The smash hit musical Hamilton poses a singular and poignant question: who lives, who dies, who tells your story? In other words, how will history see you? At Better Said Than Done, we take the initiative and tell our own stories, today. And that’s just what we’ll be doing this coming Saturday, June 27th. Get your tickets here!
This time around, we’ve gathered a mix of old friends and new to bring you stories of many types, from all around the country. Take a look at the stellar line-up that will grace our online stage!
Alton Chung shares stories and legends from Hawaii, Asian folk tales, and stories of the Japanese American Experience of WWII. Internationally, he has performed at the Congress of Asian Storytellers in Singapore, the International Gimme Story Storytelling Festival in the Cayman Islands, and venues in India, China, and Okinawa. His domestic appearances include the Talk Story Festival, the Bay Area Storytelling Festival, the Four Corners Storytelling Festival, the Oklahoma City Storytelling Festival, and the National Storytelling Festival as a New Voice Teller.
The primary author of the 2020 Virginia Democratic Party’s Resolution Declaring Racism a Public Health Crisis, Delegate Arthuretta Holmes-Martin has been an advocate for Human and Civil Rights for over 30 years. She is a professional speaker and storyteller who shares the power of personal narratives to heal, transform, and empower the listener. As a teaching artist, she presents the power of stories in public speaking to community, educational and corporate audiences.
David Lawson recently appeared on Comedy Central Originals (sketch “The Rage Restaurant”) and has been a guest on the popular storytelling shows Kevin Allison’s RISK!, Mortified, and Mara Wilson’s What Are You Afraid Of? For over six years he’s hosted The Astoria Bookshop Storytelling Show which has been featured in the New York Times.
Erin Benbennick’s storytelling experience ranges from folk tales around the campfire to performance improvement tales around the board room table. She has performed at several Better Said Than Done shows, as well as local and international story swaps – but she treasures her Grandma bedtime storytelling gigs above all the rest.
Called a “natural raconteur” by the Washington Post, Jamie Brickhouse is the author of Dangerous When Wet: A Memoir of Booze, Sex, and My Mother. He’s appeared on PBS’ Stories from the Stage, The Moth Podcast, Risk! Podcast, Story Collider Podcast, is a 4-time Moth StorySLAM champ and a National Storytelling Network Grand Slam champion, and has recorded voice-overs on Beavis and Butthead. A fixture on the New York City storytelling scene, he’s been on storytelling stages (live and virtual) across the globe.
Miriam Nadel is an aerospace engineer, craftswoman, blogger, and traveler. She has told stories at venues ranging from a Hollywood art gallery to the Washington Folk Festival. She is also the Virginia State Liaison for the National Storytelling Network and on the board of Voices in the Glen.
Sarah Snyder has worn many hats: newspaper columnist and reporter, writing instructor, communications manager and consultant, blogger, and author. Through the telling of her own experiences, she inspires others to examine what it means to live a meaningful life. Her memoir, Plant Trees, Carry Sheep: A Woman’s Spiritual Journey Among the Sufis of Scotland, was published in 2019. Her latest book, The Value of Your Soul: Rumi Verse for Life’s Annoying Moments, comes out in September. The 4th edition of her travel guide to her home state, Scenic Driving Montana, will be published in 2021. Sarah lives in Northern Virginia.
Sharon Price Singer is newish to the storytelling stage, as she needed an audience after repeating the same stories to friends and families too many times. Sharon is originally from New York City, spent 15 years in DC, and now lives in Reston, VA with her husband and three dogs: Rosie, Shlomo, and Babka. Her career has been working on ending homelessness and providing safe, affordable housing for households in need.
Hosting this time around is yours truly, Jack Scheer. The fabulous Nick Baskerville will be riding shotgun, keeping the tech side of things under control. The show starts at 9 P.M. EDT.
As ever, our Come As You Are shows are pay-what-you-can, with a suggested contribution of $15 per person (our standard “at the door” ticket price), with a minimum contribution of $5. Proceeds are shared among the performers and Better Said Than Done.
Ticket sales close at 7:00 P.M. EDT on the day of the show. Grab ’em now!
(And if you missed our June 12th show, you have until June 28th to check out the Video Viewing Party recording of that night. I was honored to be a part of this show. It was a truly special night of tales, heart, and connection. Give it a look – you won’t be sorry.)
