Founder’s Story
Fran Powers
Founder
Powerstories Theatre Tampa | Girlstories Leadership Theatre TampaBiography
Fran Powers is the Founder of Powerstories Theatre Inc., a nonprofit theatre that stages true stories to open minds and hearts. Fran believes that stories are powerful. They are moving and create genuine emotions. They are authentic experiences that engage, connect, and inspire us. Her mission is to help others know and celebrate their own true stories then connecting them with audiences to build confidence, inspiration, and purpose in others.
Her first vision for the company came to her in 1998 as she crossed the Wyoming border on a bike ride across America. When she returned to Tampa Powerstories Theatre was born. Since then, Powerstories Theatre has served over 30,000 individuals and sixty organizations through theatre productions, workshops on how to tell your story, and leadership programs for girls.
In 2010, Powerstories Theatre won The National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award, and it was presented to Fran at the White House by former First Lady Michelle
Obama. In 2011 Powerstories won the WEDU award for Artistic Excellence and in 2013, Fran was honored as a Community Hero by the Tampa Bay Lightning. In 2022
Powerstories received the Joseph Parra Courage Award from the Tampa Bay theatre community.
In addition to leading Powerstories, Fran has written and produced twelve autobiographical plays and one musical. She was the Director of Grants for the Conn Foundation, Executive Director for Alpha House, Board President of The Healthy Start Coalition, and served on numerous other Boards. She has a bachelor’s degree in Theatre from Fontbonne College in St. Louis, Missouri, and a master’s degree in education from the University of South Florida.
Fran’s greatest wish is that everyone honors and celebrates their unique stories.
The story begins in June 1998 when Fran Powers decided to ride her bicycle across the United States. Starting in Seattle Washington, the first two weeks were extremely grueling and she continually asked herself “what am I doing here?” On the last day in Montana she began to feel more joyful as she finally noticed her surroundings reveling in the big blue sky, purple mountains and striking wild flowers. With all this beauty surrounding her, she began to sing “The Little Drummer Boy” from the top of her lungs.
As she crossed the Wyoming border she stopped, unclipped her feet from the pedals and stood straddling her bike with her arms high in the air. She had been asking “what am I doing here?” and with complete clarity she now had her answer. She was on the bike ride so she could finally understand one of her life’s purposes. She was to start a theatre to help women and girls honor and celebrate their strengths through knowing and sharing their personal stories. Powerstories Theatre was born!
The idea continued to take root as she rode the remaining miles all the way to Washington DC. When she returned to Tampa, she notified women of an audition opportunity. She simply asked “Do you have a story to tell?”
Eight local women, ages 30 to 70, with little to no acting background were selected to perform for the general public. An original script “Let the Stories Move You” with original music was written to link all the stories into a cohesive and inspirational theatre piece.
Powerstories Theatre debuted in November 2000 at the Friday Morning Musicale in Tampa, Florida. By August 2001 they performed at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center to sold out audiences. By 2010, it won a prestigious Arts & Humanities Award, presented by Michelle Obama at the White House. Today, Powerstories Theatre is branching out onto the national stage with the Advice I Would Give My Younger Self series.
From the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center to the hallowed halls of the White House, Powerstories Theatre has a rich history and a proud list of accomplishments garnered over its nearly two decades in existence.
