2024

October 2024

Steve Bellinger

Steve Bellinger is a retired computer geek who has written 5 science fiction novels. His first novel, The Chronocar - An Urban Adventure in Time is a multiple award winner. In his lifetime he has written everything from newspaper articles to Sunday School lessons, and in the 1970's produced original radio dramas. One of the original Trekkies, he and his wife Donna plan to renew their wedding vows Star Trek style. Steve will wear a dress Admiral's uniform and Donna would be decked out in a custom leather and lace Klingon wedding dress. That will be the only time Steve will outrank her.

Larry Brewer

I was born in Forrest City, Arkansas, on February 18th, 1953; my mother was 16 then. In 1963, my sister and I moved to Chicago to live with my mother; we lived in Stateway Gardens, a public housing project on the South Side of Chicago, until we moved to Gary, Indiana, in the summer of 1969. In 1972, I dropped out of high school and joined the United States Marine Corps Reserves, where I served 8 Years before being honorably discharged. After a short stint of employment in US Steel, I enrolled in the adult non-degree program at Indiana University. After completing the probation requirements, I majored in Journalism and Sociology with a minor in Modern Dance. After college, I became a professional dancer for over 8 years, dancing at trade variety and fashion shows anywhere I could get a paycheck. Towards the end of my performance career, I began working as a Child Protective Services Case Manager, where I spent nine years, before taking a teaching position at the Emerson School for Visual and Performing Arts as a dance instructor at Gary public schools, where I spent the next 18 years before retiring in February of 2018. During those years with the Gary Community School Corporation, I founded a Non-profit after-school dance program where I served as the Executive Director until now. I am also a closet visual artist who loves to write. To that end, over the last 40 or 50 years, I have started approximately 12 or 13 books in various states of incompletion. At age 71, I'm racing to complete at least one of these stories.

Niki Dreistadt

Niki Dreistadt (she/her) is a librarian, stagehand, and writer with a passion for storytelling. As a stagehand, Niki has worked with dozens of Chicago theaters including Steppenwolf Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre, Court Theatre and Chicago Dramatists. You can find Niki’s published written work in Thumbnail magazine and upcoming poetry anthology When Flowers Sing. Niki is currently pursuing a masters degree in Information and Library Science at Dominican University with a focus on youth services. When she’s not busy slinging books to kids or scampering around backstage in a theatre, you can find Niki working in her garden telling stories to the bees.

Stephanie Loring

My name is Stephanie Loring. I’ve been in advertising and digital marketing for about 20 years. I’ve always had a bucket list item to do a stand-up comedy open mic night, so this is my small step to get up and tell a story in front of strangers (and the friends who found out about this from other people). I love telling stories that are humorous but also have some life lesson to help people laugh and commiserate at the same time. I’m originally from Colorado, but have lived in Chicago for about 12 years. For fun, I love to play soccer, do cartoon chalk art, and read.

Tina Padilla

Tina Padilla has fully embraced her retirement from teaching mathematics for Chicago Public Schools. As she often says, "I was born to be this age." She made a smooth transition into retirement and founded a grassroots watchdog group called the Pension Advocacy Group. She has always had a passion for listening to storytellers and is now eager to share some of her own stories.

Trish Weidig

Trish Weidig is a writer, educator, and caffeine addict. Her slightly offbeat articles appear in Queer Forty Magazine at queerforty.com. Trish believes engaging and compelling content is critical for readers and listeners, particularly as they move through new chapters of their lives. She lives in Chicago.

October 2024

Sam Boyer

Sam is the proud half-Irish son of two writers, and has never let a good day get in the way of an existential crisis. He is a lifelong lover of reading, martial arts, and games. He went to school for writing and hopes you can tell (but not too obviously) when you hear his story.

Emily Calvo

Emily Thornton Calvo, an artist, author, and poet, was recognized by the Guild Literary Complex as one of "30 Writers to Watch." She’s performed at Loyola University, Women and Children First, and the Art Institute of Chicago through the Poetry Foundation. Her poems have appeared in print and online journals. Lending Color to the Otherwise Absurd, her first book of poems was released with a grant from Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. As a visual artist she often includes her poems in her paintings. She's currently working on a memoir about her dad who was a gay Chicago artist who taped 23 years of his life on cassette tapes.

Sue Garvey

Sue moved back to the city in 2012 when all three of her children fled the nest. She lives in Buena Park - technically the southern part of Uptown, which her son has christened S’up Town. Shortly after moving to the city, she attended a storytelling event at Hopleaf and was transformed into a huge fan. Three things make her happy after all these years, the first cup of coffee in the morning (48 years), peanut butter (66 years?) and going to sleep (since the day she was born). Her latest source of happiness, not surprisingly, is the adjustable bed she bought in March. She just retired at the end of May and is working hard on adapting to her new life. Having already blown through all 11 seasons of Vanderpump Rules, she is looking for something new to fill her time and is open to suggestions. If things go well tonight, storytelling might just become her new thing.

Michelle Kaczor

Michelle is really getting bent out of shape and putting so much pressure on herself about getting this bio “right”. Thankfully, she’s able to laugh at herself and how seriously she is taking this. Michelle loves prayer and Jesus and is always trying to find what to be grateful for in her stories and life, no matter the circumstances. One of her heroes is Fred Rogers, not only because he is helping her re-parent herself with love and kindness, but also because he understood the responsibility of his influence and “preached the gospel” without having to mention God. And that’s what Michelle wants to do too. Michelle wants to “make goodness attractive”, and desperately clings to the belief of the inherent worth of every person. Michelle, a former Elginite, lives in Portage park, is the daughter of Polish immigrants, speaks fluent Polish, and hopes to one day dazzle and catch the eye of her future husband while sharing her heart on stage. Additionally a poet, actor, puppeteer, and singer, she feels so grateful to have found storytelling at this time in her life.

Ted Karavidas

Ted began his career as a trial lawyer for the City of Chicago, defending police officers, paramedics, and other City employees in personal injury and civil rights claims. He then accepted a position from the Illinois Attorney General to serve as a trial lawyer defending state officials in cases, both simple and complex, in state and federal courts throughout the State. Since leaving government practice, he has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in civil litigation matters in Illinois as well as in other states. In addition to decades of presenting closing arguments to juries, Ted has been an adjunct law school instructor and invited lecturer in multiple states. Over the last several months, he has both observed and engaged in storytelling at different venues and also appeared as a new comedian at Zanies in Rosemont.

Lisa Parr

After teaching studio art and art history in high school and colleges, Lisa Parr opened and still runs her business internationally restoring Historic Landmark antique carousels, speaking and writing articles on them and her specialty of original paint. Additional application of her skills is for legal work, court verifying and identifying carousel figures for insurance, damage, and theft for private collectors, as well as appraisals for museums, art dealers, and auctions. In connection with carousel art, Lisa pursues research in early Celtic design and mythology on site in the upper isles of Scotland. Her interest in ancient and contemporary mythology has led her to research mountain storytelling, initiating more travel and recent storytelling, herself. For fun, Lisa also restores antique wood toys and sports cars, which she drives with vigor and nostalgia.

September 2024

Kathy Brown

Kathy Brown is a Transformation and Leadership Catalyst. I started my professional career in dance, and I thought dance was my first love until I realized that energy is what brought me into the world of dance. I acquired a unique and valuable perspective using my abilities to see, hear, and feel energy. I also, learned to harness my gift of Energy through experiences of being the 3rd oldest of 10 kids. This allowed me to delve deep into the complexities of relationships. Using a holistic approach, I inspire individuals to play a proactive role in unleashing the wisdom of the Mind, Body, & Spirit through fun, passion, and energy. I continue to present as a Keynote Speaker on Relationships, Leadership, Dance & Spirit Energy. Author of: Ignite Your Life -the ‘Power of 5’ Series; Ebb & Flow of Life -reflections; A Different Perspective - a passionate journey. I was honored to be featured on the front page of the ‘Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Chicago’s 100 Most Influential Woman in Chicago, Best Dance Instructor by Chicago Magazine. I also have been featured on TV & Radio, including CBS, NBC, ABC, Nightly News & more.

Jennelle Dronkers

Jennelle is a Chicago-based woman from all over. Growing up in a military family, she’s had the privilege of calling many places home, including California (twice), Hawaii, Japan (twice), Florida, and the UK. Her travels have taught her that the heart of any place is its people and the stories they create together. Since 2012, she has fallen madly in love with Chicago and her community here - she's pretty sure Chicago may be "the one." In her professional life, Jennelle is dedicated to nonprofit international education, where she does what she can to make everyone who leaves their country for this one feel welcome and at home.

David Edler

David Edler, a recovering thespian and corporate survivor, now graces the stage with tales from his colorful life. In his 20s, he reveled in off-loop theaters, where he painted emotions and characters with the fervor of a caffeinated Picasso. But behold! The corporate overlords beckoned, and David donned his metaphorical tie (and occasionally a literal one) to conquer the vision care industry. Then, a TIA in 2022—a cosmic nudge, if you will—prompted him to un-become everything that wasn't really him. He shed pounds, old beliefs, and benevolent overlords alike. Last month, he pedaled through Colorado's Copper Triangle (for the second time, mind you), and now he's lacing up for his inaugural marathon in Chicago. David resides near Lake County Forest Preserve with his wife Abby and their black lab, who occasionally critiques his trumpet solos. Their children (Marc and Marisa) living and working in the area, cheer him on from the sidelines.

Luke Leisman

Luke Leisman is an astronomer, writer, and entrepreneur, trying to figure out his life while also looking for light in the universe around us. A native Michigander, he got his PhD in upstate New York and then taught for several years in northwest Indiana before landing in Chicago in 2021. He writes regularly about the night sky and our lives on substack, and can occasionally be spotted sailing or playing fiddle. He is thankful for events like Story Lab which make our planet a little braver, more dignified, better place.

Caitlin Marz

Caitlin Marz is a bookseller, a dancer, and a late-in-life theater kid. As a dance artist she has shown work through AUNTS, Bushwick Open Studios, Danspace Project, Links Hall, and Roulette Intermedium. More recently, she has been embracing the beauty of being an adult beginner by studying acting, improv, and storytelling at all the places you’d expect. She grew up in the exurbs of Chicago where she first learned the power of a good story while being regaled by her inimitable Great Aunt Merce.

Judy Mortellaro

Judy spent many years as a RN practicing throughout the country. Once retired, she began to realize that it was time to take care of herself and have more fun. Of course, having a granddaughter reminded her of the fun and creativity left behind in childhood. Now, she has found storytelling to be a way to share a lifetime of journeys and in so doing to remember the moments of childlike wonder that brought her to this last stage in life.

August 2024

Patty Boyer

Patty is a Chicagoan and no matter where she goes, her heart always brings her back home to Chicago. She even moved to northern AZ with her family for 10 years and thoroughly enjoyed the hiking, biking, and endless sunshine. Eventually, she remembered that her greatest joy really came from spending time and lots of laughs with her very large, extended family in the Chicagoland area. She’s back in town and ready to tell some stories.

Robert Collin

Robert is a retired ELS teacher, having taught in Zaire, Chicago and Korea over the years. He was in plays in high school, and college and for 6 weeks on an English education program in Korea, playing Detective Pink in a weekly mini-mystery series. Since his retirement in 2010 he has joined the senior citizens story telling classes at the Goodman Theatre and this is his first appearance at Mrs. Murphy's.

Emily Anna Maciel Gonzalez

Emily Anna Maciel Gonzalez has been a chatterbox since the womb, born and raised on the Southside of Chicago. She is a poet, avid storyteller, advocate for local politics and most importantly a White Sox fan. As of lately she resides in Wicker Park with her pet rabbit, Scorpio. By day she is a bilingual PreK 3-5 teacher and nanny. By night she is a dive bar enthusiast, trivia champion and host of Do Not Submit Humboldt/Wicker.

Jonathan Holubiak

Jonathan Holubiak was born on the north side of Chicago, raised on the south side, and currently resides on the west side. He is currently working towards his master’s in clinical mental health counseling, enrolled in a mindfulness-based transpersonal program in Boulder, CO - hippie shit. He has studied in The Second City’s Conservatory program, told stories for The Moth, hosted events & open mics, and is an ordained minister with experience as a wedding officiant. Jonathan values performing, painting, hockey & biking, community, and playing outside, where he can be found for hours on end at the local park with his best friend, a fourteen-year-old German Shepherd named Brucedog. He embraces the three D’s – dancing, death metal, and dinosaurs, and hopes to one day be a valet for a professional wrestler.

Ingrid Masterton

Ingrid Masterton is, by profession, a physical therapist and educator within medicine and healthcare, but one who has been developing her own writing and performing skills. The experiences that those callings have entailed, along with those of being a wife, mother and grandmother, have made clear to her that life is - more often than not - an incomprehensible paradox. And, she understands that sharing stories is one of the few tools we humans have to find joy and peace within the ambiguity that surrounds us.
You can find out more about Ingrid and her mission to use performance art as a tool for learning and collaborative decision-making within the worlds of medicine and healthcare at, www.iamazebra.com

Louis (Luchiano) Silverstein, Ph.D., Co-director of the Life Arts Society and Distinguished Professor of Humanities (Emeritus) at Columbia College Chicago, is a transcendental philosopher and practitioner, educator. author, storyteller, sand writer, terra artist, public speaker and societal/cultural activist. His talks have taken him to settings throughout the U.S., Jamaica, Costa Rica, Canada, numerous European countries, and into realities beyond that which can be known by reason alone. Having taken a road less travelled during his lifetime, he is known as having planted so many seeds among his students and general audiences that forests of his teachings and practices are growing everywhere. Author of Deep Spirit & Great Heart: Living In Marijuana Consciousness, and Encountering Life’s Endings, he is currently working on his later book “Blow Your Mind, Open Your Heart, Teach Your Soul.”

July 2024

Laurel Crown

Laurel Crown tells people she grew up in Chicago even though she really grew up in the South Suburbs. After college and her first real job which burned her out and changed her entire world view, she had a 16 year stint in Madison, WI, where she grew up some more learning how to be a grad student, adult, and parent. She returned to Chicago in 2007 with a couple of letters that sometimes go after her name and where her windy path through and eventually out of academia finally landed her in her current meaningful/rewarding/perfect fit job doing “social science research in the real world” for a large, youth service nonprofit where she gets to play with data, and, she really hopes, helps to make kids’ lives better. As a newly single, newish empty nester of two super cool young adults (who ACTUALLY grew up in the City), Laurel has been shocked to learn that she has some more growing up to do! A long time fan of listening to others tell stories on stage, Laurel is both excited and terrified to find out if some of the stories she tells herself in her head while biking along the lakefront are as interesting and entertaining to others as they are to her.

Christopher Flynn

Christopher, a native of Detroit, is celebrating his 40th year as a Chicago attorney. Several years ago, after having told his clients’ stories before judges and government agencies for so long, he decided it was time to share some stories of his own. He returned to school and earned an MFA in Creative Writing from DePaul University in 2022. He lives with his wife, Kristen, in Uptown, where, when he is not working, spending time with family, watching baseball, or mourning the demise of the American experiment, he is working on a novel about family, baseball, and the demise of the American experiment. He is indebted to every teacher he’s ever had.

Maddie Kovach

Maddie Kovach is a Chicago based playwright and teacher from Alexandria, Virginia. She graduated from Northwestern University in 2022 with and MFA in Writing for Screen and Stage. A produced and award winning playwright Maddie finds great satisfaction in taking stories from her own life and creating whole worlds out of them in her plays and screenplays. She spends her free time reading fantasy books and making popcorn on her tiny stovetop.

Stephen Lieto

Stephen Lieto is a Chicago based arts professional. For the past twenty years his endeavors have ranged from museum and gallery work, musician performance, commercial and film work within the art department and various roles within Chicago’s theatre community. Before settling in Wicker Park he traveled the country in his tiny-home school-bus but originally he hails from Michigan where he grew up on a llama farm! Stephen is incredibly excited to be dipping his toes in the Story Lab community.

Naziya Miftakhova

I am a healthcare operations leader by day and a passionate improviser, storyteller, actress, and theater owner by night and on weekends! In my free time, I love exploring new coffee shops and spending quality time with my family, infusing every moment with creativity and joy. Being a first-generation immigrant, I balance two cultures and love bringing cultural perspectives into my stories.

Zaneta Wrightsell

Zaneta was born and raised on Chicago’s Northside in Uptown. Zaneta calls Uptown home. She is multi-faceted and multitalented, and has been performing since the age of four : singing , dancing, acting, modeling, fundraising, and public speaking. In addition to being a recipient of the prestigious Augustana Classical Voice Opera Scholarship Award, her dance accolades included being featured in “Dance Africa” at the Auditorium Theater for five consecutive years and receiving a two year stint as a Chicago Artist in Residency with the Chicago Park District with Urban Credo Dance Company. She starred as Dorothy in her acting debut and the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland. Zaneta is the recipient of the prestigious Second City Acting Scholarship Award. In addition to her creative pursuits, Zaneta has a big heart for the community and causes she serves. She is active volunteer in the community as a community service theater usher, actively works with Chicago Cares, and promotes healing spaces. Zaneta was the videospokesperson with a team for non-profit and facilitated in raising over $30,000+ for our cause. In her free time, she loves to dance free style, Latin dancing, travel, read, try new cuisines, dedicated to self growth and development, workout, movies, and have a good time.

June 2024

Cameron Chaikin

Cameron Chaikin grew up as a theatre kid in the Chicago suburbs. After graduating with a theatre degree, Cameron now works as a licensed therapist for young adults, while also pursuing her passions of stand-up comedy, story telling, and boxing on the side. Cameron cares deeply for animals and travel, listening to other peoples' stories whenever and wherever she can. Cameron loves reading by Lake Michigan and taking walks with her dog, Ryder.

Tom Hanigan

Tom moved to Chicago in the early 80’s and was a performer and ensemble member at the Improv Institute and The Second City. Mostly performing in comedy revues, he’s performed in several local theaters but proudest of playing Mother Flanagan in Flanagan’s Wake. He turned a new leaf in the mid 90’s, became a full time Realtor and full time dad. He currently lives in Logan Square, where no one can afford to live any more.

Gina Logan

Regina (“Gina”) Lopata Logan has always loved stories; as a child, she devoured fairy tales and read everything from the Flower Fairies to the entire Oz series. Gina’s love of stories came full circle and blossomed throughout her career as a developmental psychologist. Her research and teaching utilized “narrative psychology” methodology, a research method for studying personality through analyzing the stories people tell about their lives. Over the last decade, Gina has become a big fan of storytelling in general by
listening to people’s stories through programs such as The Moth and Story Corps on NPR and various storytelling programs around Chicago, such as Story Lab. After listening to hundreds of stories, both in her research and in story slams, Gina decided to try her hand at telling stories herself. Gina and her partner love living in Andersonville, recently voted the coolest neighborhood in the US (so hopefully the coolness is rubbing off on her!) She is the mother of three and grandmother of six. For relaxation, Gina enjoys reading, hiking, bicycling, kayaking, traveling, cooking with her partner, and spending time at the family cottage in northern Michigan.

Vince Mahler

Vince Mahler is a Chicago actor who has worked for companies such as The Gift, Timeline, Silk Road Rising, Lifeline, Idle Muse, and MadKap Productions, among others, including his own Frump Tucker Theatre Company, for which he served as artistic director, dramaturg, and company member during its 7-year tenure. When the pandemic put a serious crimp in his theatre work, he took to writing his high school and college memoirs, just to have something to do besides his day job at Lurie Children’s Hospital. He has since retired after 30 years and now has even more time on his hands.

Susan Rashid Horn

Talk about a checkered career: from insurance adjuster to summer stock actor, from starving artist to advertising whore, from travel writer to English professor, from refugee mentor to food pantry volunteer. In her adulthood Susan has moved 26 times, lived in nine states, and traveled throughout six continents. And man, is she tired. Now she just sits there and she writes. And sometimes she has conversations with her cat. Don’t laugh. Lily is pretty bright for a quadruped.

Michael Shawn Sanders

Michael Shawn is born & raised in Chicago with a dash of West TN. He has lived, worked, laughed, and loved in almost every state in America. He has a long bucket list and tonight is one of them.

May 2024

Anthony Giuliano

Anthony is a New Jersey native but has loved living here in Chicago for the past year and a half. He has explored many interests ranging from acting on stage, to being a collegiate cheerleader, to now working as a software developer. In his free time, Anthony enjoys traveling, rock climbing, and philosophizing with friends. He believes that the most important thing in life is the people we share it with and that storytelling is one of the best ways to celebrate that.

Robert Knowles

Robert works in banking in Chicago, and lives in the city with his wife, Kat, and their two dogs, Melky and Oscar. Robert enjoys running, reading, and watching sports; his latest hobby is DuoLingo, and he hopes to soon be telling stories in German. He and his wife spend their weekends exploring Chicago’s bars and restaurants, though Robert prefers to stick to the Homer Simpson food groups: beer and doughnuts. Robert and Kat also like to travel, and continue to pick up new stories with every trip.

Millie Rey

Millie is a teacher and coach who has spent the bulk of her professional life helping people write confidently and complete their projects. (She recently started a company, Write to Do, to help more people. Look out for writetodo.com coming soon!) For Millie, finding one’s voice and saying what needs to be said or done is of critical importance to the world and our lives. Perhaps that’s why she has stubbornly kept working on her PhD in sociology and may finally finish really soon. (Say a prayer for her!) As for other endeavors, she has been a scholarship student at Joel Hall Dancers and a professional dancer with a Colombian folk dance company – Estampa Colombiana.

Steve Samuel

Steve fell in love with words his freshman year of high school where his freshman year English teacher took his class to a poetry slam. At the time Steve was just trying to get out of school, but to his surprise he enjoyed every minute of it. He noticed how people were able to use words to communicate their hardships, their trials, their life lessons. This is what Steve wants to do as he pursues to tell stories as true and as meaningful as possible. He is also a critical care nurse, loves basketball in all forms, and also enjoys a nice cold Stella.

Amrit Sooch

Amrit is a digital marketer and writer eagerly anticipating the soft launch of her debut poetry book, "Pain & Paper," just in time for this event. Writing stories was her childhood escape, and as an adult, rediscovered its therapeutic power. During her story, she plans to recite a poem and relate it back to a life event. It's a chance for her weave together her roles as both a marketer and a storyteller, hoping to encourage everyone to dive into her book!

Sara Wolfersberger

Sara Wolfersberger is a world language teacher who discovered the Chicago storytelling world in 2023 and she’s hooked for life. She cut her teeth with 2 stories at VoiceBox Story and Serenade in Berwyn, and has done a few open mics and attended The Get Together with the fabulous Scott Whitehair in 2024. She was inspired to start soliciting 1-line to 1-minute stories at the beginning of her middle school classes, which has been transformative for class culture and engagement.

April 2024

Laura Garcia

Laura is a new story teller but has sold quite a few girl scout cookies if needed. She recently shifted from the work-a-holic life to "live it up and enjoy just for the hell of it" one... and is enjoying each day as if it's the last. Exciting trips, relaxing beaches, and intimidating speeches.... :)

Ivy Glennon

I don”t use the “Dr.” much but as a lifelong procrastinator, the fact that I actually finished my PhD mattered to me. A lot. I told myself if I finished this, it would atone for the Famous Artists Course my financially strapped single Mother paid for that I never finished in High School. For the piano lessons I dropped at 15. For the tap lessons my Mom pulled me out of at six because I was not disciplined enough. More contemporaneously, it would justify choosing to leave my first career and latest job as a TV reporter—and my first husband who was not a fan of that choice. Yup, last of my class to get my degree (besides the half dozen or so who gave up and veered elsewhere), but hey I finished. That, for me, led to a better career (30 years as a professor), a better husband (married 34 years now) and an early retirement that lets me take art classes and dance whenever I want (See Mom). Still don’t play the piano but I am a great audience. Meanwhile, all the inevitable kinks in the road, metaphorically and literally (a major car accident in ‘95) led me to Taiji (tai chi) and its root meditation practice: Qigong (chi kung) for rehab. Turns out taiji has side effects—more grounding, better balance physically and emotionally and a lesser tendency to beat myself up for not “finishing”. This bio is in right under the wire, by the way. Change is hard.

John Knowles

John is a corporate attorney (it is nothing like it is on TV) who grew up in the west suburbs and has lived in Chicago for the last 20 years. He enjoys going to sporting events, going to cool restaurants and bars, and binge watching prestige TV shows. Pretty much all of his public speaking has taken place in court, so he is here to be judged in a bar, instead.

Cat Roberts

My name is Cat Roberts (I use they/them pronouns). I am a mixed media artist and activist who has worked in food service since 2007. I am a spiritual agnostic who obsesses with Buddhist philosophy. I believe storytelling and community go hand in hand, in life and elsewhere. I am a horror/anime geek who enjoys vegan dining, thrifting everything, enjoys concerts, baking and volunteer work days at animal sanctuaries. And I’ve been an Incubus fan since 1999.

Laura Sabransky

Laura has the kind of hobby that is not supposed to be discussed in polite company -- which is politics. So, generally, she spends her time with other troublemakers, and hopes tonight is no exception. In her career, she works with volunteer leaders, and starts off instructional and cautionary tales with the line "let me tell you a story..."

Lillian Nantucket Shoji

Lillian Nantucket Shoji is a Japanese-American artist who is fascinated by the throughlines of humanity. Did you know laughter is a universal language? How incredible! She has long believed that art is what nurtures our ability to witness and deeply know the joy, beauty, and heart of the world around us. She has a degree in physical theatre and frequently makes chocolate chip pancakes. Vocal vulnerability is rather scary to her, so she's excited to embark on this journey of storytelling where she can no longer hide behind her red nose or mimed walls. Embarking on journeys is a specialty of hers (yes, a Sagittarius) but for the time being she's looking forward to getting to know Chicago and its people.

March 2024

Marcia Kittler

A relatively new arrival, Marcia Kittler is excited to have joined Scott Whitehair’s robust storytelling community. Since 2019, Marcia has been an enthusiastic member of the Goodman Theatre’s GeNarrations community of personal narrative writers and performers. In January 2023, she was selected to perform in Chicago’s 26th annual Fillet of Solo Festival. During her 40-year career in technology, preparedness and compliance, Marcia was blessed to "write her way to success." As a DePaul University graduate, she is passionate about community engagement. Besides storytelling, Marcia volunteers for the Cook County Forest Preserves as an Illinois Extension Master Naturalist, and participates in meeting some needs of local underserved communities. Marcia lives on Chicago’s northwest side with her husband Tony and mischievous parrot, Kona.

Mary O'Connell

Mary O’Connell is a Chicago writer and a member of the Goodman GENarrations storytelling program. She was formerly director of communications for the Joyce Foundation and an editor at American Medical News, Center for Neighborhood Technology, and Northwestern University Press. She has worked on political campaigns, served on nonprofit boards, and currently leads a writing group at North Center Satellite Senior Center. A Chicago native and Loyola graduate, she lives in Rogers Park, and has two children, three grandchildren, and a dog, Leo.

Adam Rengstorf

Adam was born & raised in the northern suburbs of NYC, moved to Indiana for graduate school, and has been living in states that begin with the letter ‘I' since the mid-90s. He currently lives and works in northwest Indiana. During the day, he is a physics and astronomy professor and is slowly coming to terms with the fact that he may also be an administrator. His wife and daughter are both way cooler than he is, but most days he’s at least cooler than their dog. He recently began telling stories in public on purpose.

Rick Rosenthal

Rick recently completed the rare reverse-commute of moving to Chicago from Los Angeles, and he’s never been happier! Rick is an avid world traveler, loyal sports fan, concert goer, and explorer of Chicago’s amazing food scene. He loves walking his dog along the lake with his girlfriend and visiting his daughter at college in Madison. When he’s not performing his day-to-day job tasks, he’s fantasizing about going to culinary school, becoming a food and travel blogger, and writing screenplays. But, that is a story for another time.

Alan Steiner

A native of Toronto, Canada, Alan has been in Chicago since 1986. He is a freelance Double Bassist, piano technician and private bass teacher. Alan is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, former member of the Jerusalem Symphony, L’Orchestre Symphonique de Quebec, Canadian Opera Co. and a bunch of other stuff (clearly can’t keep a job). He can be found now and then presenting his “musical conversation”, TOUCH BASS WITH ALAN to whoever will listen.

Elena Vazquez

Elena Vazquez is a singer/songwriter and tech industry veteran living in Chicago with her partner Ben and their 3 cats. Originally from New York, Chicago has been her home for 19 of the last 25 years. She has been performing for over 20 years, more recently releasing solo musical projects independently. Her latest project, “I Used to be Fun” is a sardonic romp through the joys and compromises of middle age.

February 2024

Tres Dillon

Tres Dillon has performed in all manners of production from improv to sketch to burlesque. Her offstage contributions include comedy writing and choreography for the stage and screen. Tres is also an accomplished hair stylist with over 15 years of experience under her belt, leading her clients and friends to coin her The Hairapist. Tres realized her love of creativity, teaching, and personal growth needed a new outlet. Now in her journey of storytelling, Tres is ecstatic to share the experiences and lessons she’s learned along the way!

Sheila Hanford

Sheila is a professional violinist who recently finished a master's degree in social work and is now working in community mental health. She enjoys her family, her dog, canoeing/camping trips in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota, and being a fierce advocate for better mental health treatment. Inspired by storytelling friends, she decided to take the leap into presenting in front of an audience. She loves storytelling but has never officially been a storyteller!

Laura Jolly

Laura has been a storyteller her entire life – from keeping classmates awake during naptime in preschool with her constant chatter, to the invented stories that her teachers had to write home about, to finally learning to write and getting hand cramps from furiously writing them all down. Now Laura delights her family, friends and coworkers with stories via writing, art, videos, music, dancing, photoshop, sign language, and occasionally even verbally. This will be her first experience speaking at a storytelling event. Laura is originally from Hawaii but now lives in Chicago with her two cats, 900 books, and an explosion of color. By day she works in technical support, which she promises is a lot more exciting than it sounds (mainly due to her own creative antics).

Philip Kenner

Philip Kenner is a Chicago-based writer, educator, and administrator originally from New Rochelle, NY. Philip’s poetry and prose have been published in bookstore poets vol. 1, Let My People Cum, Colectivo Tabú, HAVOC for the Holidays, and COPY Magazine. His play, THE MALL THE MALL THE MALL, recently had a 4-week run in Chicago as one of two mainstage productions in The Once and Future Festival. Philip loves to throw us in the mud of our collective shame so that we can have a good, filthy laugh. For more of his work, check out philkenner.com. Photo by Grace Barry.

Oleg Shilkrut

Oleg is a traveler, photographer, and an aspiring writer, exploring his experiences as an immigrant as well travel adventures in his writing. He is recently married, and lives in Chicago with his wife and their new pup Leon.

Tiff Wright

I am a recovering evangelical, Pentecostal pastor's daughter and professional mediator using my middle child super power to help people talk through their conflicts like adults. I am also a survivor of domestic violence, a visual artist and vocalist. I've been a Chicago area resident for 38.75 of my 39 years. Every winter, I swear I will move away from this hellish cold for good, and every summer I am again seduced by our beautiful city's many charms. I am honored and delighted to share my stories.

January 2024

Maggie Cain

MAGGIE CAIN has been an actor for a long time and a storyteller for a short time. She has also been short for a long time. She has performed at many theatres around Chicago like Steep, Griffin, The Factory, Mary-Arrchie, Broken Nose, City Lit and Raven, and has pretended to be everyone from Anne Frank to Amanda Wingfield to Mrs. Claus. You may have seen her on Chicago Fire, in her COVID TIME YouTube videos or in Watching Game of Thrones with Your Mom. She is now enjoying performing as herself.

Dan Cooney

Dan Cooney is a long time Chicago performer. He is an Equity actor and recorded singer-songwriter. His CD Islands in the Desert is available on Apple I-Tunes and Spotify. Dan studied with Del Close (a GREAT Storyteller) at Second City. He is a lifelong Chicago resident (reflected in his tales) and hopes to find friendly stages ad infinitum…..

Annie Gibson

Despite being just shy of 30 years old, Annie Gibson has led a myriad of lives: a decade as a competitive volleyball coach, a four-year stint as a starving art student, a two-year tenure as a disgruntled bartender, followed by three years as a motion graphics artist for STARZ. Now, Annie is currently trying her hand as a storyteller. She is a Chicago transplant of 3 years, trading Colorado mountains for hot dogs and rats. She is a devoted single mother to a dog with a fetch addiction, and these days you'll find Annie working as an Art Director, playing on her Kindle, striving to connect with others through her stories, doodling occasionally, and man-handling her camera.

Colleen Harper

Colleen has spent her life perpetually in 2 worlds: Ireland and the USA, theater and healthcare. She grew up during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, practiced as a physiotherapist in Belfast and also worked in local theaters when there weren’t bomb scares. She came to the US in 1984, practiced physical therapy and also worked in Irish theater as well as Improv. She was about to head back to Ireland when she met her husband, Brian. With the birth of her son Sam, the theater work went on the back burner for 30 years. But now that he’s fully launched, and she has retired from healthcare, she is delighted to have found Scott and Storytelling.

Claudia Maru

Claudia Maru is very happy to be part of Story Lab. A vegetarian with a huge affinity for all animals (particularly very tiny chihuahuas), she spent most of her adult life to this point working for the man in healthcare research. She discovered the power of storytelling just this past summer and was instantly hooked. She'd like you to tell her your story sometime!

Joel Simon

Joel Simon’s family thinks his stories are too long and complicated- hopefully not all of you will agree. Most of what he says is mostly true - at least as he remembers it. He wasn’t born or raised in Chicago but is a pretty decent Chicagoan nonetheless despite not giving a damn about sports. He doesn’t get upset if you put ketchup on a hot dog - only if you try to call it a Chicago dog after having done so. He had long curly hair as a young adult, and then again during COVID, cutting it short again in the summer of 2023. In 2022he visited his 50th state - Delaware. His favorite cookie type recently changed from oatmeal raisin to ginger molasses. He plays several instruments - the mandolin most competently . Professionally, he studies regional economies to help schools and job training programs prepare underrepresented populations for good jobs and careers. He lives just a few minutes walk from Story Lab’s cozy venue.