Here:Say Storytelling

In May 2021, Here:Say worked with Midland Center for the Arts in Midland, MI, to stage a show to commemorate the 1-year anniversary of a historic flood that wreaked havoc on the town. Featured performers, including a journalist, MCFTA staff, and the newly appointed fire chief, told their first-person stories about that day. Stories begin at: Katie Guyer 00:46 Jake Huss  11:40 Jerry Cole 20:28 Terri Trotter 30:34 Jenny Lowe 37:05 Conversation with virtual guest Katie Miller 50:27    

What happens when the best-laid plans don't go as planned? "Best-laid plans" features first person, true stories recorded by the performers at home. Stories begin at: Jill Howe: 01:14 Anne Bonney: 08:28 Lesley Tye: 16:56 John Klapko: 25:12 Nancy Baker: 36:49   Conversation with Micah Hart starts at  47:50

In June 2019, Here:Say Storytelling and Up North Pride came together to kick off Pride Week with live LGBT+ storytelling at The Workshop Brewing Company.    Stories Begin At:   Kate Rose (00:34)   Elon Cameron (13:04)   Laura Gornicki (19:16)   Arnie Sleutelberg and Robert Crowe (34:10)   In-Studio Chat with Jonny Cameron and Elon Cameron (59:08)  

Giving and getting acts of kindness are not always simple. "Acts of Kindness" features first-person, true stories recorded by the performers at home.   Stories Begin At:   Dave Murphy 00:26   Rob Ford 06:38   Kris Rasmussen 09:15   John Klapko 15:32   Vara Cooper 24:48

We put the FUN in dysfunctional! Here, scheduled performers told true, first-person stories of things not working out as expected.   Stories Begin At: Jen Loup 00:28 John Klapko 11:10 Kayla Frost 20:55 Dave Murphy 32:55 Anne Stanton 44:28 Virtual Chat with Jen Loup 57:53

We're sang the body electric at the first Here:Say Storytelling of the 2020s! Scheduled performers took the stage to tell true, first-person stories about the corporeal. Stories begin at: Lesley Tye 00:34 Richard Swanson 14:16 Ben Whiting 26:59 Betty Miller 36:35 Jodi Ann Stevenson 48:27 In-Studio chat with Christal Frost and Joe F. 01:00:04

It was the last Here:Say Storytelling show of the decade! So nerds, weirdos, freaks and geeks, lend us your ears so you can listen to the recording of these performers' true, first-person stories that show we're all misfits here! Stories Begin at: Karin Killian 00:36 Rob Ford 11:20 Tim Keenan 17:51 Laura Gornicki 25:31 Skyler Fort 37:00 Heather Hudson 47:26 In studio chat with Anne Bonney 56:40

Ready or not, here we come! Scheduled performers at this storytelling show told true, first-person stories about keeping out of sight and looking for something elusive. Stories Begin At: Dean Conners 0:33 Betsy Hammerberg 11:32 Jen Loup 19:50 Anne Bonney 31:49 Karen Stein 43:45 In-studio chat with Lesley Tye 57:49

Well... how did we get here? At our last mainstage show of Season 6, scheduled performers took the stage to tell true stories about how they ended up in certain spaces and places. Stories Begin At: Nancy Baker 00:40 John Klapko 13:56 Matt Soderquist 28:20 Jen Loup 37:40 Karen Stein 50:17 Conversation with in-studio guest Pete Kirkwood 1:00:48  

What does it take to believe something? What does it take to be believed? "Believe" was a live storytelling event of the Traverse Bay Children’s Advocacy Center. Inspired by true tales of children and adults who yearn to believe and be believed, TBCAC recognizes the power of story to shift mindsets and create social change. Scheduled performers told true, first-person stories of times they were trying to believe or be believed. Stories begin at: Matt Soderquist 01:02 Dave Murphy 11:05 Dr. Amelia Siders 23:54 Daniel Stewart 33:46 Heather Hudson 51:48 In studio guests Christal Frost and Dr. Amelia Siders 1:09:27    

“Community Open Mic” is a compilation of stories from representatives of Traverse City organizations (Norte, TART Trails, and Up North Pride) at a few Here:Say open mics during Season 6. These featured performers told stories alongside the randomly selected storytellers in the audience at three shows, recorded in October 2018, November 2018, and January 2019.   Stories Begin At   Ty Schmidt 01:10 Kyle MacDermaid 07:12 Madison Meter 16:47 Steve Westphal 25:10 Brian Beauchamp 35:48 Tom Phillips 38:34 Elon Cameron 51:35 Jonny Cameron 57:07

We could use a little help over here! Join us as scheduled performers take the stage to tell true, first-person stories about times when they needed an assist.   Stories Begin: Ben Whiting 00:32 James Berg 13:19 Jen Loup 19:22 Daniel Marbury 27:23 Heather Hudson 40:33 Karen Stein 55:18 In-studio conversation with Beth Milligan: 01:07:19

Scheduled performers took the stage to tell true, first-person stories about moments in life that they didn't see coming.   Stories begin at: Taylor Cramer 00:32 Connor Drexler 12:55 Lesley Tye 22:05 Laura Gornicki In-studio chat with Taylor Cramer 51:05

We've got the cure for what ails you! Scheduled performers took the stage to tell true stories about sickness and health.   Stories begin at: Steve Ford: 00:40 Karin Killian 12:15 Jen Loup 31:45 David Fink 40:00 Tony Bero 48:02 Shock and Awe conversation with Brett Nichols 01:05:26

At this evening of storytelling to benefit Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities, featured performers, several from the Groundwork staff, told true, first-person stories about a time in their lives when food represented more than just sustenance.       Stories begin at:    Amelia Bueche 00:50 Andrea Romeyn 10:24 Jim Lively 26:00 Loghan Call 38:46 Steven Hanna 52:13 Diane Conners 1:01:20  Musings on Food/About Groundwork: 1:15:45

Wouldn't it be great if working were as straightforward as "go to work, then get paid"? Performers at the January mainstage event told stories that showed it's rarely that easy.   Stories begin at: Christy Prahl 00:32 Stewie McFerran 16:42 Anne Bonney 25:55 Heather Hudson 37:00 John J. Klapko 50:37 Christal Frost 1:08:45 Karen Stein and Ty Schmidt: 1:27:43      

Is 3 truly the magic number? We'll find out when scheduled performers take the stage to tell true, first-person stories of threes.   Stories begin at Jen Loup 0:34 Tim Keenan 10:19 Dave Murphy: 19:40 Sue Ann Round 31:24 Jeff Smith 48:34 Ben Whiting and Karen Stein 01:03:33

Slow and steady won't win at this Here:Say as scheduled performers tell true, first-person stories about the race against time.  Leslie Tye 00:39 Joseph Baumann 11:11 Jonelle Bowers 22:45 Matt Soderquist 39:00 Elon Cameron 49:00 "In Threes" wsg. Christal Frost 1:09:13    

Join us for our Season 6 kickoff mainstage show as scheduled performers at the take the stage to tell true, first-person tales about times they've learned some hard lessons. Featuring stories by Jen Loup, Dave Murphy, Karen Stein, and Christal Frost, plus special guest Matt Soderquist talking about the next show's theme. 

We didn't let Season 5 end without a fight! At our last show of the regular season, performers took the stage to tell true stories about times they had to put up their dukes. Featuring Karin Killian, Gary Schilke, Elon Cameron, James Berg, and Nancy Baker.   

Public service announcement: Scheduled performers at the April Here:Say took the stage to tell true *cautionary* tales that will entertain us as much as they help us learn from these storytellers' mistakes! Featuring Chris Lemanski, Jen Loup, Jeff Smith, Simon Joseph, and Elon Cameron. 

On March 19 2018, performers took the stage to tell true stories about lies: lies they've been told, lies they've told others, and lies they've told themselves...   Featuring Jody Betten, Dave Murphy, Daniel Stewart, Lesley Tye, and Matt Soderquist 

In our post-Valentine's love hangover, Here:Say storytellers got into tales of love gone astray... Featuring Betsy Emdin, Brad Lystra, Jonelle Bowers, Heather Hudson, Lisa Rosendahl, and Karen Stein.     

Sometimes what seems like a minor action can lead to an unexpectedly outsized reaction. Scheduled performers will take the stage on this night to tell true stories of times that something in their life has snowballed...  Featuring Karin Killian, Jen Loup, Brad Lystra, and Nancy Baker. 

Sometimes we get a whole lot of life in the span of just one week. Performers took the stage on December 20, 2017, to tell true tales of their weeks that were *that* week. Featuring Jonelle Bowers, Matt Soderquist, Jenn Cameron, Heather Schalge, Pauly Hurlbert, and Karen Stein 

Performers took the stage to tell true stories about times when all eyes were on them or someone else... for better or worse. Featuring Betsy Emdin, Anne Bonney, Brad Lystra, Jonelle Bowers, Pauly Hurlbert, and Elon Cameron. 

Here:Say turns 5 this year! We celebrated at our Season 5 premiere, where featured performers took the stage to tell true stories about birthdays and other annual commemorations. Featuring Jo Paige, Jen Loup, Lesley Tye, Matt Soderquist, Jonelle Bowers, and Christal Frost.

"Summer Reruns" features some of our favorite stories from past Here:Say shows, presented by Interlochen Public Radio at the Upton-Morley Pavilion at the Interlochen Center for the Arts. This show is presented in two parts: Part 2, which aired October 8 on IPR, features Jonelle Bowers, Jeff Smith, Karen Stein, and Kate Botello. 

"Summer Reruns" features some of our favorite stories from past Here:Say shows, presented by Interlochen Public Radio at the Upton-Morley Pavilion at the Interlochen Center for the Arts. This show is presented in two parts: Part 1, which aired October 1 on IPR, features Dave Murphy, Christal Frost, Elon Cameron, Ben Whiting, and Kate Botello. 

Does it truly feel so good to be reunited? Scheduled performers at the last show of the regular season (Season 4) told us true stories live on stage about reunions that have happened in their lives. (And we decided for ourselves if Peaches and Herb were right.) Featuring: Christal Frost, Heather Schalge, Anne Bonney, Larry Heitman, James Berg, Betsy Emdin, Nancy Baker

Sometimes you've just got to beat a hasty retreat. Performers took the stage to tell true stories about times that they had to get outta that place, if it was the last thing they ever did. Featuring: Lesley Tye, Jen Loup, Eric Patterson, Brad Lystra, Elon Cameron

Sure, we all need somebody to lean on, but sometimes that somebody is nowhere to be found. Performers this night took the stage to tell stories of times they had to go it alone. Featuring: Cameron Hines, Jo Paige, Jonelle Bowers, Jen Loup, Elon Cameron

Here:Say and the State Theatre joined together for a special popup storytelling show to benefit Safe Harbor. Performers from the community took the stage to tell true stories of experiences with housing vulnerability in their own lives. Featuring: Matt Soderquist, Karin Killian, Jonelle Bowers, Elon Cameron, Christal Frost

If it's true that humans contemplate catastrophes as a means to feel better about their own lives, well, you're going to feel supergreat after listening to our performers who took the stage February 20 to tell true stories of calamity. Featuring: Karen Stein, Christal Frost, Daniel Stewart, Elon Cameron, Dave Murphy

Write your name on all the food you bought, use all the hot water, leave a stack of dirty dishes in the sink for a week, write a passive-aggressive note, and tie a sock around your doorknob… on January 16, our scheduled performers told true stories about roommates, and it wasn't pretty! Featuring: Karin Killian, Katie Mae Scripps, Elon Cameron, Jonelle Bowers, Jeff Smith, Karen Stein

Saving the world seems easy enough, no? On December 19 our performers told the tales of the times they at least tried. Featuring: Anne Bonney, Mel Blevins, Brad Lystra, Matt Soderquist, Jo Paige, Jonelle Bowers

Featured performers told real-life tales of birds and bees and all the implications in between at this November 2016 show. Featuring: Rebecca Lessard, Heather Schalge, Karin Killian, Britton Dennis, Paul Stebleton, Elon Cameron

We kicked off our brand new season with "Brand New Day" in our brand new venue, The Workshop Brewing Company! At this event, featured performers told true life stories about new beginnings. Featuring: Matt Soderquist, Jonelle Bowers, Lesley Tye, Elon Cameron, Tony Bero, Daniel Stewart

It's been said we all need to travel more to really get to know ourselves. What did Here:Say performers learn about themselves when they crossed the border...? Featuring: Lesley Tye, Marina Call, Steve Clark, Ben Whiting, James Berg, Jeff Smith, Daniel Stewart, Anne Bonney

Is there a doctor in the house?? Here:Say performers told true tales from their lives of when an assist was needed from the medical professionals... Featuring: Kristy Snyder, Jonelle Bowers, Kathryn Henning Callison, Matt Soderquist, Nancy Baker, Dave Murphy

What is it about dating that makes so many people love it and hate it in equal parts? Our performers in January 2016 had some stories took take a peek at what makes a great, or not so great, date. Featuring: Ben Whiting, Daniel Stewart, Anne Bonney, Jen Loup, Elon Cameron

Having parents and being parents is not always easy. Performers at this December 2015 show told stories about both. Featuring: Ben Whiting, Jonelle Bowers, Donna Stein-Harris, Betsy Emdin, Elon Cameron, Matt Soderquist, Jenifer Strauss

Some articles claim they can give us the tools to stop being awkward in life. Do you buy it? Performers at this November 2015 show told tales from their lives that demonstrated that awkwardness is a force to be reckoned with, and it's thriving! Featuring: Jonelle Bowers, Larry Heitman, Jen Loup, Nancy Baker, Christal Frost, Steven Holl, Anne Bonney, Elon Cameron

Is it true that everyone gets a gold star just for showing up? Performers at the first show of Season 3 in October 2015 told tales about the times they got some sort of gold star.... or didn't.... Featuring: Lesley Tye, Jonelle Bowers, Kathryn Henning Callison, Karen Stein, Daniel Stewart, Jen Loup, Nancy Baker

Performers told tales from their lives about trains, or maybe social aberrations—or perhaps some combination of the two—at the Traverse Area District Library. This show was sponsored by The Filling Station Microbrewery. Featuring: Kristy Snyder, Katie Callison, Tami Evans, Daniel Stewart, Jenifer Strauss, Karen Stein

“.. if one does not have wild dreams of achievement, there is no spur even to get the dishes washed. One must think like a hero to behave like a merely decent human being.” -- May Sarton, poet and memorist.   At this show, performers told stories about times they tried to save the day in some form or another. 

Where words fail, music speaks: Performers combined the two and used their words to talk about music.

The average person will spend 90,000 hours of their lifetime at work. Performers at this show told stories about slogging away at the office. 

What gems, whether hilarious, humiliating, horrifying, or “huh??! are lurking in our old papers? Performers read from their old diaries, journals, and letters and told some of the story behind it.