The Bloom Stage and Poetry in the Boro return with Multi-Genre Storytelling Show to Historic Rugby

Titled "Still," this live, multi-genre show promises an evening of storytelling, poetry, live music, and art.

Doors open at 6:30 PM Eastern Time, with the performance beginning at 7:00 PM. 

Themed around water, movement, and wintering, "Still" draws inspiration from the frozen hush of winter, the warmth of a crackling fire, and the quiet hope of daffodils emerging through snow. Audiences will be invited to explore the interplay of stillness and motion, the gentle transitions that shape our lives, and the transformative power of reflective spaces where time slows or even pauses.

The program will feature a dynamic lineup of artists, including the photography of Knoxville’s Sam Stapleton and performances by Circle Modern Dance founder Mark Lamb, musician Josie James, Big South Fork poet Cheyanne Leonardo, and others.

The show will be hosted at Historic Rugby's Rebecca Johnson Theatre, located at 1331 Rugby Parkway, Rugby, TN, inside the Visitor Centre. Following the performance, attendees are invited to enjoy libations and light refreshments, continuing the evening's celebration of artistic expression.

Admission is free, with donations encouraged to support Historic Rugby’s ongoing preservation efforts. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

In addition to curated performances, a few open mic slots will be available during the event for poems or stories related to the theme. Interested participants are encouraged to sign up for a 4-minute slot by emailing poetryintheboro@gmail.com.

For more information, please visit https://karajkemp.org/bloom-stage-storytelling/ or contact Kara Kemp.

About The Bloom Stage:

The Bloom Stage is an on-going series of live performances celebrating the ability of art to honor both the diversity and commonality of human experience, and to satisfy a vital human need for connection. Founded in 2017, it seeks to present established and emerging storytellers, poets, performers, and artists and to encourage unity among communities whose stories often go unheard.

About Poetry in the Boro:

Poetry in the Boro is a monthly open mic and featured reading series hosted in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Founded in 2016, its mission is to bring poetry to the community and to offer a place for the community’s creative, unique voices. Events are free and open to the public, thanks in part to sponsor MTSU Write, a non-degree creative writing program that hosts events, facilitates writing groups, and offers from-home mentoring to writers of all genres across the nation.

About Historic Rugby:

Originally founded in 1880 as the Rugby colony by British author Thomas Hughes, Historic Rugby, Inc. is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit Organization established in 1966. Its aim is to protect, preserve, and interpret the natural and man-made, historic resources and heritage of the British Isles and Appalachia. Rugby invites you to stay and indulge in the bliss of a living Victorian village and lodging in Tennessee. Learn more at historicrugby.org.