Over the last 6+ 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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Our Next Show Will Take Place on
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20TH,
Featuring ...
Julia Brownfield
Julia Brownfield made her acting debut in comedy short film festival in 2012 with a submission that she wrote and starred in, A Girls Dream. Did she win? Heck no, but her movie was funny and she won $50 bucks for shouting out Two Gingers Whiskey in an unrelated scene. Does she still act? Heck no, but she loves telling stories, and when she’s not telling stories, she can be found naked and afraid in the shower before work.
Bonnie Cortez
Bonnie Cortez is the mother of two strapping young man who are making their way with finesse that makes a mother proud. She is a Life-Cycle Celebrant which means she delights in writing and officiating wedding ceremonies. She is also a Montessori 1st through 3rd grade teacher and a lover of the written word. She will try her best to make those written words sing in tonight‘s performance.
John Hahm
Born and raised in Honolulu Hawaii, John Hahm is a relative newcomer to the storytelling community. He recently retired from Northside College Preparatory High School, where he taught English, coached the Academic Decathlon Team, and led educational tours of the UK and EU during spring breaks. He is eternally grateful to Sheri Reda, Ellen Blum Barish, Jill Howe, Scott Whitehair and other virtuoso writers and storytellers who opened the world of storytelling to him. They have taught him so much. Much more, they have given him the community of writers he has so wanted so long! Most recently, John has performed his stories at First Person Personal, The Asian Diaspora, and Mrs. Murphy’s Irish Pub, and Do Not Submit in Lincoln Square.
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.
Barbara Peterson
I'm a native of Chicago, born and raised mostly on the South Side, but lived for 12 years in New Orleans, where I acquired a love of good food, good music and good people. I graduated from the University of AZ with a B.A. in psychology, and did some graduate work at Tulane. After realizing that a life in academia wasn't for me, I moved to the French Quarter and worked at some awesome hotels and restaurants. I still cherish my 4 year stint at K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen where I was taught commitment, dedication and teamwork from a culinary genius -- while eating fabulous food, having an enormous amount of fun working with a talented bunch of people and meeting interesting (and sometimes famous) people from all over the world! But I missed home and came back to Chicago where I pursued a variety of different vocations among them being stock options trader, backyard nature store manager, product designer for a Chicago manufacturer of metal products, and genealogist. I was blessed to have met and married a great guy, who unfortunately died of lymphoma at way too young an age. Since 2016 I have rekindled my childhood love of performing, and have immersed myself in singing, improv, acting, voice over, and storytelling. I am currently performing with JarFar, an improv team, over at Second City, where we all completed their improv program, and I am also in their Musical Improv program.
Gili Sherman
Gili Sherman is an art teacher for grades 5 - 8 at a small school in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago. When asked where she is from, the answer is never short, because she grew up in Israel, the US and the UK and has lived all over this country. For her writing, she draws from a deep well of inspiration from her Iraqi and British grandparents, her immigrant parents, and the colorful stories they have shared. She also draws from her friendships; her rich connection with her husband and four kids; travel; and the serendipity of meaningful conversations with people she encounters along the way.
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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. |
