Photos from Values Play Project Story Circles
What is the Values Play Project?
We are writing and producing a play about people in Minnesota affected by our nation’s culture wars. We are interested in the perspectives of people across a spectrum of political, economic, cultural, and demographic experiences.
Unlike many of Wonderlust’s projects, this one isn’t about a specific community that is ignored or misunderstood. Instead, it’s going to be about the conversations we’re having as a country that lead to misunderstanding and the parts of ourselves that we feel are misunderstood. We want to talk with people about the personal experiences they’ve had in their past that lead them to the values they hold dearest today. Then we want to make art about the multiple points of view that make up this society we all are trying to live in as one community.
Get Involved
Attend a Story Circle
Help us write this play by joining us for a story circle about the experiences that shape and impact our values and about how the culture wars are affecting us. Sign up here to attend a story circle in October:
- Sunday, October 12th from 6:30-8:30 pm, at Wonderlust (293 Como Ave, Suite 212, St. Pau)
- Tuesday, October 14th from 6:30-8:30 pm, Zoom
- Thursday, October 16th from 6:30-8:30 pm, at Wonderlust
- Saturday, October 25th from 2-4 pm, at Wonderlust
Fill out our Questionnaire
We want to hear from you about your values to help us create a play that has as many different perspectives as possible. We know this country and every individual in it is more complex than any single ideology, and we want to create understanding and connection by exploring that complexity. Share your perspective here.
Check out our partner organizations:
Braver Angels of Minnesota is working to bring people with opposing views together, and both give them the skills to disagree better and find common ground.
The Minnesota Council of Churches runs a number of programs focused on bringing Minnesotans together, including Respectful Conversations, facilitated conversations across difference meant to soften hearts.
Do you work with an organization who wants to get involved?
We’re looking for more partners to host story circles with like-minded participants with strong opinions, and to spread the word! Email info@wlproductions.org for more information.
Project Timeline
Summer and Fall 2025 – Story gathering
September 2025 – a public workshop of The Bacchae, a Greek play about a culture war for discussion
November 2025 – a public sharing of some early drafts of the play
Spring 2026 – more community engagement
Summer 2026 – writing and public creative workshops
Fall 2026 – a fully staged production
What Values do you live by?
In order to reflect on how our values unite and divide us, we are asking all story circle partipants to identify the values they hold closest. Some examples here:
About Wonderlust
Wonderlust Productions is a St. Paul arts ensemble that creates live epic plays in collaboration with communities who are a big part of who we are here in Minnesota, but whose stories are usually misunderstood or not known at all. Past projects include plays about the people who work at the State Capitol, people affected by adoption and foster care, military veterans, and caregivers. Wonderlust has also expanded to create accessible adaptations of our work via graphic novels, web series, streaming videos, podcasts and audio plays.
