3rd Thursday of Every Month Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro 3905 N Lincoln Ave., Chicago 7:30 PM (Doors at 7:00) FREE |
New Voices Telling Fresh 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.
Over the last 13+ years, we have provided the space for 900+ 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. Hosted by Scott Whitehair.
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June 19th Cast
Kandy Christensen

Kandy Christensen is a crafter who loves textiles, every personality test she has taken says she is a knowledge seeker, she is an empath, she sometimes can be seen carrying a vintage camera and she lives with a free range bunny named Sweetie. She works in non-profit administration by day and by night she is a Life Coach.
Raju Hegde

Raju Hegde spent more than 20 years working in community college education. After working several more years in the nonprofit sector, mostly in homeless services, he reached the conclusion that the world is unlikely to improve and is now trying to become a drug dealer and slumlord. The skills set for all this work includes storytelling so here he is - practicing. He has two grown children who still believe the world can be a better place!
Tina Mavalankar

Tina is a Chicago native and full time therapist. She is a part-time improviser and a member of Stir Friday Night, Chicago’s longest running AAPI improv group. Tina is new to being on stage but not to storytelling as she has years of successfully performing for her cats. She is excited to finally tell stories for an audience that doesn’t get the zoomies.
April Pruitt-Summers

April Summers is a self-declared trophy wife, living her best life balancing travel, pickle ball and housework. She worked as a lawyer decades ago, raised three boys and loves Chicago. April grew up in Southern Illinois and comes from a long line of creative, story-telling women. She is herself an accomplished knitter and seamstress, with a Fashion School degree hanging alongside her JD. April has been telling stories to anyone who would listen her entire life, and now she’s ready to tell one to you!
Shayna Rosenthal

Shayna is a nursing student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is eager to graduate next year and move back to Chicago. While she happily calls Chicago home now, she originally grew up in Los Angeles. In her free time, she enjoys walking her dog around the city, discovering new music, and watching 80s movies. However, there is one particular hobby that seems to take up the majority of her free time…
Kari Sommers

Kari Sommers is an award winning event producer, former punk rock college administrator at Columbia College, president, Sommers Productions, Founder of the punk dance company, Tight, and Founder of Team Agora an activist yarn bombing collective. Currently Kari is a writer, mother, and wife, with personal expertise in grief, healing ceremonies and rituals (to hell with funerals) and end of life issues.
Scott Whitehair (Host)

Scott Whitehair is a storyteller, teacher, and producer living in Chicago, IL. He is the producer of This Much Is True, Chicago's longest running monthly personal narrative series, creator of Story Lab Chicago, which has put 900+ new storytellers on stage since 2011, and director of Do Not Submit, a grassroots network of open mics across the city bringing people together to connect with each other. Scott tells anywhere someone will listen, including The National Storytelling Festival Exchange Place, Steppenwolf Theater, and the historic Green Mill. He is a frequent guest instructor at the city's top universities, and his personal narrative class has been selling out every month since 2012. Scott is in demand as a coach and trainer, spending his days helping individuals, companies, and non-profits develop their voices as storytellers. In 2014, he was the featured instructor at Hong Kong Story Worthy Week, headlined by David Sedaris, and in 2015 taught an intensive at All Hallows College in Dublin. He is honored to be a 2024 Meier Foundation Award winner.
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. |