Over the last 10+ years, we have provided the space for OVER 700 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. |
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 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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We will be following all current health and safety guidelines. At this time, vaccination status will not be checked and masks are not required, but welcomed. This will be updated if the situation changes.
July 21st Cast
Michael Cullinane
Michael Cullinane is a Chicago educator, passionate about helping young people tell impactful stories through his Broadcast Journalism program. Scott Whitehair helped him get his start with storytelling at a past Story Lab event, and since then, he's worked to introduce storytelling to his students. When not spending lots of time with his amazing wife and two wonderful children, he loves writing fiction, making videos, and going Beastmode at the gym. Michael plans to continue to grow his journalism program, and work toward his eternal "hoop dream"---to get his book published.
Réka Ehrentreu
Réka Ehrentreu is originally from Peoria, Illinois, home to the “Crying Pig” statue and the birthplace of Richard Pryor. After an extensive Catholic education and a fear of being on stage, she broke away from both at the age of eighteen. She attended SIU-Carbondale’s Radio-TV Production program and DePaul University’s MFA in Screenwriting program. She’s dabbled in stand-up comedy, auditioning at Zanies in 2018, storytelling at Louder Than a Mom, and memoir writing. Her screenplays “Mom and Pop Rock,” “The Truth Hurts,” and “Mama Charlotte” have been finalists in various screenwriting contests over the last five years. Réka believes every woman has a story. Women should embrace their life experiences and not be afraid to find and use their voices. When not working full time, she enjoys baking, concert photography, yoga, meditation, and silent films. She currently resides in Rockford, Illinois, aka, the home of Cheap Trick, and is working on a comedic limited series.
Meg Green
Originally from Texas, Meg is a storyteller who has made Chicago her home for the past 12 years. She has worked in several different social service agencies both in the U.S. and abroad at homeless shelters, orphanages, schools, hospitals and up until 2020 was the director of an ESL program on the southwest side of Chicago. She has given the last couple of years to her creative writing side and now finds her joy as an unemployed aspiring writer! Meg speaks Spanish, has only worn dresses since 2009, and opens champagne bottles with a saber and thinks you should too.
Joey Masloski
Joey Masloski is a rising senior studying marketing at the university of Wisconsin Madison and has many interesting hobbies: including piano, theatre, entrepreneurship, fantasy football, and social media content creation. Joey spent his junior year of college all around the globe, getting the chance to work in Israel and study in Barcelona and Rome. He is extremely excited to tell you all a story about one of his many youthful adventures.
Steve Miller
Steve Miller has been a high school math teacher for 18 years. In the classroom, his favorite topic is algebra and his favorite victims are freshmen. Prior to teaching, Steve was a patent lawyer who specialized in disposable, absorbent, nonwoven hygiene products (e.g., tampons and diapers). He likes to believe that commuting in his car two hours a day makes him smarter as long as he listens to audiobooks. When not driving, Steve enjoys discussing politics with his wife and eating smoked brisket sandwiches with his stepson.
Joanne Telser-Frere
Born in Chicago, Joanne has always been an adventurer. She has lived and worked in France, Pakistan, Egypt, and Qatar. Joanne is fluent in French and can get by in Arabic. She has worked in many fields including education, radio, tv, and even brain training. Today she continues her adventures in the world of literacy. She is passionate about her work as Director of Program Development at Literacy Chicago where she can pull together all the skills she has learned over the years, in order to innovate and create exciting programs for students. Joanne also manages the Volunteer Tutor program at Literacy Chicago and has a team of over 150 enthusiastic volunteers working with students. Her other interests include acting which she has done as an amateur all over the world. She discovered storytelling and started to perform in Chicago just before the pandemic!
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 700+ 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, the historic Green Mill, and on NPR, the Risk podcast, and Siruis XM. 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.
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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. |