In 2013, Jill Pyrz, Casey Wakefield, and Kerry Rossow were lounging on a patio in Champaign, Illinois, watching their girls play in the yard. What started off as three friends having a casual conversation about how they wanted to make the world a better place for their daughters, and their daughters’ daughters, has evolved into something more impactful: The She Said Project’s That’s What She Said storytelling event.
The She Said Project aims to empower women by asking them to share their stories, meant to inspire one another. At 7:30 p.m. on March 4 at The Sheldon, 10 local women will tell their stories to foster connections. The women are: Robin Auck, Rhoda Banks, Angela Flotken, Ashley Karth, Kelsey McClure, Dr. Lauren Miller, Susan Pyles, Sarah Shelton, Carmen D Ward, and Marquetta Wise.
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“I’ve been really amazed by [the women’s] bravery, their honesty, and their willingness to be authentic with one another, even though they had never met before this process,” says Jenny Miller Pratt, the producer and director of That’s What She Said. Pratt has been singing and performing for three decades; she met Rossow at Franklin College more than 30 years ago. They reconnected during the pandemic, and Pratt knew Rossow was involved in The She Said project. In 2020, the shows went virtual, and Pratt was able to participate as a cast member.
“I really enjoyed being part of one of the virtual shows in 2020. It was special to tell one of my own stories and see—at least a virtual version of—a show firsthand,” she says.
Pratt asked Rossow if she ever considered expanding the shows beyond Champaign. Soon, they began working together with She Said Project National Director Jenette Jurczyk to arrange the St. Louis production, a 14-month process.
Pratt explains that because this is St. Louis’ first show, there wasn’t an application process for the women; rather, she worked her connections to find the storytellers. She visits with each of the women ahead of time to learn more about them and their stories. Each cast member picks an experience from their life and writes her own story. Pratt has worked with each woman to workshop their story and prepare it for stage, though her involvement is really to help each woman uncover the most genuine and alluring story they can. Meeting them has been her favorite part about working on That’s What She Said.
“Every single one of us has a story that [will] move you to tears or make you belly-laugh,” Pratt says. “We are just so fortunate that these 10 women said yes to something they’d never seen before, and have put together their own amazing personal stories and are excited to share them…This cast represents a wide cross section of St. Louis and is truly exceptional. Their stories are funny, heart-wrenching, relatable, and more,” Pratt says. “There’s never been a better time for women’s voices, and these women are sharing such compelling messages of triumph, hope, and making the ordinary extraordinary.”
The vibe of the evening, Pratt says, will be similar to a chill evening at a best friend’s house. “You’ve kicked off your shoes, you’ve had a glass of wine, and you’re connecting with your people,” she says. “We feel like when our voices are heard, that’s when change is actually happening. We’re so much more alike in the world than we are different.”
A portion of the event proceeds is being donated to local nonprofit organization Rung for Women. The organization’s mission is to empower women to “grow and achieve sustained independence through co-located and coordinated educational, professional, and economic resources.”
One of the most challenging obstacles Pratt has faced while working on the show is helping the women overcome their own self-doubt. “So many of them have said, ‘Well, why would you pick me?’ or ‘I don’t have anything special to share,’” Pratt says. “I’m really proud of the fact that these are 10 women that you may have never met before, and that you may never have a reason to meet other than being here. It is just a testament that every single person has something to add to the world. When we take a second to listen to our stories, we are literally changing the world.”
Tickets to That’s What She Said are $40 and are available via MetroTix. Use promo code STL10 to save 10 percent.
