Our Mission: Classes. Training. Performances.

Stories are the heart and soul of humanity. For millennia we have told stories around campfires; our children ask for them at bedtime; we seek to make sense of the world through them. Stories are part of the DNA that makes us human.

Stories take on many forms: oral, written, cinematic, staged. They are set to music or told in silence. They can be long tales or the shortest “picture is worth a thousand words” social media memes. They might even take place in imagined, virtual worlds.

And now, emerging into the spotlight: STORYZ, a creative and inventive performance art organization led by professionals with decades of experience in art, theater, academics, and business. STORYZ is focused upon a mission of economic redevelopment and community healing, and is proud to be a positive resource for Latrobe, Westmoreland county, local businesses, and the community.

The brainchild of John Paul Ritchey and Dr. Stephen A. Schrum, the goal is to create “the premier dramatic organization in Western Pennsylvania, achieved through high-quality performance events, connoisseurship, educational opportunities, and community stewardship.” That’s a lofty mission statement; but what this means in brief is that, as the old saying goes, “Time is short, and Art is long,” and artists and storytellers can lead the way to healing individuals and communities.

We hope that you will want to be a part of this new artistic endeavor.