Vol 1. Into the Fire

Sunday, March 25 2012
At The Dunes – 1402 Meridian Pl NW
(between N Center St & N 14th St)
Washington, DC 20010 -  Columbia Heights
7PM Doors, 8PM show
$15

‘At Your Service’ is a unique storytelling series that offers an insider’s view into DC’s vibrant restaurant industry from those who know it best. A rotating menu of chefs, bartenders, servers, and sommeliers will share their craziest tales, greatest inspirations, biggest successes and wildest nights! In addition to a buffet of true stories, ‘At Your Service’ will feature a cocktail menu designed by bartender Jonathan Harris and a live DJ spinning tunes before and after the performance.

We’re launching with Volume 1: Into the Fire! These are stories of high stakes, high tempers, and haute cuisine. This night is all about the back-of-house drama you don’t see before your plate arrives at the table. Find out who remained cool under pressure and who got burned!

For tickets, ::CLICK HERE::

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Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 8pm
Sunday, March 11, 2012 at 7pm – (Get $12 tickets when you use this code: SHOWDOWNEXTRA)
at Dance Place 3225 8th St, NE (near Brookland Metro and Catholic U)
General admission $22
Seniors, teachers, artists, and storytellers $17
EARLY BIRD THROUGH MAR 3 $15 – use code SSEARLY

Audiences seeking a night of fun, games and true stories should come on down to Dance Place when SpeakeasyDC presents SpeakeasyDC’s Story Showdown: A Storytelling Game Show.  In a format first performed during the Capital Fringe Festival in 2010, SpeakeasyDC’s Story Showdown will be reprised in two performances, as host Rob Parker (Kevin Boggs) oversees a highly interactive, ridiculously fun night of competition comprised of autobiographical stories and audience participation.

Presented as part of Dance Place’s “Words That Move Us” series, this edition of SpeakeasyDC’s Story Showdown features four rounds of games – Cliffhanger, Cover Up, Memory and Switcheroo – with contestants chosen at random from the audience. With stories about men’s consciousness raising groups, strange Canadians and unfettered obsessions, everyone who attends will be a winner in this spectacular evening of entertainment.

In addition to host Kevin Boggs and announcer Todd Toddy, the cast of SpeakeasyDC’s Story Showdown includes Mike Boyd, Regie Cabico, Diane Ivey, Mike Kane, Len Kruger, Vijai Nathan, Adam Ruben and Kate Schuler.

Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 8pm
Sunday, March 11, 2012 at 7pm – (Get $12 tickets when you use this code: SHOWDOWNEXTRA)
at Dance Place 3225 8th St, NE (near Brookland Metro and Catholic U)
General admission $22
Seniors, teachers, artists, and storytellers $17
EARLY BIRD THROUGH MAR 3 $15 – use code SSEARLY

Audiences seeking a night of fun, games and true stories should come on down to Dance Place when SpeakeasyDC presents SpeakeasyDC’s Story Showdown: A Storytelling Game Show.  In a format first performed during the Capital Fringe Festival in 2010, SpeakeasyDC’s Story Showdown will be reprised in two performances, as host Rob Parker (Kevin Boggs) oversees a highly interactive, ridiculously fun night of competition comprised of autobiographical stories and audience participation.

Presented as part of Dance Place’s “Words That Move Us” series, this edition of SpeakeasyDC’s Story Showdown features four rounds of games – Cliffhanger, Cover Up, Memory and Switcheroo – with contestants chosen at random from the audience. With stories about men’s consciousness raising groups, strange Canadians and unfettered obsessions, everyone who attends will be a winner in this spectacular evening of entertainment.

In addition to host Kevin Boggs and announcer Todd Toddy, the cast of SpeakeasyDC’s Story Showdown includes Mike Boyd, Regie Cabico, Diane Ivey, Mike Kane, Len Kruger, Vijai Nathan, Adam Ruben and Kate Schuler.

SpeakeasyDC brings a 3rd show to INTERSECTIONS: A New America Arts Festival at the Atlas Performing Arts Center.

BORN THIS WAY: A night of true stories about Queer Culture in America

Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 8pm

Saturday,  February 25, 2012 at 7pm

Sell-out SpeakeasyDC returns to INTERSECTIONS to present another sure-hit of entertaining, thought-provoking true stories about the “new America”. This year, SpeakeasyDC explores the impact of Queer Culture on the social and political landscape of our lives, communities and culture. Featuring true tales told by Regie Cabico, Andrew Korfhage, Natalie E Illum, Holly Bass, Elizabeth McCain, and Sandra Faria. Hear stories about love, lust, and self-discovery.  For ages 18+.

Both shows in the Sprenger Theater at Atlas 1333 H St. NE, Washington, DC. Getting there

SpeakeasyDC brings a 3rd show to INTERSECTIONS: A New America Arts Festival at the Atlas Performing Arts Center.

BORN THIS WAY: A night of true stories about Queer Culture in America

Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 8pm

Saturday,  February 25, 2012 at 7pm

Sell-out SpeakeasyDC returns to INTERSECTIONS to present another sure-hit of entertaining, thought-provoking true stories about the “new America”. This year, SpeakeasyDC explores the impact of Queer Culture on the social and political landscape of our lives, communities and culture. Featuring true tales told by Regie Cabico, Andrew Korfhage, Natalie E Illum, Holly Bass, Elizabeth McCain, and Sandra Faria. Hear stories about love, lust, and self-discovery.  For ages 18+.

Both shows in the Sprenger Theater at Atlas 1333 H St. NE, Washington, DC. Getting there

SpeakeasyDC presents the 5th annual Valentine’s love-fest of stories about romance found, lost, and imagined.

Join us at Dance Place Saturday, Feb 11 followed byDance Place annual dance party with DJ Glowstik.

Or get tickets to the Friday night show.

SpeakeasyDC’s Sucker for Love 2012 Cast:

Geraldine Buckley
Luis Contreras
Beth Flores
Mark Pagán
Alex Petri
Carol Scott
Anne Thomas
John Tong
Travis Wright

Directors: Stephanie Garibaldi and Meredith Maslich

Dance Place is located at 3225 8th St, NE
About 10 min walk from Brookland Metro (Red)
Street parking available

SpeakeasyDC presents the 5th annual Valentine’s love-fest of stories about romance found, lost, and imagined.

Join us at Dance Place on Friday, Feb 10, 2012.

Or get tickets for  Saturday, Feb 11 so you can hang out afterward the show at Dance Place’s annual dance party with DJ Glowstik.

SpeakeasyDC’s Sucker for Love 2012 Cast:

Geraldine Buckley
Luis Contreras
Beth Flores
Mark Pagán
Alex Petri
Carol Scott
Anne Thomas
John Tong
Travis Wright

Directors: Stephanie Garibaldi and Meredith Maslich

Dance Place is located at 3225 8th St, NE
About 10 min walk from Brookland Metro (Red)
Street parking available

My So-Called Jewish Life
DATE:	Wednesday, December 21, 2011
TIME:	7:30 pm
Courtesy of bottledancers.com Sixth & I and SpeakeasyDC present the third annual night of funny, poignant, powerful, and peculiar autobiographical stories about all things Jewish, not-so-Jewish, and wanna-be Jewish on the second night of Chanukah.  Storytellers include: Adam Ruben, a stand-up comedian and rabbi impersonator. Ophira Eisenberg, one of New York Magazine’s “ten new comedians that funny people find funny.” Rabbi Jonathan Roos, Senior Rabbi at Temple Sinai. Hannah Seligson is a journalist and the author of A Little Bit Married: How to Know When it’s Time to Walk Down the Aisle or out the Door and New Girl on the Job: Advice from the Trenches. Jerome Copulsky, Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Religion and Director of Judaic Studies at Goucher College. Amy Saidman, SpeakeasyDC’s artistic executive director, is a two-time recipient of the artist fellowship award from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Amy has survived Camp Moshava, High School in Israel, and Aish haTorah.
ADMISSION: Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 on the day of the event. Doors open at 6:30 pm.

Watch last year’s show featuring  Slate advice columnist Emily Yoffe, speechwriter David Litt, Washington Post journalist Spencer Ackerman, blogger Danny Harris, and magazine editor Karen Sommer Shallet. (not shown NPR reporter Alix Speigel).

Seats are all sold out for both shows. There may still be some standing room. Call Atlas box office at 202-399-7993

Sat Dec. 3, 2011
2 shows:
7 or 9pm
At Atlas
1333 H St, NE
$25 regular admission. $20 students/seniors.
Join our mailing list and follow us on facebook for other discounts.

SpeakeasyDC’s second annual showcase of the best stories of the year! An absolute Don’t-Miss event. Last year’s was phenomenal. Relentless funny, smart, and moving – and this year’s will be too!

Announcing the final 8!!

L to R top: Joseph Price, Nancy LeRoy, Mike Kane, Adam Ruben
L to R bottom: Erin Myers, Topher Bellavia, John Kevin Boggs, Dan Sullivan (So good – all of them!)

HOW THIS WORKS

Our trusty nominating committee nominated 16 stories from more than 100 told on SpeakeasyDC’s stage in the last 12 months. These stories were screened by our stellar panel of judges (see below for more info) and they chose the final 8 who will be invited to perform in the second  Top Shelf extravaganza on Dec 3, 2011 at the Atlas (1333 H St, NE). We will announce final eight on Nov 8 at our next show (Iron Chef: Stories about cooking, eating, and secret ingredients at Town), then on our Facebook and Twitter feeds.

ELIGIBILITY

All original stories told at any official SpeakeasyDC event between August 10, 2010 and October 11, 2011 are eligible to be nominated for the 2011 Top Shelf, with the following exceptions:

• Members of the Top Shelf nominating committee, the Top Shelf judging panel, and SpeakeasyDC staff (not including teachers) are ineligible.
• Story Salons, class showcases, any class or training session, and SpeakeasyDC fundraisers are not considered eligible “official SpeakeasyDC events” for the purposes of Top Shelf.
• Stories told at My So-Called Jewish Life are ineligible.

OUR JUDGES

Our judges were selected for the good looks, charm, and discerning minds. They are “outside” judges, in that they are not intimately involved in SpeakeasyDC in any way, so, unbiased. We are psyched to have the input of Rhome Anderson (aka DJ Stylus/former Going Out Guru for Washington Post), Jon Gann (founder of the DC Film Alliance /DC Shorts Festival), Bonnie Shaw (Dean of the DC chapter of The Awesome Foundation), Chris Klimek  and (Theatre Critic for Washington City Paper).

JUDGING CRITERIA

Story Crafting (50%)

• Is it a story (vs. anecdote, stand-up routine, lecture, etc.)?
• Does it have the elements of a good story (conflict, action, characters, insight meaning, change)?
• Is the story visual? Can you picture the scenes described?
• Is the story suspenseful? Does it have high stakes?

Performance (25%)

• Is the teller authentic?
• Does the teller have vulnerable or revealing moments?
• Is the performance entertaining or moving?

Originality (25%)

• Is the story memorable?
• Is the story surprising?
• Is the story crafted or structured in an interesting or unusual way?

TWO NIGHTS ONLY Nov 11 and 12, 2011 8pm at Chief Ike’s Mambo Room $18 in advance, $20 at the door.  1725 Columbia Rd, NW, Washington, DC 20009

Also check out Up the Funny - two story workshops with Margot and Giulia on Sunday, Nov 13

Giulia Rozzi is a NYC based writer, comedian, actress and producer  raised in Boston by two adorable Italian immigrants. Her very personal, blunt, and animated comedy has earned her the honor of being named a Moth GrandSLAM champion, one of the Frisky’s ”Top 15 Comediennes You Should Be Laughing At” and a two-time ECNY Best Female Stand Up nominee. She’s appeared on MTV, Vh1, Italian MTV, CNN and in her original web series themessage-board.com . She co-hosts/created the highly acclaimed humorous sex-themed storytelling show (and now also a podcast) Stripped Stories and the bi-monthly Brooklyn based comedy show Dive Comedy. She has written for Playgirl, BUST, Glamour, XOJane.com, TheGLOC.net, NY Press, Lifetimetv.com, Lemondrop, AOL.com, Takepart.com and the MTV series Silent Library where one of her ideas (licking cocoa butter off a mans hairy back) made Snooki vomit (so proud!) She has also contributed essays to the anthologies My Parents Were Awesome  and Mortified: Real Words, Real People, Real Pathetic. She is currently working on her first memoir about her depressed, drunk, divorced quarter-life crisis.  More at www.giuliarozzi.com.

Margot’s off beat, brutally honest, fearless comedy has earned her the title of Moth Grandslam Champion, two ECNY nominations for “Best Female Standup,” and an additional nomination for “Best Storyteller.” However, Margot’s most prized accomplishment remains winning $1664 on “The Price is Right.”

Margot appeared regularly as various characters, including the cult favorite Gynoblast  on “Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” in addition to appearances on VH1′s Best Week Ever, Jimmy Kimmel Live, ESPN’s “Cheap Seats,” AMC, the Style Network, E!, Comedy Central, MTV and NBC Broadband. Additionally, she can be heard as the voice of “Fox” on the Spike TV cartoon “The Team,”  as a featured comedian on Comedy Central.com’s “Weekly Evil,” and a regular guest on Sirius XM Radio. She has appeared in about a dozen commercials including Lowe’s Hardware, Bertolli Frozen Dinners , and Mohegan Sun Casino.
Every month she and Giulia Rozzi co-host the wildly popular, monthly, sex-themed storytelling show “Stripped Stories” at the UCB Theatre, where she also is a frequent monologist in Assscat. A three time Moth Storyslam  winner, Margot has been featured in Glamour Magazine, and the books “Fifty Dates Worse Than Yours” and “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Jokes. She has written online for the Lifetime Network, College Humor.com,  EHow.com,236.com, the Frisky.com  and in print for Playgirl Magazine and the NY Press . She has just completed her first book, about being the gigantic weird girl growing up on the Jersey Shore.
http://www.margotleitman.com
http://www.strippedstories.com

Jessica Delfino is a NYC based comedian, musician, performer and writer who plays many instruments ranging from the flying V ukulele to the rape whistle. She grew up in  Damariscotta, Maine and went to art school in Philadelphia where she studied animation. Jessica decided to try stand-up comedy when a comedian she met said females couldn?t do comedy. Soon after, she moved to NYC, started playing chess a lot and performing at comedy clubs and on any stage she could find. That morphed into playing music into the subway. She began bringing her guitar on stage and making videos which led to getting publicly denounced by the Catholic League, and banned by Youtube, and then unbanned. She’s performed on ABC?s ?Good Morning America?, The Sundance Channel, Fox News? ?Red Eye?, in the Reading & Leeds Festival, Montreal Comedy Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Fest, Dublin Comedy Festival, London?s Soho Theatre and has had a whole ton of fun and adventures. It hasn?t all been rainbows and unicorns, but even the shitty parts are probably better than your job.