Holy sh*t, we’re performing at the 9:30 Club (aka About Top Shelf 2012)

Stop everything you are doing right now — put down the cupcake, stop sexting, turn off the kitten video and go straight to your calendar to put a big bold note on
Sunday, January 6, 2013 to GO TO SPEAKEASYDC’S TOP SHELF AT THE 9:30 CLUB.  This show is going to be epic!
Tickets on sale now $20 http://www.930.com/event/190623/

How are Top Shelf stories chosen?

STEP 1: Our sassy and smart faculty has spent hours and hours watching and scoring every story that was told on the SpeakeasyDC stage from  November 2011 thru October 2012. This includes our monthly 2nd Tuesday series at Town, plus special shows like Boo, Bad Mommy Moments, and Sucker for Love. This adds up to about 150 stories.

STEP 2: Our fearless leader pulled all our scores together to come up with our semi-final nomination list of 24 stories.

STEP 3: We want to hear from you! So, you have until midnight on Sunday, November 11 to give us your two cents about our semi-final “long list” of 24 (See below for list and add your comments here or on Facebook)

STEP 4: The list of 24 will be narrowed down to a list of 16 and announced at the show on Nov 13 and online the next day.

STEP 5: A distinguished panel of  judges (below) who have never seen these stories before nor met the storytellers, will watch the final 16 nominees and choose the eight stories that will be part of Top Shelf 2012. These will be announced before Thanksgiving.

ROUND 3: THE FINAL 8

1. Adam Ruben’s story about stressful night in a bed & breakfast performed at Paranormal Activity
2. John Donvan’s story about a lucky break while covering the Middle East performed at First Responders
3. John Tong’s story about courting his wife performed at Sucker for Love.
4. Karen Lee’s story about the lengths we’ll go for the men we love performed at Jekyll & Hyde
5. Katy Barrett’s story about a parking lot drama performed at Jekyll & Hyde
6. Keith Melnick’s story about his first time performed at Makin’ Whoopie
7. Liz Richardon’s cautionary tale about brothers and booze performed at Animal House
8. Molly Peter’s story about steroids and the fragility of mental health performed at Mad Science

THE JUDGES

James Hill, Director of Digital Media, TV One
Glen Weldon, Author, critic, and panelist on NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour
Mia Chung, Playwright, “You for Me for You” playing at Woolly Mammoth
Eric Schulze, Co-Founder and Chief Nerd, thirst DC

ROUND TWO:  The 16 semi-finalists for Top Shelf 2012(in alphabetical order).

1. Adam Ruben’s story about stressful night in a bed & breakfast performed at Paranormal Activity
2. Adam Stellato’s story about weight gain and loss in the Stellato family performed at Iron Chef
3. Cindy Kane’s story about a terrifying subway ride performed at Boo
4. Dan Sullivan’s story about being a telephone psychic performed at Paranormal Activity
5. Danny Harris’ story about wanting to be corrupted performed at Whistle Blowers & Hell-raisers
6. Dawn McCaslin’s story about a crazy night at a concert performed at Band Camp
7. John Donvan’s story about a lucky break while covering the Middle East performed at First Responders
8. John Tong’s story about courting his wife performed at Sucker for Love.
9. Karen Lee’s story about the lengths we’ll go for the men we love performed at Jekyll & Hyde
10. Katy Barrett’s story about a parking lot drama performed at Jekyll & Hyde
11. Keith Melnick’s story about his first time performed at Makin’ Whoopie
12. Liz Richardon’s cautionary tale about brothers and booze performed at Animal House
13. Mikael Johson’s story about bad influences and poor choices performed at Animal House
14. Mike Kane’s story about taking his kids to what he though was a  Star Wars parade performed at Mad Science
15. Molly Peter’s story about steroids and the fragility of mental health performed at Mad Science
16. Sara Armour’s story about her boyfriend, the Medium performed at Paranormal Activity

ROUND ONE: The first 24 Nominees for Top Shelf 2012 (in alphabetical order).

*Note that we voted on stories, not storytellers, so some storytellers have been listed twice.

1. Adam Ruben’s story about stressful night in a bed & breakfast performed at Paranormal Activity
2. Adam Stellato’s story about weight gain and loss in the Stellato family performed at Iron Chef
3. Anne Thomas’ story about a defining moment in her youth performed at Makin’ Whoopie
4. Cara Foran’s story about a small-town girl adjusting to life in Washington, DC performed at Baked
5. Cindy Kane’s story about an unexpected pregnancy performed at Bad Mommy Moments
6. Cindy Kane’s story about a terrifying subway ride performed at Boo
7. Dan Sullivan’s story about being a telephone psychic performed at Paranormal Activity
8. Danny Harris’ story about wanting to be corrupted performed at Whistle Blowers & Hell-raisers
9. Dawn McCaslin’s story about a crazy night at a concert performed at Band Camp
10. Elizabeth Coyle’s story about a naive girl in pursuit of “life experience”  performed at Baked
11. Erin Myers’ story about becoming a DJ performed at Band Camp
12. Jason Pittman’s story about bringing his students to the White House Garden performed at Mad Science
13. Jessi Baden Campbell’s story about trying not to curse in front of her children performed at Bad Mommy Moments
14. John Donvan’s story about a lucky break while covering the Middle East performed at First Responders
15. John Tong’s story about courting his wife performed at Sucker for Love.
16. Karen Lee’s story about the lengths we’ll go for the men we love performed at Jekyll & Hyde
17. Katy Barrett’s story about our inner honey-badgers performed at Jekyll & Hyde
18. Katy Barrett’s story about her gangster cat performed at First Responders
19. Keith Melnick’s story about his first time performed at Makin’ Whoopie
20. Liz Richardon’s cautionary tale about brothers and booze performed at Animal House
21. Mikael Johson’s story about bad influences and poor choices performed at Animal House
22. Mike Kane’s story about taking his kids to what he though was a  Star Wars parade performed at Mad Science
23. Molly Peter’s story about steroids and the fragility of mental health performed at Mad Science
24. Sara Armour’s story about her boyfriend, the Medium performed at Paranormal Activity