Morehead, More Stories

In less than a week I will be at Morehead State University creating art with a whole new generation. I'm excited to see how different the campus is since it's been almost a decade since I graduated.  I'm excited to see how different and similar this generation is, to see old friends like the professor I'm boarding with. I am excited to hear new true stories. I'm excited to "give back" as I've mentioned before. Have times changed in Eastern Kentucky, or is it a place stuck in the valley frozen in time? MSU was always pretty gay-friendly despite its position on the GPS, but there was definitely some work to do. 

But I have a lot to get in order before I head out. I have to make sure everything is in line at both of my jobs so that I can work remotely and keep my employment! I have to finish up some things with my friend for the film documentary version of Cleaning Closets so that the next big announcement will be ready by the time I get back. I really want to tell you more about that but it'll just have to wait. Until then, you can enjoy blog posts from the students as they recount their journey through the Cleaning Closets experience. 

Sorry It's Been So Long

Sometimes I wish I could just spend all day crafting my art because I have so many project ideas I want to work on. But that doesn't exactly pay the bills and I have a responsibility to my household to at least keep our utilities from getting shut off. So when it comes time to prioritize my projects, it's extremely hard especially when the inspiration for one idea comes but I'm supposed to be focused on a different project.
For instance, I've been writing a separate play outside of Cleaning Closets for a while now, but my priority is the script for the web series and my lesson plans for MSU. So sometimes my other script must fall to the wayside. But when the inspiration for other projects hits, I can't ignore it and risk losing it all. So I have to start writing down ideas for those projects. Now I also need to start working on the editing for the film documentary.  But trust me when I say it'll all get done!  The good thing is I can set my own deadlines, but I don't want to keep pushing things off either.  Oh the life of an artist.  

I Am Not A Slacker

I have a meeting with one of the producers of the web series next week to edit the script.  Sometimes I feel like I'm so far behind because this script (which will double as a stage play and then be adapted into the web series) has been in the making for two years now.  That seems like such a long time.  But with work and other projects and my collaborators' schedules, it's not easy to create.  But I am constantly thinking about the project whether or not I'm actually writing something down.  But different artists work at different paces and have different processes.  That's just something I have to keep reminding myself.  Besides, I want the product to be the best that it can be.

A Night of Success!

Cleaning Closets: A Night of Storytelling was an amazing event!  I cannot even get over how exciting it was to experience it finally come to fruition.  The storytellers gave great performances and shared candid stories.  We had about 30 people in attendance which is close to a full house for the venue!  The audience was engaged and entertained.  And the best part was walking around afterward and listening to the audience share their own stories over drinks.  They really were inspired to continue the conversation at their tables.  A big thanks goes out to my co-curator and host Kim Morris, as well as the performers who have bios listed below, and to Chad Luellen at The Glenwood.  Keep checking back on the Archives page to see the video from the night.  And the sneak peak of the documentary was a huge hit!  It really generated buzz for the film. 

Katie L. is a writer and storyteller who moved from Boston to Chicago last year. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, the Boston Globe, Gastronomica Magazine, and the Toast. She likes to bike and talk to strangers.

Laura Stempel is, among other things, a reader, a writer, a knitter, a gardener, a teaching artist in the Goodman Theater’s Ge/Narrations program, and co-chair of the LBTQ Giving Council of the Chicago Foundation for Women.  She’s appeared at Sappho’s Salon, Outspoken, Gerber Hart, and in several performance projects with Lucky Pierre.  She’s currently at work on something that may turn out to be a memoir or a set of essays or possibly just a bunch of disconnected writing that only entertains her.  Read her style blog at <www.laurastempel.com/matchorclash>.

Jeremy Owens is the creator and producer of You're Being Ridiculous. He has told stories with Lifeline Theatre's Filet of Solo Festival, Story Club, Guts & Glory, Story Sessions, That's All She Wrote and The Paper Machete. He's a food writer for Oy Chicago and Gapers Block and wants to be Roxane Gay when he grows up.

***Be sure to check out my encore performance at the next You're Being Ridiculous.  

Storytelling Press Release

Explore the coming out process with an exciting mix of performers from Chicago’s storytelling scene at Cleaning Closets: A Night of Storytelling on Saturday, September 27 at 7pm at The Glenwood in Rogers Park. This event is co-curated by Jonathan Mayo and Kim Morris. Cleaning Closets is an oral history project that collects and shares true coming out stories from both sides of the closet door. This includes the perspective of the LGBTQ individuals as well as the family and friends to whom they come out. For information on the project, check out www.CleaningClosets.org. The Glenwood is conveniently located off the Morse Red Line stop at 6962 N. Glenwood Avenue. Cleaning Closets: A Night of Storytelling is a one-night storytelling event that shares a variety of point of views about the coming out process that include a lesbian daughter, a straight sister, and a little gay Kreplach. Featured storytellers are Katie Liesener, Laura Stempel, and Jeremy Owens.  You’ll laugh and cry as you learn that not every fairy’s tale has a happy ending.  Plus you'll be able to catch a sneak peak of the upcoming film documentary! 

Co-curators Kim Morris and Jonathan Mayo are both a part of the storytelling community in Chicago. Morris has been a member of the 2nd Story Collective and is also one of the founding curators of the annual Side Project Theatre Company Storytelling Festival. Mayo has also been involved with the Side Project festival and decided to create the Cleaning Closets oral history project when he was inspired by a conversation with his mother about his own coming out. It’s only once we hear both sides of a story that we can find common ground.

The Glenwood is a gay-friendly, neighborhood bar in Rogers Park with friendly bartenders and great drink specials. Come out and start your Saturday off with good drinks and good stories at Cleaning Closets: A Night of Storytelling. 

Almost a Night of Storytelling

It’s been a long process getting the storytelling event organized, but it’s been worth it.  We have selected our storytellers.  We’ve found a new venue to replace the one that closed down.  I don’t know how we did it so fast.  There’s still a lot left to do, though.  We have to market for the event, so be sure to keep an eye out next week for all of those materials.  We have to have a meeting with the storytellers, as well as a development session for them to make some edits, as well as a rehearsal for them to practice reading their stories aloud.  I also have to work with my other associate to do some editing on the film documentary so that we can preview a sneak peak of it at the storytelling event.  Lots to do!