolf Stroud draws upon an 
extraordinary range of experiences when telling stories. He is a regular performer with Portland 
Story Theater but this is his first tale of terror as part of the festivities at The John Palmer House. 
Ry is currently in the Conflict Resolution Graduate Program at Portland State University. 
http://www.ryanwolfstroud.com/

Scary stories are a specialty of Julie Strozyk, who has been enthralling listeners with her 
masterful storytelling since the tender age of 12.  Julie is an active member and champion bard 
of the Society for Creative Anachronism. She has also served as a board member for the 
Portland Storytelling Guild. This is her debut with Portland Story Theater. 
http://www.juliestrozyk.com/

The John Palmer House is a lavishly ornate Victorian that has been beautifully restored and 
updated by the current owners, Maggie and Susan. Construction on the John Palmer House was 
originally started in 1890. John Palmer’s wife died just four years after moving into the home 
(some say her ghost still haunts its halls.)  For many years the home was used as the 
Multnomah Conservatory of Music.  The Sauter Family purchased the John Palmer House in the 
late 60’s and used the home as a Bed & Breakfast. In 2008, the home was purchased for use by 
not-for-profit organizations.

NestShare grew out of personal experiences with cancer. The idea is simple. If you have some 
space to share, why not share it? The folks at John Palmer house know that the cancer journey 
is not for cowards. Maggie and Susan hope to do a little something to make the journey a bit 
less arduous. John Palmer House has rooms for cancer patients for short stays during radiation 
and/or chemotherapy treatment. They hope it is a little homier than a motel. 
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. We are a grass-roots arts organization, 
building awareness and appreciation for narrative. In late 2009, we established ourselves as a 
not-for-profit business. Portlanders are passionate about stories and live theater, and shared 
experiences. Portland Story Theater shares this passion. We use a unique collaborative 
approach to produce shows where people perform stories drawn from real-life experiences. We 
also offer workshops and one-on-one coaching for people who want to learn how to tell personal 
narratives.  http://www.portlandstorytheater.com/about.htm