Hello fellows! A fantastic group of human beings are coming to tell you true stories on June 1st. How great is that? Oh- also? We have these four giant, elegantly clothed tables awaiting delicious dishes that we bring to feed each other. AND? There are 5 open performance spots that ANYONE from our audience can use to tell a story on a beautiful stage with a gorgeous set in a lovely theater! And you know what else?! All this great stuff takes place in the company of 150 remarkably awesome people: Here, Chicago has the most diverse, funny, warm, smart and sexy audience in the city (BRING IT, son). Why? Because we’re magic.
A tad cocky, you say? Perhaps. But sometimes a little peacocking is healthy. When you’ve got something beautiful going on, the other birds should know. You should know about this show. Here, Chicago is the new name for a show long known and loved by the name of Here’s the Story, which has been performing to sold-out audiences at Theater Wit and Stage 773 for the last 3 years. A mission of this show is to bring people together across social lines that seek to keep us moving in separate circles: to meet on common ground. We do that through the sharing of food and true stories.
Five featured tellers– invited for their skill in storytelling and the uniqueness of their perspectives– and five tellers who sign up straight out of our audience combine to make a powerful, beautiful, and totally surprising night of theater. The event is both informal and theatrical; relaxed and riveting. In a space of warm welcome and genuine good will, we give you the some of the very best theater Chicago has to offer.
Join us on June 1st. These damn-fine folks will be taking the stage for you:
Andrew Marikis is an actor, teaching artist, and the host of Story Club South Side. As an actor he’s worked with Seanachai, BoHo, Lifeline and The Artistic Home among others. As a teaching artist, he works with kids of all ages through Emerald City and Adventure Stage Chicago. He’s also really into dinosaurs. Like, a lot. Sarah Michael Hollenbeck‘s personal essays have been published in Triquarterly and The CAF Review, among other literary journals and blogs. Her essay, “A Goldmine” won the 2013 Dogwood Literary Prize and was nominated for a Pushcart. She has performed at Guts & Glory, The Bodies of Work Festival, That’s All She Wrote, and Story Sessions. She is presently ignoring Andrew as he impersonates a raptor in his underwear. You can learn more about Sarah by visiting www.sarahmichaelhollenbeck.com.
Lawrence “Binkey” Tolefree is a Renaissance man. He has a foot in many Chicago subcultures. He’s a spoken word artist, emcee, comedian, actor (both scripted & improv) and host of the hot hot Chicago variety show, The Gala. Binkey does nothing but bring love into every situation in which he finds himself. He is currently resident teaching artist at Betty Shabazz Charter School, and mentors youth outside of school. When he was just a couple of months old, Binkey was adopted into a big, beautiful family. He credits his family’s love, support and character with helping him to build his own. He was chosen to do what he does.
Cristie Chamberland has embarked upon a personal journey to map the human heart, starting with her own. A recent transplant to Chicago from the Pacific Northwest, Cristie has been a world traveler, a sometimes poet, and a jack-ess of many trades. She has a background teaching creative writing, movement, and social skills to adults with developmental disabilities, English in Japan, reading and writing to kids with special needs and learning challenges, and sales training to wine salespeople. She has also managed a creative arts school for adults with disabilities. Currently, she is training to be a public speaking coach and is here in Chicago exploring storytelling, improv, performance, and writing.
Xavier Jordan is currently jobless in every field imaginable. He graduates high school on June 3rd and is looking forward to his new life at the University of Illinois Champaigne Urbana. He told his first story at grown folks stories and never looked back. He has performed at events such as Lit-Mash, You’re Being Ridiculous, I Shit You Not, Adult Education, The Moth, Real Talk Live, One time at Elmhurst college, and last but not least, here at here’s Chicago. He comes for the stories and stays for the food.
Samantha Irby writes a blog called bitches gotta eat, and has a book of essays called “Meaty.”
Co-hosting with Janna on June 1st is Dana Norris. Dana is a writer and the editor-in-chief of Story Club Magazine. She is founder of Story Club, a monthly live lit show held in Chicago, Minneapolis and Boston, and was recently featured in Poets and Writers. Dana teaches storytelling workshops at StoryStudio Chicago, and has been featured in the Chicago Reader, the Chicago Tribune, and on WBEZ.org. She writes for the website Role/Reboot.
Grab tickets soon, as the show does regularly sell out. Tickets are just $8 at the door, or admission is FREE with a dish for the potluck. Both ticket options are available online, so please reserve in advance. We don’t want you to turn anyone away holding a casserole.
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Here, Chicago on June 1st
Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont
7:30 potluck / 8pm show
Tickets!
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