
Archive for 2010
Pick on Someone Your Own Size: Stories about bullies and guardian angels
Tuesday, November 9th, 2010
November 9, 2010 at Town Danceboutique
A night of true tales told live
- Doors open at 6:30pm
- Show starts at 8pm
- Must be 21 and must have ID.
- 2009 8th St, NW,Washington, DC, 20009 near corner of U Street
- $10 cover at door – cash-only
- $10 cash-only additional for all-you -can-eat buffet provided by Nellie’s Sports Bar. This month: Fried rice, spring rolls, dumplings, Asian salad
- Full bar – credit or cash
- Street parking or paid lot next door $10 or take Green or Yellow line to U St/Cardozo and exit on 10th Street side. Walk two blocks east. Town is less than a half a block on the right.
- There is an ATM on the premises.
- Wheelchair accessible
To sign up for open mic
Fill out the online form in advance using the drop-down box to indicate the night you want to perform. You will have seven minutes to tell your story. We are strict about this, so don’t go over or you will be cut off. Also, you must tell a true story (again, it’s not a stage for stand-up, poetry, readings, fiction, or folktales) and you must incorporate the theme. You will be contacted 3-4 weeks before the specified show to arrange a free (and mandatory) coaching session with our Education Director, Stephanie Garibaldi. She can be reached at [email protected] if you have any questions (Please do not use this address to sign up. This is only for questions.)
Thanks to Alexander Morozov for photographing our shows.
Tentative line-up (alphabetical order)
Michael Cotter
Jane Debenham
Kelly Donnellan
Lauren Donovan
Ayanna Dookie
Adam Meyer
Joseph Price
Corey Quinlan Taylor
Adam Ruben

Storytelling 101 – Discover, develop, and perform your life stories
Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010
Wednesdays, Nov 3, 10, 17, and Dec 1, 2010, 7-10pm, $225
(Tuesday, Nov 9 is SpeakeasyDC’s open mic. You will be given a free pass to attend as part of your tuition. Seating will be reserved for students on that night, as well.)
First 3 classes take place at St. Stephen’s Church (see below for more details) at 1525 Newton Street NW, Washington, DC 20010 See map
Final class will be a student showcase and take place at another location TBA
Note: SpeakeasyDC does not give refunds (full or partial) for voluntary withdrawal from the class. There are limited slots in the class so that we may give sufficient attention to each student. Because of this, we typically have to turn people away. Should you choose to withdraw, we will have a vacancy that we can no longer fill.
DESCRIPTION:
This class is designed to teach the art of developing and performing an original, personal narrative drawn from real-life experience. We facilitate the storytelling process from beginning to end with each session centering on a step in the process. Students who join the class come from varied backgrounds and have different goals and applications. Some hope to perform on a SpeakeasyDC stage, others have found storytelling useful in the work they do, and others just enjoy the creative process and the community. There are 2 instructors and we cap this class at 12 to maintain a 6:1 ratio of student to teacher.
Comments from students:
I learned so much — especially about how hard it is to craft a compelling story — and really had great fun along the way.
There was no doubt that I really liked this class… I appreciated the many little tips you provided on how to make a story and how to make that story work…
I took away a clear understanding of what makes a good story and confidence that I can develop and tell a story competently.
IN THIS CLASS, YOU WILL:
- learn how to find raw story material from your own memories and experiences
- discuss the fundamentals of story structure
- discover effective storytelling techniques
- apply story techniques and structure to your own story
- receive honest and thorough feedback from instructors and students
- have the opportunity to practice your storyelling and perform in front of an audience
- learn how to coach and support your peers in the story-creation process
- hear a lot of great stories and watch yours and your classmates’ stories take shape over the four weeks
- become part of a wonderful network of people with shared interests and knowledge
GETTING TO ST. STEPHENS CHURCH:
Street parking is available, but we are not permitted to park in the lot. You can also take any S bus up or down 16th Street or walk about 6 blocks/10 min from Columbia Hts. Metro (Green/Yellow). Walk north on 14th St 3 blocks, turn left on Newton and walk one long block. Just before you get to 16th St, turn right into the parking lot. Enter through the red doors that opens onto the parking lot and faces 16th St. This facility is wheelchair accessible. Please let us know in advance if that is something you need so we can make proper arrangements.
Coming Out: Stories about revelations, debuts, and proclamations (in honor of National Coming Out Day)
Tuesday, October 12th, 2010
October 12, 2010 at Town Danceboutique
A night of true tales told live

- Doors open at 6:30pm
- Show starts at 8pm
- Must be 21 and must have ID.
- 2009 8th St, NW,Washington, DC, 20009 near corner of U Street
- $10 cover at door – cash-only
- $10 cash-only additional for all-you -can-eat buffet provided by Nellie’s Sports Bar. Tonight’s menu: pulled pork bbq sandwiches, Nellie’s famous chicken wings, veggie burgers. sweet potato mash, corn souffle, cole slaw, assorted cookies.
- Full bar – credit or cash
- Street parking or paid lot next door $10 or take Green or Yellow line to U St/Cardozo and exit on 10th Street side. Walk two blocks east. Town is less than a half a block on the right.
- There is an ATM on the premises.
- Wheelchair accessible
To sign up for open mic
Fill out the online form in advance using the drop-down box to indicate the night you want to perform. You will have seven minutes to tell your story. We are strict about this, so don’t go over or you will be cut off. Also, you must tell a true story (again, it’s not a stage for stand-up, poetry, readings, fiction, or folktales) and you must incorporate the theme. You will be contacted 3-4 weeks before the specified show to arrange a free (and mandatory) coaching session with our Education Director, Stephanie Garibaldi. She can be reached at [email protected] if you have any questions (Please do not use this address to sign up. This is only for questions.)
Thanks to Alexander Morozov for photographing our shows.
Tentative line-up (alphabetical order)
Host: John Kevin Boggs
Opening act: Vijai Nathan
Open mic:
Amy Couchoud
Twain Dooley
Stephanie Garibaldi
Molly Kelly
Jennifer Luu
Scott Swafford

Storytelling 101 – Discover, develop, and perform your life stories
Wednesday, October 6th, 2010
Wednesdays, Oct 6, 13, 20 & 27 2010, 7-10pm, $225
(Tuesday, Oct 12 is SpeakeasyDC’s open mic. You will be given a free pass to attend as part of your tuition. Seating will be reserved for students on that night, as well.)
Classes take place at St. Stephen’s Church (see below for more details) at 1525 Newton Street NW, Washington, DC 20010 See map. The final showcase may take place at another location TBA
Note: SpeakeasyDC does not give refunds (full or partial) for voluntary withdrawal from the class. There are limited slots in the class so that we may give sufficient attention to each student. Because of this, we typically have to turn people away. Should you choose to withdraw, we will have a vacancy that we can no longer fill.
DESCRIPTION:
This class is designed to teach the art of developing and performing an original, personal narrative drawn from real-life experience. We facilitate the storytelling process from beginning to end with each session centering on a step in the process. Students who join the class come from varied backgrounds and have different goals and applications. Some hope to perform on a SpeakeasyDC stage, others have found storytelling useful in the work they do, and others just enjoy the creative process and the community. There are 2 instructors and we cap this class at 12 to maintain a 6:1 ratio of student to teacher.
Comments from students:
I learned so much — especially about how hard it is to craft a compelling story — and really had great fun along the way.
There was no doubt that I really liked this class… I appreciated the many little tips you provided on how to make a story and how to make that story work…
I took away a clear understanding of what makes a good story and confidence that I can develop and tell a story competently.
IN THIS CLASS, YOU WILL:
- learn how to find raw story material from your own memories and experiences
- discuss the fundamentals of story structure
- discover effective storytelling techniques
- apply story techniques and structure to your own story
- receive honest and thorough feedback from instructors and students
- have the opportunity to practice your storyelling and perform in front of an audience
- learn how to coach and support your peers in the story-creation process
- hear a lot of great stories and watch yours and your classmates’ stories take shape over the four weeks
- become part of a wonderful network of people with shared interests and knowledge
GETTING TO ST. STEPHENS CHURCH:
Street parking is available, but we are not permitted to park in the lot. You can also take any S bus up or down 16th Street or walk about 6 blocks/10 min from Columbia Hts. Metro (Green/Yellow). Walk north on 14th St 3 blocks, turn left on Newton and walk one long block. Just before you get to 16th St, turn right into the parking lot. Enter through the red doors that opens onto the parking lot and faces 16th St. This facility is wheelchair accessible. Please let us know in advance if that is something you need so we can make proper arrangements.
Gay Day at Hillwood Museum
Saturday, October 2nd, 2010
Saturday, October 2 . 10am-6pm. Stories at 2pm and 4pm (same line-up) at the vistor’s center
at Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens
4155 Linnean Ave. WDC 20008 Directions
SpeakeasyDC has been invited to participate in The Hillwood Museum’s annual Gay Day. Since the focus this year is on celebrating the newfound right of couples in DC to legally marry, we are putting together a show of stories about LGBT weddings and marriage. We will present two half-hour shows with the same line-up. One at 2pm and the second at 4pm. Featured storytellers: Kathryn Hamm (co-founder of gayweddings.com), Howard Menaker, and Celeste Morgan. 
The rest of the day will include a bunch of wedding-themed programs. Morning activities start off by throwing a GLBT family garden party with Rainbow Families. Afternoon festivities include a wedding reception-style “Punch on the Portico,” a wedding dress worn by Mrs. Post, an electronic “album” of Post-family weddings, glorious floral displays, and exclusive peeks into rooms not usually open to the public. Straight Eights showcase their vintage cars and DC Lambda Squares provides us with square dancing–a Mrs. Post favorite!
Storytelling 101 – Discover, develop, and perform your life stories – FULL
Tuesday, September 28th, 2010
Tuesdays, September 28, Oct 5, 19 and 26, 2010, 7-10pm, $225
(Tuesday, Oct 12 is SpeakeasyDC’s open mic. You will be given a free pass to attend as part of your tuition. Seating will be reserved for students on that night, as well.)
First 3 classes take place at St. Stephen’s Church (see below for more details) at 1525 Newton Street NW, Washington, DC 20010 See map
Final class will be a student showcase and take place at Miss Pixie’s Furnishings and Whatnot at 1626 14th St, NW, Washington, DC 20009 See map
Note: SpeakeasyDC does not give refunds (full or partial) for voluntary withdrawal from the class. There are limited slots in the class so that we may give sufficient attention to each student. Because of this, we typically have to turn people away. Should you choose to withdraw, we will have a vacancy that we can no longer fill.
DESCRIPTION:
This class is designed to teach the art of developing and performing an original, personal narrative drawn from real-life experience. We facilitate the storytelling process from beginning to end with each session centering on a step in the process. Students who join the class come from varied backgrounds and have different goals and applications. Some hope to perform on a SpeakeasyDC stage, others have found storytelling useful in the work they do, and others just enjoy the creative process and the community. There are 2 instructors and we cap this class at 12 to maintain a 6:1 ratio of student to teacher.
Comments from students:
I learned so much — especially about how hard it is to craft a compelling story — and really had great fun along the way.
There was no doubt that I really liked this class… I appreciated the many little tips you provided on how to make a story and how to make that story work…
I took away a clear understanding of what makes a good story and confidence that I can develop and tell a story competently.
IN THIS CLASS, YOU WILL:
- learn how to find raw story material from your own memories and experiences
- discuss the fundamentals of story structure
- discover effective storytelling techniques
- apply story techniques and structure to your own story
- receive honest and thorough feedback from instructors and students
- have the opportunity to practice your storyelling and perform in front of an audience
- learn how to coach and support your peers in the story-creation process
- hear a lot of great stories and watch yours and your classmates’ stories take shape over the four weeks
- become part of a wonderful network of people with shared interests and knowledge
GETTING TO ST. STEPHENS CHURCH:
Street parking is available, but we are not permitted to park in the lot. You can also take any S bus up or down 16th Street or walk about 6 blocks/10 min from Columbia Hts. Metro (Green/Yellow). Walk north on 14th St 3 blocks, turn left on Newton and walk one long block. Just before you get to 16th St, turn right into the parking lot. Enter through the red doors that opens onto the parking lot and faces 16th St. This facility is wheelchair accessible. Please let us know in advance if that is something you need so we can make proper arrangements.























