Letters Aloud

We bring humanity to history… one letter at a time. Traveling the country since 2014, Letters Aloud has been delighting audiences with thought-provoking, relevant, hopeful, and humorous stories told through the real voices of real people via their personal correspondence. Letters Aloud – The Road to Fame brings together letters from every era that chart the course of luminaries from their humble beginnings to fame and chronicle their achievements and surprising lessons learned. With a core of acclaimed actors, live musical accompaniment, and a dynamic media backdrop, Letters Aloud is guaranteed to inspire!

Real letters, by real people, read by professional actors. 
Since 2014, we have traveled the country sharing intimate letters written by individuals who have left their mark on history. With a power to evoke both laughter and deep emotion, these letters serve as a testament to humanity's extraordinary ability to unearth hope, purpose, and happiness amidst life's challenges.
With live musical accompaniment and a dynamic slideshow, a Letters Aloud evening is guaranteed to inspire! (As one fan said, “It’s a modern day A Prairie Home Companion – but with letters.”)
 
About the Show
Sometimes, being famous is all about hard work. And sometimes, it’s an accident. In either case, fame teaches you things—about yourself, about hard work, about enjoyment, about pride, and about your impact on the world and others. From humble beginnings to adoring fans to looking back on achievements and lessons learned, we chart the course of celebrity through the correspondence of luminaries like Bruce Springsteen, Oprah Winfrey, Elvis Presley, Emily Dickinson, Bruce Lee, Marilyn Monroe, and Tom Hanks. Get a new perspective on fame from the famous in our most popular show!
 
Audience Quotes
“One of the best live events of the past 3 years! Loved it!”
“Last night’s presentation was the best hour of thought-provoking entertainment I’ve had in a long time. I feel honored that you included me.”
“Inspired. Laughter, and near shedding of tears, as we absorbed the letters.”
“Fantastic and informative show. Come back soon.”
“I had no idea an accordion made such wonderful sounds!”
“A wonderful and inspiring show.”

Paul Morgan Stetler - Curator & Host
Paul is the creator and curator of Letters Aloud and a co-founder and former Artistic Director of Seattle’s multi-award winning New Century Theatre Company. A well-known Seattle actor, Paul has appeared on numerous local stages over the past 20 years, including ACT Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Village Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Intiman Theatre, and Empty Space Theatre, as well as numerous regional theatres across the country. He holds a BA in English Literature at Cal State Northridge and an MFA in Theatre Arts from Penn State University.

Craig Wallace - Reader
Craig Wallace is an acclaimed actor known for his starring roles at Washington D.C.’s Shakespeare Theatre, the Folger and Round House Theatre. He is perhaps most widely known for his recurring role as Scrooge in the Ford’s Theatre production of A Christmas Carol, the 25-year veteran of the D.C. theater scene recently wowed audiences as Troy in August Wilson’s Fences, and Willy Loman in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman.

Kimberly Schraf - Reader
Kimberly Schraf is a frequent and popular actress in Washington, D.C., having appeared in Death of a Salesman and The Laramie Project at Ford’s Theatre; Vicuña and the American Epilogue and Oh, God at Mosaic; Measure for Pleasure and The Gigli Concert at Woolly Mammoth; Angels in America and Show Boat at Signature; Skylight, Frozen and all four of The Apple Family Plays at Studio; and Our Town and A Prayer for Owen Meany at Round House. As co-director of the Honors Conservatory at the Theatre Lab, she prepares adult actors for professional theater work, and as a Steering Committee member of Actors Arena, she helps to program workshops and roundtable discussions to enrich and deepen the acting craft of seasoned professionals.

Jamie Maschler - Musician
Jamie is a musician, music director, educator and an ambassador of the accordion. She is co-founder of the Brazilian bands Foleada, En Canto, and the accordion duo Creosote. She has been heard with the Pueblo Symphony, Seattle Symphony and Seattle Philharmonic. Jamie has also played the role of Nelly Friedman in Paula Vogel’s award winning play Indecent twice.