Hi, my name is Cyndi and I want to hear your story.
Whether on stage for entertainment, public speaking for business, presenting a speech at family events or casually chatting with friends and loved ones, the stories we share allow us to be heard and understood. I learned this myself onstage as I studied acting in college, and went on to be a stand-up and sketch comic. But when I later started sharing personal stories from the stage, something very special happened. Compliments from audience members shifted, as I didn’t just hear “You’re so talented.” I found myself talking to strangers after the show who were eager to say, “I loved your story and I need to tell you my own!” The connections I built after shows were so heartfelt that I decided this is where I wanted to stay.
In 2003, I found there was an entire community of storytellers in New York performing on stages and the back rooms of bars. I joined their ranks and soon began working for The Moth Community Program as a lead instructor. Looking for additional opportunities to become immersed in stories, I joined the faculty of The Story Studio, where I teach storytelling for performance, business and personal growth, and I also became a story coach and casting director for their sister company The RISK! Podcast.
I am passionate about the importance of encouraging senior citizens to share their stories with their family and community. Because of this passion, I created a program entitled Stories Of New York – Seniors, funded by Brooklyn Arts Fund grants and The SU-CASA Artist in Residency Program, which partners New York based artists with senior centers across the 5 boroughs. Stories of New York – Seniors has helped seniors craft their stories, presented workshops and created live shows and documentary films, which feature seniors sharing stories about their lives.
I truly have what I think is the best job in the world. I spend each day listening to stories, and helping people understand that it is through their stories that they are able to connect in a meaningful way with those around them.
PROFESSIONAL BIOGRAPHY
Cyndi Freeman is a two-time NY Fringe Festival award-winning solo performer. Her one woman shows have been presented in New York, Boston, Amsterdam, Ireland, The UK, and Fringe Festivals in Edinburgh and throughout North America. As a storyteller, her credits include The Moth, RISK!, The Story Collider and PBS’s Stories from The Stage. Ms. Freeman was a recipient of a Grand Prize Playwriting Fellowship Award from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. She is also the recipient of four Artist-in-Residence awards through the Brooklyn Arts Council as part of the SU-CASA program. This funding has allowed her to run programs for senior citizens through her project Stories Of New York – Seniors.
With 12 years of experience as a storytelling instructor, Ms. Freeman has worked with a diverse collection of organizations including The Story Studio, The Moth, The Federal Bureau of Prisons, The 9/11 Tribute Museum, The New York Public Library, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Zendesk, Row New York, American Express and numerous Fortune 500 companies.