Over the last 7+ years, we have provided the space for over 500 people from every walk of life and experience level to share their true personal stories with packed houses of attentive listeners. Each show is an unpredictable mix of the hilarious and the heartbreaking featuring memorable tales from your friends, neighbors, and fellow Chicagoans.
Come hear what people are saying, then get involved. |
Third Wednesday of Every Month
Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro 3905 N Lincoln Avenue 7:30 PM FREE! (Doors at 6:00. Please arrive early if you are dining.) New Voices Telling New Stories
Join us for an intimate evening of storytelling in the cozy back room of one of Chicago's best pubs. Each month, an entirely different lineup of up-and-coming storytellers will share their stories. Hosted by Scott Whitehair.
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THERE WILL BE NO SHOW IN NOVEMBER
DUE TO THANKSGIVING.
We return on Wednesday, December 19th,
Featuring ...
Julie Danis
Julie Danis is a storyteller and writer of essays, commentary, and marketing insight personas. Her career resembles a long and winding road with some twists, detours, and even dead ends. She studied social policy before going to business school but after studying theater. As a business humorist, Julie wrote a Chicago Tribune column called "It's a Living," and contributed commentary to Marketplace radio. She practiced humor on the job at places like Frito-Lay and Mondelez, the maker of Oreos and in roles such as Director of Mind and Mood. Julie also taught consumer, and insights and behavior at Northwestern’s Integrated Marketing Communications program. She's also a graduate of the Second City School of Improvisation and has told stories at live story telling events in Chicago, such as The Moth, Story Club, and now Story Lab, next year with 2nd Story. Currently she’s working on a documentary film script for “The Girl Who Wore Freedom”, which she hopes gets produced and wins many festivals.
Francine Friedman
Francine Pappadis Friedman, a former English and journalism teacher, is a professional writer of fiction and non-fiction. Her first short story was published in Story Quarterly; and her essays and articles appeared for years in Greek Circle, a national magazine. Friedman was an invited guest blogger in 2016/2017 for the American Writers Museum, and she currently reviews plays. Friedman’s memoir, MATCHDOTBOMB: A Midlife Journey through Internet Dating, won two first-place awards for non-fiction in 2008 from both the Illinois Women’s Press Association and the National Federation of Press Women. And it was reviewed in dozens of publications and on radio and television shows across the country. Friedman recently completed her first upcoming novel, BEYOND THE GREEN, an urban drama set in Chicago in 1998, depicting both the city’s beauty and its mean streets. Her novel describes its “have” and “have-not” characters as they cross the lines of class, age, sex, and race, dispelling common stereotypes. Hopefully it will be published soon, as it’s very timely.
Alan Malter
Alan Malter is a 4th-generation Chicagoan but took a long hiatus to live overseas and all around the U.S. before returning to the Windy City. In his day job, Alan is a business professor at University of Illinois at Chicago, but since research and teaching are essentially story-telling (even in his courses with exciting titles like “marketing analytics”) he has been telling stories for a couple of decades. His travels across five continents have inspired many of his stories, as have adventures with his wife and four kids. Roaming the globe also convinced him that life is even more interesting in multiple languages, so he is oddly committed (for a native born American) to speaking foreign languages at home. His sister finds this highly annoying but he is proud that all his children caught the travel bug and are bilingual.
Bitty Higgins
Bitty Higgins is brand new to the city of Chicago and quickly falling in love with its art scene. She is intrigued by humans and what they create to communicate or express their experiences. She holds a degree is Music and Drama from Spring Arbor University and is currently enamored with and training in aerial circus arts. For survival and for fun she babysits all your children, pours your coffee, and walks your dogs. You can find Bitty singing loudly while cycling all over the city or practicing contortion while steaming your latte. Bitty is so excited to join you for an evening of storytelling with some lovely humans.
Jerry Specht
By day, I work as a computer systems analyst; by night, I scour the Internet for poems, art, literature to be included in my websites: A Poetry-Lover’s Guide to the World-Wide Web and the Humanist Art Homepage. I have three grown children. I love playing Scrabble, which I do each Wednesday evening at the Rogers Park Public Library Scrabble Meet-up.
Alan Briskin
Raconteur. Bon vivant. Social Butterfly. Government agent from Absurdistan, Briskin has a wealth of experiences to share. Despite youthful good looks he did not recently fall off the turnip truck but rather bears the scars of many battles won & lost. A refugee from the world of finance (Morgan Stanley) he visited such garden spots as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Turkey and Israel as well as most of Central and South America. They liked Americans back then. The epitome of his adventures may be the unwitting Running With The Bulls in Pamplona, Spain during the Festival Of San Fermin ... or maybe the bus ride through the Khyber Pass on top of an old American school bus painted turquoise (to ward off evil spirits) with a handful of Balucchi Pakistanis ... or maybe ... Briskin is putting together a geriatric memoir with the temporary title of "Too Old For Snapchat. Too Young For Life Alert."
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Drink and Dine
Mrs. Murphy & Sons generously offers a $10 burger and beer special on show nights. No better way to enjoy stories than with a full stomach and a cold one in your hand. |
Tell YOUR Story
Story Lab Chicago is open to anyone wanting to share his or her story, regardless of experience or background. Click here for more details on getting started. |
Take a Class
Do you feel like you need a little more guidance and experience before taking the stage? Click here for more details. |