In November 2012, we tried out a new idea: to pair filmmaking teams with a storyteller and give then five days to make a film inspired by their story. Thanks for our talented storytellers and the participation of some of DC’s finest filmmaking teams, the event was a huge hit.  The filmmakers talked about how challenging and fun it was to have a true story from which to build a script. Storytellers got the chance to see their stories interpreted in a new way, through a different medium. The audience got to see the stories live, then a week later, watch the films, so we all got to be part of the anticipation and get a window into the creative process.  And we all got to make some fabulous and creative new friends.  See post by Mike Kane for a storyteller’s perspective on the event. Check out the story-inspired films below. Click on the links to see the original stories (unfortunately, we don’t currently have original recordings of Stephanie Garibaldi or Vijai Nathan).

Man of Letters – Grand Prize Winner
Based on a true story by Adam Ruben
Film created by Big Honkin’ Films
Austin Bragg, Director

When a man who loves words decides to venture into the world of competitive Scrabble, his good nature quickly turns flagitious, iniquitous, maleficent, repugnant.

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by Stephanie Garibaldi

You could feel the same kind of electricity in the air as right before the best concert of your life–the one that had you camping out all night just to get a ticket. It was July 10, and the show’s theme was Band Camp: Stories about Music, Raves, and Rock & Roll.

By the time Host Amy Saidman stepped on the stage to open the show, the packed house went wild with applause, whoopin’, and hootenanny. Amy talked about the very first concert she ever saw: Prince’s Purple Rain, because even in her youth, she was cool like that. She shared from cards that audience members had filled out about their first concerts ever, including Kiss, Lionel Ritchie, Britney Spears Bitch, (comment or tour name?) and even Elvis.

(Really? Wow.)

The audience grew even more raucous when Amy Read More

by Stephanie Garibaldi

Whether Stories Were Dark or Light, the June 12 Speakeasy Felt Oh-So-Right

Let’s face it: SpeakeasyDC audience members are a highly evolved, super intelligent, wildly complex group of people. So it’s only natural that the audience would relate well to a show on the theme Jekyll & Hyde: Stories about the dark and light of human nature.

Host Stephanie Garibaldi got the “ Isn’t-human-nature-bizarre?” ball rolling by sharing her story about what happened on a 3-month Eurrail trip to discover whether people were basically good, bad, or in between. Having been harshly awakened off an Athens park bench by an angry guard with a water hose, almost arrested by Venice police for merely bumming a boat ride, and mugged by pick-pockets in Paris who lacked the finesse that Parisian pick-pockets are famed for, Stephanie felt herself getting down on human nature. She deliberately chose the destination of Amsterdam as part of her search for the lighter side of human nature, figuring that a city with legalized prostitution and marijuana must be more carefree than the rest of Europe. It was working, right up until she asked the first Amsterdam resident she met her favorite Q: Read More

Expectations ran high through the audience as small-but-mighty SpeakeasyDC leader Amy Saidman stepped up to the mic to kick off Tuesday’s show on “A Hero’s Journey: Stories about Tests and Quests.” With a theme like that, people figured that in addition to hearing smart, funny, and surprising true stories, they were bound to hear stories that were also powerful, moving, and perhaps even life-changing. They were not disappointed.

Host Saidman got us off to a strong start, as she recounted how her Quest for Romance had been tragically thwarted by her inability to cope with the mad, mad ways of a professional dating service, leaving her single to this day. How is this possible? She’s so damn charming and compact that you just want to put her in your pocket and take her home with you.

David Ferris fearlessly took up the epic storytelling baton, as our first open mic performer. He delighted the audience with an opening visual of 3 Playboy Bunnies approaching him in the jungle, only to clarify that this did not happen on a porn set, but rather while competing in a 12-day, 300-mile race through Borneo as part of a pre-Survivor reality TV show. His quest shifted from winning the race to bedding bunny rivals; from besting bunny rivals to just plain finishing the race at all. His quest may have been lost, but his dreams and humor are intact. Read More

by Jessica Piscitelli Robinson

Better Said Than Done had our last big show at Jammin’ Java on St. Patrick’s Day.  It was a challenge, coming up with a theme for that holiday that wasn’t all about being Irish, but I think we found a good one. “The Luck of the Irish,” luckily, was a big success but, more importantly, a fantastic night of stories.

Adam Ruben and Jessica Piscitelli co-hosted the event, obviously perfect hosts based on their strong Irish roots.  After the usual “turn off your cell phone” type announcements, Jessica Piscitelli introduced Adam Ruben who started out the night with a story about his unique approach to elementary school field day.  It was a great story to warm up the audience because there wasn’t a dry eye in the house, from all the laughing. Read More