I’m taking a card from “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me,” and saying that, though 2016 was pretty awful, there was at least an hour and a half each month that wasn’t entirely horrible. Here’s a look back at some of the highlights of 2016, according to Better Said Than Done storytelling. I think it’s safe to say we did a lot of good, had a lot of fun, and made some great friends in 2016. I hope you feel like you’re one of them!
In the case of each of the storytelling shows listed below, I have included a link to the playlist of that show’s videos. Just click on through if you’d like to relive our storytelling shows in all their glory.
January
We started 2016 off right with a storytelling show at The Auld Shebeen in Fairfax, VA – Wasn’t Me: true personal stories about mistaken identity. Hosted by Derek Hills, returning storytellers included Pierce McManus, Kathy Stershic, Sandra Hull, Richard Barr, Mike Kane, Catherine Calvin, Anna Marie Trester and Ann Cavazos, and new to the Better Said Than Done stage was Jay Krasnow.
February
Better Said Than Done teacher Mary Supley Foxworth led a storytelling workshop for the U.S. Department of State and teacher Jessica Robinson led a panel on storytelling for Marie Stopes International. To take our minds off the cold, our storytelling show took the audience to Margaritaville with host Dustin Fisher and storytellers Ann Cavazos, Catherine Calvin, Bill Burton, Sandra Hull, Richard Barr, Bill Grella, Jack Pelar, Jack Scheer.
March
We launched part one of our storytelling contest in honor of our upcoming 5-year anniversary! More than 20 storytellers submitted videos of their top Better Said Than Done story performances, looking for your votes so they could advance to part two – the anniversary show – in May.
April
Liezel Munson hosted Man’s Best Friend: stories about pets, with returning storytellers Richard Barr, Mattie Cohan, Sandra Hull, Jennifer Greene and Colleen Pelar and three first time storytellers – Alex Dixon, Stacy Crickmer and Tamara Lords!
May
Better Said Than Done celebrated 5 years of storytelling in Northern Virginia with our anniversary show and contest Best in Show. The storytellers voted into the show at Jammin’ Java in Vienna, VA, accumulated over 1000 online votes, awarding them a spot in the contest and the honor of being in the top ten list. The storytellers in our anniversary show were:
Alison Hughes
Miriam Nadel
David Supley Foxworth
Anna Marie Trester
Liezel Munson
Jack Scheer
Anne Thomas
Zach Wilks
Incidentally, the show was also a contest and Zack Wilks, Anne Thomas and Alison Hughes won the audience vote!
June
We returned to The Auld Shebeen in Fairfax, VA for The Graduate: stories about graduation and education. Storytellers included Richard Barr, Jessica Robinson, Bill Grella, Barbara Effron, Geraldine Buckley, Mattie Cohan, Bill Burton and Sandra Hull.
July
Camp Stories included true, personal stories by Miriam Nadel, Jack Pelar, Brent Heard, Catherine Calvin, Dustin Fisher, Sandra Hull, Anna Marie Trester, and Jack Scheer.
August
We launched a completely new format of storytelling show, with You Choose the Adventure. Derek Hills was the host, and our adventurous storytellers were played by Jessica Robinson, Stephanie Garibaldi, Len Kruger, Anne Thomas, and Mary & David Supley Foxworth. They put their stories in your hands, polling the audience to find out what part of the story to tell next.
September
Better Said Than Done hosted a benefit show for Friends of Reston at the Walker Nature Education Center in Reston, VA. Wild Life was hosted by Jessica Robinson, with stories by Bill Burton, Catherine Calvin, Miriam Nadel, Richard Barr, Mel Pine and new to the Better Said Than Done stage, Fanny Crawford and first time storyteller Elinor Klein.
Better Said Than Done participated in George Mason University’s Fall for the Book Festival again. Storytellers Ann Cavazos, Fanny Crawford, John Pelar, Jessica Robinson, Mary and David Supley Foxworth and Jack Scheer performed in The Impossible Dream. Storytelling workshop leaders Jessica Robinson and Mary Supley Foxworth also led a storytelling workshop for Fall for the Book participants.
October – Better Said Than Done founder Jessica Robinson gave a storytelling presentation to the Legal Services of Northern Virginia. Jessica’s urban fantasy novel Caged was published.
In A Night at the Improv 3, storytellers Jessica Robinson, Peter Gorman, Mary Supley Foxworth, Richard Barr, Liezel Munson, BN Heard, Mel Pine, Ellie Klein, Robert Lovejoy, Sandra Hull were asked to improvise their stories live with help from the audience and host Anna Marie Trester. Robert Lovejoy joined us for the first time and we’re so lucky he did!
November
In keeping with our tradition, we ended our show season in November with Tradition: stories about how things are done. Dan Smith and Davine Kerr blessed our stage with their presence for the first time. Sandra Hull donned the host robes for the first time. We heard from the always wonderful storytellers Bill Grella, Robert Lovejoy, Richard Barr, Mel Pine, and Catherine Calvin one last time for the year. And, sadly, we bid farewell to our own Anna Marie Trester, who sailed West, leaving us just a little at a loss for words.
December
We took December to recover, reflect, and plan for the great things to come in 2017. I don’t want to spoil it, but we have many great storytelling shows coming your way.
One might worry that things can only get worse in 2017. To that I say, you are welcome, for an hour and a half every month, to make Better Said Than Done your safe space. Join us, January 28, at The Auld Shebeen in Fairfax, VA, for our very own Inauguration: true stories of beginnings, ceremonies, and all things presidential.
