VOICES In The News
FEATURED ARTICLE
Photo by MALVCON/Margarita Alvarez
Women’s VOICES Theater Project Returns to Carbondale
Julianna O’Clair, Post Independent, May 21, 2026
As VOICES celebrates its 10th anniversary, the Women’s VOICES Theatre Project returns with When We Dance Again, an original devised theatre production created from the lived experiences of six Roaring Fork Valley women. Through powerful storytelling, movement, and personal reflection, the performance explores womanhood, motherhood, identity, resilience, and the connections that unite generations of women. Inspired by the vision of founder Barbara Reese, this biennial community theatre project remains one of VOICES’ most impactful and beloved programs.
Directed by Jennifer Hughes and developed through VOICES’ signature devised theatre process, When We Dance Again invites audiences into an intimate journey of courage, healing, and self-discovery. Featuring authentic stories from local women, the production highlights the transformative power of the arts, community storytelling, and women’s voices in the Roaring Fork Valley. This moving original performance celebrates connection, belonging, and the strength that emerges when people share their stories and are truly heard.
News
‘Womanhood isn’t something you receive’: VOICES puts women in the spotlight
Hannah Weaver, Aspen Public Radio, May 29, 2026
The biennial Women’s VOICES theater project returned to Carbondale's Thunder River Theater for an unforgettable, deeply moving evening of community storytelling. After weeks of telling and shaping their stories, six local women braved the stage to share raw, powerful monologues exploring the diverse spectrum of womanhood—from the unexpected complexities of caretaking and navigating motherhood as a transgender woman, to breaking generational silence. By amplifying these authentic, local perspectives, the performance standardly reminded us of the profound healing that happens when we practice vulnerability, share our lived experiences, and lift up one another's voices.
Immigrant students share memories from home in new mural at Carbondale Middle School
Regan Mertz, Aspen Public Radio, May 5, 2026
The Hero’s Journaling Project by VOICES empowers immigrant youth in the Roaring Fork Valley to share their stories through art, storytelling, and creative expression. In partnership with Carbondale Middle School, students from Guatemala, El Salvador, Colombia, Mexico, and Honduras transformed their memories, cultures, and journeys into a vibrant community mural, highlighting the power of arts education, cultural identity, and immigrant voices to build connection, confidence, and belonging.
Hannah Weaver / Aspen Public Radio
Archives
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![Nuestras VOCES photo Bianca Godina consoles a younger self]()
A community finds refuge onstage
The bilingual devised theater production “Nuestras Voces: Anhelo un Café con Estrellas” recently played to a packed house at the Ute Theater in Rifle. By weaving local Latino stories of migration, identity, and resilience into a powerful collaborative performance, the project beautifully demonstrated that reclaiming visibility is a profound act of community courage.
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VOICES Radio Hour: Love at a distance
Colorado-based journalist and radio manager Samuel Bernal reflects on his history of long-distance romance, ultimately revealing his most enduring and complex long-distance relationship is with Mexico itself. Through this poignant reflection on migration, heritage, and identity, he explores the bittersweet reality of loving, missing, and maintaining a connection to his homeland from afar.
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Rhythm of Reflection
The Sage VOICES Theater Project returns to the Thunder River Theatre Company with “The Rhythm of Reflection,” an original intergenerational production bridging local elders and youth. Through the collaborative art of devised theater, this unique ensemble crafted a performance from their own memories and adventures, proving that deliberate conversation can dissolve generational silos and foster profound community connection.
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Reflection: Queer VOICES broke me open
The latest Queer VOICES production, “Authentically Versus,” brought a powerful ensemble of seven local storytellers to the stage to share raw, original narratives of identity, heartbreak, and resilience. Through the supportive process of devised theater, participants used brave vulnerability to explore the complexities of the queer experience, beautifully illustrating the profound community connection and healing that happens when we embrace our authentic selves.
REal Stories, Real People, REal Impact
At VOICES, storytelling is how we build community. Through our programs In School, In Community, and On Stage, we create space for people to be heard, honored, and remembered. We do this by providing a page, a canvas, a microphone, and a stage, to discover the layers of humanity within us and the community. Join us in bringing these stories to life.