Story Lab Chicago - Chicago Storytelling By Fresh New Storytellers
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SPECIAL EVENT IN APRIL!


Please join us at The Get-Together, a hybrid retreat, conference, and house party in Chicago. Affordable, accessible, and fun for everyone. No experience necessary. 

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​Click here for full details!

PLEASE NOTE: For March 2023, we will gather on the 4th Thursday in order to accommodate the venue's St. Patrick's Day schedule . Thanks! ​


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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.    ​


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.

March 23rd Cast  (4th Thursday!)

Claire Bergan

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Claire Bergen is a teacher, artist, semi-retired musician and is studying to be a rabbi at a school nobody has heard of. Ten years ago, they came out as nonbinary by telling their story at SHINE Storytelling in Santa Monica, CA. Since arriving in Chicago in summer 2021, Claire has found some more stories to tell, so they've decided to try their hand at it again.


Katie Hackmeister

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Katie has always loved storytelling and comedy, which she explored by writing sketch comedy, performing stand-up, and studying improv at iO. Today, she enjoys writing personal narrative essays, drawing cartoons, and binge-watching shows. She's lived on both the West and East coasts, moving back to Chicago in 2016 where she currently lives with her boyfriend and their two cats.


Sarita Miller

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Sarita is a retired English/language arts teacher, mother to two fine adults and one adorable pup, mother-in-law to a flower farmer, and grandmother to two rambunctious dogs and a mischievous cat. Presently, Sarita tutors reading, writing, and grammar - something she greatly enjoys. Throughout her days as a middle school teacher, Sarita was known for telling stories during lessons. Although her students thought they were pulling one over on her and getting her off task when they asked for a story, she explains that doing so was her plan from the beginning. She believes that listening to others’ anecdotes and telling one's own is an important path toward literacy as well as toward an understanding of the human condition. To Sarita, life is simply stories. In the past, she shared a couple of hers with audiences at Short Story Theater in Highland Park, and she admits to being somewhat nervous but also excited about telling one at Story Lab. 


Oliver Pasholk

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Oliver has lived all over the Midwest and New England, but finds himself drawn time and again to the Chicago area and is now a resident of Evanston with his partner and cat. He is absolutely obsessed with opossums and will gladly lift his pant leg to show off his opossum tattoo. He likes to experiment and tinker with home bartending, getting lost in cozy mysteries, and watching Wheel of Fortune while eating dinner. Oliver fell into story telling by way of a queer story telling bar church and is so happy that such a thing exists. 


Rich Price

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Rich Price is a retired computer programmer. Immediately after retirement he started writing an open source application to support the online play of certain board games. Even though he can play no musical instrument and has trouble singing on key, he has nonetheless hosted song circles at his home on a regular basis since sometime around 1986. Rich attends lots of science fiction conventions. He has also worked as a volunteer on many of them. All in all Rich is a really weird guy.


Scott Whitehair (Host)

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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.